National Collegiate Athletic Association |
CommentJune 23, 1997
Guest editorial -- II revenue plan needs a two-part approach
BY KELLY J. HIGGINS The Division II Management Council Transition Team certainly has had a unique and challenging opportunity to help chart a new course for the future of Division II. It has done extraordinary work, and I applaud its efforts. However, I wish to reiterate some of the elements of the position that I expressed at the most recent NCAA Convention and to assist the membership in identifying a method of distribution of future surplus funds that might better accommodate the needs of all. Incumbent in charting this new course is a requirement to keep in mind the basic philosophies of Division II. Each part of the Division II philosophy statement is important. However, one element -- "striving for equitable participation and competitive excellence" -- is particularly critical as we consider the future distribution of "surplus funds." How we decide to allocate these surplus funds will go a long way toward deciding that course. With that in mind, I must question whether some of the current "favored" proposals sufficiently address the dual philosophy of equitable participation and competitive excellence. It would appear that (1) performance no longer would be considered a factor in some and too much of a factor in others; (2) the issue of independent institutions is not addressed; and (3) geographically and demographically advantaged institutions benefit in a large way while those that are disadvantaged demographically and geographically, such as the Pacific West Conference, are penalized. Recently, we saw the inclusion of Divisions II and III in the Sears Directors Cup competition. I think all would concur that this is a great competition that rewards schools that (1) sponsor a broad base of both men's and women's sports, (2) support them with sufficient resources and (3) exhibit a high level of excellence in their programs. I propose that Division II adopt the same premise as one element in a two-part equation for distribution of surplus income. If we are looking for ideas that look fairly at all sides of this issue, it certainly seems to me that this is simple and equitable. Part 1 -- Competitive excellence (50 percent): Each institution would receive points based on its finish in each NCAA championship sport. Each point earned would have a related dollar value based upon the total number of championship points available and the total amount of surplus dollars available. Each conference would receive the sum of all members' ratings points/dollars. Independent members could be addressed separately through their own ratings points/dollars totals. Part 2 -- Equitable participation (50 percent): Each institution would receive a point for each sponsored NCAA sport. Each point would have a related dollar value based on the total number of sports sponsored in Division II and the total amount of surplus dollars available. Each conference would receive the sum of all members' ratings points/dollars. Independent members could be addressed separately through their own points/dollars totals. We should make sure that we reward those institutions and conferences that invest wisely in their sports selections and are willing to support them sufficiently. We should not support a system that depends solely on the number of sports being sponsored or the total number of schools in a conference. We need to endorse a system that supports the philosophy of Division II, addresses sports-sponsorship depth and breadth, gender equity, independent institutions and competitive excellence. I believe that the method being proposed does just that. I urge you to study it closely. I look forward to the future of Division II with great excitement, and I know the next steps we take are important ones. I believe in the statement made by Marilyn Moats Kennedy: "It's better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize at length and be right too late!" However, we shouldn't move forward without exploring all the options. Kelly J. Higgins is director of athletics and recreation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Letter to the Editor -- Perhaps 'partial athlete' is the way to goSam Bell, the track coach at Indiana University, Bloomington, is quoted as saying, "If you give partial scholarships, you get partial athletes." I agree. And isn't it wonderful? "Partial" (that is, part-time) athletes are free to enjoy a feast of other activities awaiting them at the (once-in-a-lifetime) bountiful table of college life. Such things as joining a French club, playing intramural basketball, attending campus sporting events and concerts, exploring student government, attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes function, involving themselves philanthropically or simply tossing a Frisbee in the quad with their friends. A sweet balance of activities to help span the increasingly great divide of athletics and academics. "Full time" (read fully scholarshipped) athletes are highly susceptible to the erosion of the joy of sport -- often sacrificed at the altar of quasiprofessional year-round training in order to enhance the possibility of winning. You don't have to win all the time. The perfect becomes the enemy of good. Remember those heady days of yesteryear when athletes were considered part of the educational process rather than an end in itself? Twenty years, four pants sizes and six hairstyles later, I see clearly that a broad, spicy, satisfying blend of experiences rather than a mundane singular focus is the healthy choice for our student-athletes. Athletics is just one (hugely significant) part of a total college experience -- most often a temporary, wonderful phase to pass through on the way to something significant.
Rick Burns Opinions -- High-school academics bad, but beware of harsh fixes
Peter Thomson, columnist Discussing an action by the Florida legislature that will require a 2.000 grade-point average for high-school athletics eligibility next season: "For the past seven years, I have done fairly extensive work involving the evaluation of high-school football prospects around the state of Florida. "Included in the evaluation process are GPAs and test scores on college entrance exams, both necessary under the NCAA's qualifying standards. "I have been appalled by the low ACT and SAT scores of far too many of the state's athletes. "Now I realize the student-athletes who happen to play football may not constitute an across-the-board picture of the golfers, swimmers, and tennis players competing in high school. But there is absolutely no question Florida ranks with the dregs when compared to state school systems around the country. "Case in point: A football coach from Dade County recently told me a chilling story. When asked about one of his top prospects from last season, the venerable coach of 38 years gave me this account. "Last season the coach handed his standout receiver a copy of The Miami Herald and asked his player to look up where he ranked among the county's receivers listed in the high school football stats that day. "At that moment, the coach's worst fears were realized. His student couldn't recognize his own last name in the Herald's stat list. "That athlete is set to graduate from high school next week. "It is obvious that something must be done. "When the state released its findings, my guess is that legislators felt compelled to make a big move in an attempt to at least give the public the impression that something was about to be done concerning this pathetic dilemma. "Has our legislature gone too far? "In speaking with many coaches around the state during my recruiting calls one consensus stands out, and I tend to agree: "Exactly who did the state legislators consult when they made their decision? "Here's the bottom line: College is not for everyone. "Only about 5 to 10 percent of high-school athletes go on to compete at the college level. "High-school athletics, contrary to the beliefs of many, is not a breeding ground for college athletes. "For the vast majority of kids, high-school sports signify an opportunity to compete, learn the values of teamwork and hopefully pick up a little discipline. "In many cases coaches serve as surrogate parental figures for athletes without any semblance of home support. "Take away that golden opportunity, and what the state legislators may find is a new, and more shocking statistic. "Mark my words -- there will be a dramatic increase in the drop-out rate. Athletics has, without question, kept hundreds of kids in school. Take away that incentive and, as sad is it sounds, the reality in many cases is many kids will shy away from the classroom. "And how many of this new generation of dropouts will end up interning at CBS or a local law firm? "The street is where many of the casualties will find themselves. "The new ruling, which will go into effect in August, states that if a student-athlete is ineligible during the beginning of the grading period, he or she is out for the semester. No make-up classes or incompletes anymore. "How many of those student-athletes will actually stick around and earn a 2.500 GPA in order to bring up a 1.500 GPA to the 2.000 minimum? "After speaking with close to one hundred coaches about this possibility, the outlook appears quite grim. "No doubt something has to be done about the dire academic situation in this state. I just don't believe the men and women up in Tallahassee completely thought this one out. "We could be looking at an utter tragedy, with three or four graduating classes lost to the streets before another less-radical change is implemented. " I sincerely hope the outlook I share with most of those coaches is dead wrong."
Football playoff
E. Gordon Gee, president "Ultimately, this notion of having to have a winner determined through some (NFL-style) playoff system in this kind of massive environment is not anything that I believe any of us are compelled about. "For example, with us, the (primary) opportunity for Ohio State is not necessarily winning the national championship -- although we'd love to do that, and we will this year -- the issue for us is getting to the Rose Bowl. And we want to maintain that sense of intercollegiate tradition."
Mark Bradley, columnist "If you thought that TV money would've won out by now -- the networks would cheer a playoff -- you haven't grasped how huge the bowls truly are. They make money, tons of it, for their respective cities. (And yes, let's be fair, for their charities.) They negotiate their own sponsorships, cut their own television deals. They aren't about to cede power to a central authority even if one existed, which it doesn't. "Only one sport on only one level of collegiate competition fails to decide its champion through NCAA-run playoffs. The exception is Division I-A football, and the reason can be traced to history: The big bowls were in place before there was an NCAA basketball tournament. Because the bowls wanted nothing that might supersede them, the way the NCAA's hoops ultimately eclipsed the NIT, there were no playoffs. Still aren't. "And should the NCAA, at this late date, seek to create a bona fide tournament, we'll see that it's indeed too late. Think the bowls would agree to go away without a fight? Think there wouldn't be lawsuits filed from here to the middle of the 21st century? "After years of believing a solution was inevitable, I have abandoned all hope of seeing a Division I-A playoff in my lifetime. The bowl system is simply a fortress, immovable and unassailable. No matter how extensive any coalition/alliance/megamix is, it won't be broad enough. The advent of the Super Alliance is just another admission that the bowls have won again."
Baseball and minorities
Charles Farrell, national director "If baseball wants more black fans and black players, it has to market baseball to the inner city. You don't hear 'Take Me Out To the Ballgame' advertisements on black radio stations. You don't see billboards in black communities advertising baseball. But you'd better believe you see basketball."
Hank Aaron, former baseball player "Baseball has to make an effort to befriend these black kids. Major League Baseball itself is going to have to show some interest in (the inner city). Build some parks. Get things going. Get familiar with it."
|