National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

December 15, 1997

Oversight of football matters discussed by new committee

The Division I Football Issues Committee noted at its first meeting November 19 that it is one of five groups charged with oversight of Division I football.

Others with responsibility in the area include the Division I-A Athletics Directors football issues committee, the American Football Coaches Association issues committee, the Division I Bowl Alliance and NCAA Football.

Most of the members of the panel serve on more than one of the committees, with several serving on three and one being a member of four.

The members agreed that the Division I Football Issues Committee should play a primary role in Division I football matters. Other groups will be encouraged to meet before the committee's meetings and forward issues for discussion, with the NCAA group serving as a principal forum on Division I football.

In determining how it will approach business, the committee established that it will:

  • Conduct open and frank discussions.

  • Be a working committee.

  • Identify and develop research.

  • Propose legislation.

  • Provide a forum and a platform for Division I football.

  • Be comfortable taking on tough issues.

    The committee's main action at its first meeting involved recommending a set of administrative procedures to support the recent changes in the six-win rule for Division I-A bowl eligibility. At its October meeting, the Division I Board of Directors approved legislation that will permit a Division I-A football program to count a win over a Division I-AA team toward the six wins needed for bowl eligibility, provided the I-AA program has averaged at least 60 grants-in-aid over the preceding three years. A Division I-A program may use the exemption only once in four years.

    The Football Issues Committee recommended the following administrative procedures to support the change:

    Division I-AA

  • Beginning in 1998 and continuing thereafter, the chief executive officer at each Division I-AA institution will forward a letter to the appropriate I-AA conference commissioner certifying that the institution has averaged at least 60 financial aid equivalencies during the preceding three academic years, based on the number of financial aid equivalencies at the start of practice each year.

  • An appeal process should be developed to consider unique situations that might affect the number of equivalencies.

  • A Division I-AA independent institution will forward the certifying letter to a designated commissioner.

    Division I-A

  • A Division I-A institution must report to its respective conference before the season the Division I-AA game that will count toward its six-win requirement. If a I-A team has more than one I-AA opponent on its schedule in a particular year, it must specify before the start of the season which one will count toward the six wins.

  • A Division I-A independent institution must submit its letter to a designated Division I-A commissioner.

    The committee also considered a proposal from the membership to move the starting date for the Division I football season from the Saturday before Labor Day to the last Thursday in August.

    After discussing the proposal, the committee chose not to support the change, noting that the season is long enough as it is. The proposal would have moved the start date forward in all cases, ranging from as few as two days (such as this year, when Labor Day fell on September 1) to as many as nine days (such as 1998, when Labor Day falls on September 7).

    Other highlights

    Division I Football Issues Committee

    November 19/Atlanta

  • Discussed its charge from the Division I Board of Directors and Management Council to review issues related to Division I-A postseason football and to make recommendations concerning the appropriate role of the NCAA. Some discussion occurred about how proactive the committee should be in this area; in any case, the committee agreed that it should be the best-informed group on Division I postseason issues. Toward that end, members of the committee will be provided with the final report (1994) of the Special Committee to Study a Division I-A Football Championship, which includes significant historical data on Division I postseason football.

  • Began an examination of the current state of college football by reviewing attendance figures, financial studies and public perception surveys. The committee agreed that it would request an annual survey to determine operational expenses and suggested that figures from the annual financial audit required of Division I members by Constitution 6.2.3.1 might serve that purpose. A subcommittee was formed (1) to determine if the results of the audited reports could be used, (2) to decide what type of information should be included in the study and (3) to determine if information taken from a ESPN/Chilton Research study could be used to obtain public perception data.

  • Discussed the marketing efforts of NCAA Football with Jim Host and Marc Kidd from Host Communications.