The NCAA News - Briefly in the News

January 5, 1998

The Bruins claimed the national title December 14 with a 2-0 victory over the University of Virginia.

And while that memory no doubt will stick with team members forever, it will be enhanced immeasurably by the relationship they developed with 16-year-old Will Daniel.

Will's mother, Pat, was assigned to serve as the Bruins' volunteer host during their championship stay in Richmond, Virginia. When she greeted them at the airport, she brought along Will, who suffers from Down Syndrome. "When you get me," she said, "you get Will."

As it turned out, the match was perfect.

"He came running up to us at the airport," UCLA player Jimmy Conrad told Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times. "He was so happy to meet us -- it was really neat."

When the team prepared to board the bus from the airport to the hotel, Will wanted to go along. Pat at first said no, not wanting to cause a distraction for the team.

But she let coach Sigi Schmid talk her out of the decision. "We could all see how happy he was to be with us," Schmid said. "What would it hurt?"

Upon arrival at the hotel, Will took the time to introduce himself to each of the players.

They didn't meet again until the Bruins' semifinal game against Indiana University, Bloomington. The players remembered him, and the bonding process was complete.

From then on, he retrieved practice kicks; cheered wildly for UCLA in its 1-0, triple-overtime win over Indiana; and then led the Bruins in a practice jog around the field. The players even adapted the song "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands" to fit Will.

"Boy," Will told them, "I really like you guys."

The night before the title game, Schmid was talking to his team. "As I was giving my speech," he told the Times, "Will came to mind, and I mentioned how he was an example of what you see is what you get. There was no hidden agenda with him, no con man, no BS.

"I told my players, 'That's how you have to be with each other on the field tomorrow. Be completely honest with your effort.' "

The message came through.

"His theme was love and kindness," Conrad said. "It really hit home."

After the Bruins' victory over Virginia for the title, Will was a central part of the celebration. When watches were being awarded to the championship team, Will said, "I wish I could have one of those."

And sophomore Shea Travis gave his to Will.

"I figure I will always have this memory," Travis said. "I wanted Will to have the watch."

Time is on their side

Erin Daughters, a senior at the University of Dallas, tested her bounds this autumn and was rewarded with high marks. The Albright College men's basketball tied a Division III record December 11 when it recorded its third consecutive overtime victory, an 87-83 victory over Alvernia College. The Lions had started the streak with a 77-73 victory over Messiah College December 6 and kept it alive by beating Moravian College, 83-75, December 9.

The feat had been accomplished previously by Ithaca College in 1987 and Susquehanna College in 1989.

"I've aged 10 years in the past week," said stressed-out coach Ken Tyler.

The next OT opportunity comes January 10 against Ursinus College.

Football viewership

ESPN recently reported major growth in college football viewership for males in three key demographic groups for the 1996 season.

Viewership for males ages 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 increased by 22 to 28 percent over 1995. A 37 percent increase in viewership for ESPN's Big Ten Conference package led the way. Overall ESPN college football viewership was up 11 percent.

-- Compiled by David Pickle

Looking back

5 years ago: The new NCAA Administrative Review Panel issues its first decisions less than five hours after the Association's membership adopts legislation creating the panel. The review panel's purpose is to provide increased flexibility in the application of NCAA legislation. It has the authority to review actions by NCAA committees -- except the Eligibility Committee and Committee on Infractions -- and the national office staff. The five-member panel was organized prior to the 1993 Convention, in anticipation of approval of the panel by the membership. The first cases heard by the panel involve student-athletes competing in sports that are in season at the time of the hearing. (The NCAA News, January 27, 1993)

10 years ago: A survey of Division III institutions reveals a sharp disagreement over whether the division's structure and organization should be changed. Of 190 institutions responding to the survey (59 percent response rate), 21.6 percent strongly agreed that the present structure of Division III is appropriate and should remain unchanged, 22.3 percent agreed, 26.8 percent disagreed and 22.6 percent strongly disagreed. Similar disagreement was recorded in questions that asked whether an additional division should be considered to make division membership more homogeneous and whether sufficient diversity in academic standards exists to warrant forming a special conference similar to the Division I Ivy Group. Survey results will be reviewed by the Division III Steering Committee. (The NCAA News, January 27, 1988)

15 years ago: As a result of the NCAA Council's expansion from 22 to 46 members, 28 new members are elected during the 1983 Convention to the Association's governing body. Expansion of the Council was approved earlier in the Convention. The expanded Council includes 22 Division I representatives, 11 Division II representatives and 11 Division III representatives. (The NCAA News, January 19, 1983)

20 years ago: The NCAA Football Rules Committee approves a rule requiring that, if a kicker misses a field goal attempt in which the line of scrimmage of beyond the opponent's 20-yard line, the ball will be awarded to the opponent at that line of scrimmage. (NCAA News, February 15, 1978)