National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News Digest

March 2, 1998

Baseball/Softball preferences




A recent survey of the baseball- and softball-playing members of Division I revealed no clear-cut consensus on moving the dates of the championships in those sports. Most of those responding preferred the status quo (37 percent in baseball and 44 percent in softball) but significant minorities expressed a preference for change in both sports. Answers varied sharply depending upon region.

FOOTBALL

Rules committee readdresses sportsmanlike behavior

The NCAA Football Rules Committee will request funding to produce a sportsmanship videotape that would be supplied to all NCAA football-playing institutions and officiating organizations, as well as a four-color poster that would depict the proper way to wear the uniform and mandatory playing equipment.

Staff contact: Theodore A. Breidenthal.

FOOTBALL

Football Issues Committee wants 1994 study updated

The Division I Football Issues Committee will ask the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet to support an update of the 1994 study by the NCAA Special Committee to Study a Division I-A Football Championship.

The Football Issues Committee is less concerned with the conclusions that were reached in 1994 than it is with making certain that the data contained in the report are maintained and kept current. The committee believes it has an obligation to the membership to provide it with current information regarding Division I-A postseason football.

Staff contact: Dennis L. Poppe.

SPORTS SCIENCES

CDC report cites need to end dangerous weight-loss practices

A report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that recent deaths in college wrestling "underscore the need to eliminate weight-control practices that emphasize extreme or rapid weight loss."

On April 9, the NCAA Committee on Competi-tive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and the NCAA Wrestling Committee will meet to discuss long-term solutions to the problem of rapid weight loss in wrestling.

Staff contact: Randall W. Dick.

MEMBERSHIP

Divisions II, III committees recommend application fee

The Divisions II and III membership committees have recommended to their respective management councils that new applicants to the divisions pay a $2,500 application fee. In both cases, the purpose of the fee would be to make certain that new members are serious about their membership applications and to offset administrative costs involved in processing new members.

CORRECTION

Error in chart resulted in misportrayal of ratings

A graphic on page 2 of the February 23 issue of The NCAA News was keyed incorrectly, resulting in misinformation about television ratings for the 1997-98 and 1996-97 bowl seasons.

The correct ratings for 1997-98 are as follows:

Orange, 13.3; Peach 4.3; Sugar, 11.2; Rose, 17.6; Cotton, 6.2; Citrus, 9.2; Gator, 3.3; Outback, 3.2; Fiesta, 5.8; Liberty, 1.9; Sun, 4.1; Alamo, 3.9; Holiday, 3.3; Carquest, 2.2; Independence, 4.5; Insight, 2.4; and Aloha, 5.2.