National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

August 17, 1998

Baseball committee prepares for expansion

Bracket expansion and the change-of-season plan proposed by the American Baseball Coaches Association were two of the prominent issues discussed at the annual meeting of the Division I Baseball Committee.

At its July 12-15 meeting in Beaver Creek, Colorado, the committee discussed plans for the potential of bracket expansion from 48 to 64 teams for the 1999 championship. The Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet and the Management Council have approved the recommendation. The Division I Board of Directors also supported the recommendation at its August 11 meeting (see related story, page 1).

The committee also discussed site-selection procedures and emphasized the potential for new host institutions. The committee expressed a desire to create the same championship experience for all participating teams, no matter how many teams participate. The committee also discussed host guidelines for neutral sites.

The committee heard a report from Dave Keilitz, executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association. The committee discussed the change-of-season plan and will recommend that the plan be submitted to the membership for reaction.

One of the problems the committee addressed was ticket availability at regional competition. The committee will recommend that each participating institution receive a minimum of 200 all-session tickets, which would be located between first base and third base. Unused tickets would have to be returned before the start of competition so that the host would have time to sell the tickets.

The committee also met with representatives of College World Series, Inc., and discussed an extension of the current contract with the city of Omaha, Nebraska; the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the College World Series in Omaha; the potential of a college baseball hall of fame; and ticket-price recommendations.

Other highlights

Division I Baseball Committee
July 12-15/Beaver Creek, Colorado

  • Received a report from Dave Yeast, NCAA national coordinator of umpires, regarding the status of the program. Discussion items included umpire clinics, assignment of umpires, the Amateur Baseball Umpires Association, fee-increase recommendations and red-lining of umpires.

  • Voted to recommend to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet that the following 19 conferences receive automatic qualification for the 1999 championship: the America East, Atlantic Coast, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big South, Big Ten, Big 12, Big West, Mid-American Athletic, Missouri Valley, Pacific-10, Southeastern, Southland, Southern, Sun Belt, Trans America Athletic, and Western Athletic Conferences; the Colonial Athletic Association; and Conference USA.

    In addition, the following 1999 conference play-in pairings will be recommended to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet for consideration at its September 15-18 meeting: Mid-Eastern Athletic at Ivy Group, Southwestern Athletic at West Coast, Patriot League at Ohio Valley, Metro Atlantic at Northeast, and Midwestern Collegiate at Mid-Continent.

  • Discussed the contractual agreement with Wilson for championship baseballs. The committee agreed to request an increase in the allotment of balls that are provided to each regional site.

  • Formed a subcommittee to review the process of seeding teams at the College World Series. The subcommittee will submit its report at the committee's November meeting.

  • Discussed improving the regional host evaluation process. It was agreed that the NCAA representative would review any concerns with the tournament director before leaving the site. The committee will review all evaluations at its summer meeting and correspond with the sites regarding suggestions for improvements.

  • Agreed to study the idea of releasing the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) data to the membership on a weekly basis.