The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- October 26, 1998

Division I

Board to be presented reports on eligibility standards, litigation

A presentation regarding initial-eligibility standards and an update on the restricted-earnings coaches litigation are among agenda items for the Division I Board of Directors' October 27 meeting in Atlanta.

The initial-eligibility presentation stems from an Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet recommendation suggesting that the Board hear from the NCAA research staff and representatives from the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee on how current standards affect the eligibility of high-school seniors.

The research data to be presented includes a review of the four initial-eligibility models circulated to the membership this summer as well as additional information -- in response to questions received after the four models were circulated -- regarding graduation rates, the impact of the increased number of female athletes on the percentage of eligible African Americans, and grade inflation.

The update on the restricted-earnings issue will include a preliminary report from the Management Council regarding possible alternative methods for funding any expenses related to the litigation. The report includes several wide-ranging principles regarding a possible method of payment. The Board and the Executive Committee are expected to consider a plan or a process for collecting funds for any necessary payment in January.

Other items emerging from the Management Council report include legislation that has received the Council's second approval, which include Proposal No. 98-98 regarding financial aid and Division I membership requirements, and Proposal No. 98-99, which would require Division I conferences to establish a conference student-athlete advisory committee as a condition of Division I membership.

Also on the Board's agenda is a review of selections and reselections for Board and Management Council positions that will become available in January 1999. Four Board members are eligible for reselection at that time, including Kenneth A. Shaw, chancellor of Syracuse University; Carol Cartwright, president of Kent State University; Milton Gordon, president of California State University, Fullerton; and Samuel H. Smith, president of Washington State University. Shaw, Cartwright and Gordon have received reselection confirmation from their respective conferences. The Pacific-10 Conference has recommended that David B. Frohnmayer, president of the University of Oregon, replace Smith.

Conferences gaining a seat on the Board in January 1999 are the Ivy Group and the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. The Ivy has recommended Harold T. Shapiro, president of Princeton University; and the MCC has selected Claire Van Ummerson, president of Cleveland State University.

Brother Thomas J. Scanlan, president of Manhattan College; and Anthony J. DiGiorgio, president of Winthrop University, are not eligible for reselection since the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Big South Conference no longer have a seat on the Board.

Members of the Management Council eligible for reselection who have received reselection confirmation from their conferences are Arthur W. Cooper, North Carolina State University; Percy Bates, University of Michigan; Angela D. Taylor, University of Nevada; Rudy Washington, Southwestern Athletic Conference; Rick Mello, University of Arkansas, Little Rock; and Lynda Tealer, Santa Clara University.

The Big East Conference has selected Patricia Thomas, Georgetown University, to replace Carol J. Sprague, University of Pittsburgh; and the Big 12 Conference has recommended that Gerald Lage, Oklahoma State University, replace David M. Guinn, Baylor University.

Conferences gaining a seat on the Management Council in January 1999 are the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Big South Conference. The MEAC has selected its commissioner, Richard J. Ensor, while the Big South has selected Thomas N. Hickman of Winthrop University.

Jeffrey H. Orleans of the Ivy Group, and John C. Parry of Butler University (Midwestern Collegiate Conference) are not eligible for reselection since their conferences no longer have a seat on the Management Council.