The NCAA News Digest

November 23, 1998

• Football strength of schedule
• LEARNING DISABILITIES -- Accommodations exist for learning-disabled student-athletes
• TITLE IX -- Date established for 1999 NCAA Title Seminar
• BASEBALL BATS -- Committee recommends using new standards in '99 tourney
• LITIGATION -- Adidas files antitrust lawsuit against NCAA
• GAMBLING -- NCAA testifies before national commission

Football strength of schedule

1998 top 10 I-A overall schedule strength

Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
1. -- Auburn -- .722 -- .600 -- .738
2. -- Missouri -- .659 -- 1.000 -- .622
3. -- LSU -- .659 -- .889 -- .603
4. -- Florida St. -- .636 -- .889 -- .611
5. -- Alabama -- .630 -- .300 -- .671
6. -- Baylor -- .629 -- .400 -- .655

Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
7. -- Southern Cal. -- .627 -- .944 -- .565
8. -- Washington -- .624 -- .300 -- .659
9. -- Kentucky -- .602 -- 1.000 -- .554
10. -- Texas -- .600 -- .909 -- .562
10. -- Michigan St. -- .600 -- .500 -- .620

1998 top 10 I-AA overall schedule strength

Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
1. -- Connecticut -- .622 -- .800 -- .602
2. -- New Hamp. -- .607 -- .000 -- .607
3. -- Rhode Island -- .582 -- .500 -- .591
4. -- Fordham -- .577 -- .890 -- .540
5. -- Delaware -- .568 -- .222 -- .608

Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
6. -- Holy Cross -- .567 -- .700 -- .552
6. -- Mass. -- .567 -- .800 -- .540
8. -- Wofford -- .563 -- .900 -- .523
9. -- Florida A&M -- .562 -- .857 -- .537
10. -- Citadel -- .558 -- .000 -- .558

Of the top 10 teams in the November 16 Bowl Championship Series rankings, the toughest schedule -- at least by the NCAA's measurement -- belongs to Florida State University.

Not counting games in which it has participated, Florida State's past and future opponents have a winning percentage of .636. That is the fourth-best schedule strength in the nation, trailing only Auburn University (.722); the University of Missouri, Columbia (.659); and Louisiana State University (.659).

The first 11 opponents of the Seminoles, who play the University of Florida November 21, have a combined winning percentage of .611, the highest among the BCS top 10.

In Division I-AA, the toughest schedule belongs to the University of Connecticut, whose opponents are winning at a .622 rate.

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Accommodations exist for learning-disabled student-athletes

The NCAA and the U.S. Department of Justice have developed the following statement in accordance with their consent decree regarding student-athletes with learning disabilities.

Institutions are asked to distribute the following statement to the appropriate coaching staff:

"NCAA member institutions should not refrain from recruiting student-athletes who have learning disabilities based solely on their disabilities. The NCAA provides many accommodations to students with disabilities to assist them with meeting initial-eligibility standards. In addition to these accommodations, the NCAA has staff members who can provide assistance to member institutions, high schools, prospective student-athletes and their parents."

Individuals with questions about the procedures used to provide the necessary accommodations to students with learning disabilities may contact Philip D. Grayson, NCAA ADA coordinator, at the national office.

Staff contact: Phillip D. Grayson.

TITLE IX

Date established for 1999 NCAA Title IX Seminar

The 1999 Title IX Seminar has been scheduled for May 11-12 at the Westin Hotel (Michigan Avenue) in Chicago. Planned topics include: Title IX basics, financial aid, roster management, current Title IX case law, promotions and marketing, and a student-athlete panel featuring both male and female student-athletes.

Also, videotapes of the 1998 Title IX Seminar are now available to the membership.

Staff contacts: Janet M. Justus.

BASEBALL BATS

Committee recommends using new standards in '99 tourney

The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee has recommended that bats meeting performance standards scheduled to become effective for the 2000 regular season be used for the 1999 Division I Baseball Championship.

The recommendation will be considered by the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet, probably in November.

Under the standards that will take effect in the 2000 season, bats must meet an independent testing standard that limits performance to a maximum batted-ball exit velocity of 93 miles per hour. Also, the maximum allowable diameter of a bat will be 2 5/8 inches (down from 2 3/4 inches); the length-to-weight unit differential will be lowered from five to three, without the grip.

Staff contact: Dennis L. Poppe.

LITIGATION

Adidas files antitrust lawsuit against NCAA

Adidas America Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging that the NCAA's rule limiting the display of the manufacturer's logo on athletics uniforms violates federal antitrust laws.

The suit was filed November 12 in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas.

An NCAA rule restricts member schools to limiting a manufacturer's logo or mark on apparel to 2 1/4 square inches in area.

Adidas is also challenging the NCAA's right to restrict the use of trademarked design features, such as the Adidas stripes, on uniforms.

Staff contact: Elsa Cole.

GAMBLING

NCAA testifies before national commission

NCAA Director of Agent and Gambling Activities William S. Saum testified November 10 before the National Gambling Impact Study Commission.

Saum provided the commission with the NCAA's perspective on sports gambling and its impact on college students.

The nine-member National Gambling Impact Study Commission was created by Congress in August 1996. It is charged with conducting a two-year comprehensive legal and factual study of the social and economic impact of gambling on the nation.