The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- January 18, 1999

Councils meet to discuss communication issues

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SAN ANTONIO -- The Division III Management Council and Presidents Council discussed the Convention schedule and legislation and also addressed other matters related to planning and communications during a January 9 joint meeting.

The Councils reviewed the history of the championships automatic-qualification proposal and discussed matters related to the legislative proposal, which would be voted upon by the membership later in the Convention.

The Councils also reviewed the Division III mission statement, planning priorities and strategic-planning accomplishments.

The Councils reviewed the communication process between the Management Council and the Presidents Council and the relationship between the two bodies.

Issues related to the Division III governance structure were discussed as well, including federation and its impact, managing future growth in the division, orientation for governance-structure participants and the Division III process for evaluating the new governance structure.

Council members also discussed the identity of Division III and the unique qualities the division brings to intercollegiate athletics.

Elsa Kircher Cole, NCAA general counsel, addressed the Councils on current litigation, including lawsuits and other issues related to the baseball-bat issue. Cole also discussed a lawsuit filed by Adidas regarding the Association's rules on logo sizes, as well as the Smith case, which concerns the issue of whether the Association should be considered a recipient of federal funds. Oral arguments on the Smith case will occur before the Supreme Court on January 20. Also addressed were continuing negotiations regarding the restricted-earnings case.