The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- August 16, 1999

Notes

Facilities: Eastern Kentucky University will add a state-of-the-art scoreboard with video replay capability for its home football schedule this year. The school has secured Daktronics Sports Marketing as its marketing partner to design and manage the new technology at Roy Kidd Stadium ... A new video replay scoreboard also will be featured at the University of North Dakota's new ice hockey arena. Luxury boxes, eight locker rooms and an electronic scoreboard with replay capabilities all will be part of the $50 million structure. The arena will have seating for 11,406 people, with seating for 5,500 fans on a lower level and 4,800 in an upper deck. The arena will be the third largest college rink in the nation, behind Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center (17,500) and the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (14,385). Work is expected to be completed by the 2002-03 season ... Plans have been announced for a $37 million renovation to Portland Civic Stadium, where Portland State University plays its home football games. The renovation will increase the capacity of the 30,000-seat facility and improve amenities. "This gives Portland State an opportunity to draw more fans as well as a strong position to compete regionally and nationally," said Portland State football coach Jim Sterk. "It also makes us an attractive university for any potential football conference realignment that may occur in the future."

Sports sponsorship: The University of Akron will add women's soccer beginning with the 2000-01 academic year. The addition brings to nine the number of women's sports offered by the school. Akron also sponsors eight men's sports, and rifle, which is a coed sport. The school plans to name a head coach for women's soccer by January 2000. The team will play an independent schedule in 2000 and a full Mid-American Conference slate in 2001.

Miscellaneous: The Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation awards honoring the collegiate men's and women's soccer players of the year will be recognized as the official Division I awards of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Division I players will be eligible and winners will be determined by voting of NSCAA member coaches. The Missouri Athletic Club awards, presented annually to the men's top player since 1986, have been given to the top men's and women's collegiate players since 1991. The Division I players of the year will be honored at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, and all division winners will be recognized at the NSCAA convention.