National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News Digest

August 16, 1999

Television ratings

Telecasts from the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship were the most-watched NCAA programming on CBS during the 1998-99 academic year while the Division I Women's Basketball Championship and the Division I Baseball Championship were the most popular attractions on ESPN and ESPN2.

The March 29 men's basketball championship game between the University of Connecticut and Duke University drew a rating of 17.2. Games from the men's basketball championship were the 27 highest-rated NCAA programs on CBS. The highest-rated non-basketball programs were the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships and the Division II Men's Basketball Championship.

The Division I Women's Basketball Championship title game between Purdue University and Duke was the top-rated NCAA telecast on ESPN at 4.3.


BASEBALL BATS

Executive Committee suspends implementation of specifications

The NCAA Executive Committee has suspended implementation of specifications for nonwood baseball bats pending the collection of additional test data.

A decision about bats for use in the 2000 season is expected in mid-September. The implementation date was to be August 1999. Staff contact: Ty Halpin.

DIVISION I

Board chooses not to make initial-eligibility changes

The Division I Board of Directors has declined to make any changes at this time in Division I initial-eligibility requirements.

The Board has focused on Division I initial-eligibility standards since March when a federal judge declared the requirements invalid.

The NCAA has appealed the decision, but no ruling on that appeal is likely before October.

The Board also reviewed the final report from the Division I Working Group to Study Basketball Issues that was completed in mid-July. The report summarizes the group's examination of the welfare of the basketball student-athlete, low graduation and high attrition rates of men's basketball student-athletes, the basketball recruiting process, image of the sport, the influence of gambling and agents, early departure of basketball student-athletes, and playing and practice seasons.

Staff contacts: S. David Berst andRobin Green.

DIVISION II

Presidents Council authorizes grant program to aid diversity

The Division II Presidents Council has committed $250,000 in funding for the 1999-00 fiscal year to a matching grant program designed to help Division II conferences and institutions enhance gender and ethnic minority diversity.

The three-year pilot program will fund proposals from conference offices and member institutions. The proposals primarily will encourage ethnic minority and gender employment opportunities.

Staff contacts: Mike Racy andJan A. Brown.

DIVISION III

Membership to make choice on nontraditional seasons

Division III members will get the opportunity to make a clear choice at the 2000 NCAA Convention about nontraditional seasons.

The Division III Management Council last month recommended giving the membership a choice on whether to keep or discard competition in the nontraditional seasons.

The Division III Presidents Council then endorsed the Management Council's recommendation, voting to sponsor legislation to eliminate competition in the nontraditional season, with the exception of tennis and golf.

Staff contacts: Dan Dutcher andBridget Belgiovine.