The NCAA News Digest

November 22, 1999

• Football strength of schedule
• BASKETBALL -- NCAA announces Web site to promote college basketball
• CONVENTION -- Official notice mailed to membership November 15
• WOMAN OF THE YEAR -- ESPN announces change in rebroadcast schedule
• ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW -- Divisions I, II and III groups agree to important changes
• BASEBALL -- List of approved bats available on NCAA Web site

Football strength of schedule

1999 top 10 I-A overall schedule strength
Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
1. -- Alabama -- .696 -- .444 -- .723
2. -- Auburn -- .671 -- .800 -- .653
3. -- South Carolina -- .645 -- .500 -- .663
4. -- Michigan -- .621 -- .545 -- .630
5. -- Vanderbilt -- .612 -- .778 -- .592
Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
6. -- Florida St. -- .606 -- .900 -- .571
7. -- Miami (Fla.) -- .606 -- .310 -- .729
8. -- LSU -- .604 -- .667 -- .598
9. -- Ohio St. -- .600 -- .800 -- .579
10. -- Michigan St. -- .598 -- .818 -- .571
Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
1. -- Elon -- .642 -- .000 -- .642
2. -- Dartmouth -- .619 -- .333 -- .653
3. -- Columbia -- .612 -- .889 -- .579
4. -- Cal Poly -- .608 -- .444 -- .629
5. -- Holy Cross -- .604 -- .900 -- .570
Rank -- Team -- Entire -- Future -- Past
6. -- Florida A&M -- .584 -- .571 -- .585
6. -- Alabama St. -- .580 -- .000 -- .580
8. -- James Madison -- .577 -- .900 -- .540
9. -- Fordham -- .573 -- .600 -- .570
10. -- Jackson St. -- .571 -- .250 -- .605

1999 top 10 I-AA overall schedule strength Ñ- Of the top 10 teams in the Bowl Championship Series rankings for November 15, the toughest schedule seems to belong to surprising Alabama. With very few games left to be played, the cumulative strength of schedule is now at the point where its validity is almost secured.

The NCAA strength of schedule rankings, which takes into consideration a team's opponents' record when not playing that team, has Alabama ranked first in the cumulative list. When combining Alabama's past and future opponents' schedule when not playing the Crimson Tide, coach Mike DuBose's squad's opponents have compiled a .696 winning percentage.

Florida State, No. 1 in the BCS rankings, and No. 10 Michigan, are also listed among the top 10 teams thus far in the 1999 cumulative strength of schedule.

Overall schedule strength might also explain why some teams are struggling with won-lost records. For example, Ohio State, LSU and Auburn are all listed among the top 10 toughest schedules in the nation for 1999.

In Division I-AA, the toughest schedule belongs to Elon, whose opponents are winning at a .642 pace.

BASKETBALL

NCAA announces Web site to promote college basketball

The NCAA has announced the creation of an Internet presence for the 1999-00 men's and women's college basketball regular season.

The site, which launched November 19, is the first of its kind for Divisions I, II and III college basketball. The site is a product of NCAA Online, the official Web site of the NCAA.

Expidant, an interactive design specialist, developed the site, which will support and enhance the many NCAA promotional basketball programs. Included in the site is a "Coaches' Corner" that will serve as an archive and resource center for fans interested in learning more about the NCAA's greatest coaches. A unique part of the site is the "My Team" area that makes use of many personalization tools.

The Web site may be found at www.ncaabasketball.net.

Staff contact: John Johnson

CONVENTION

Official Notice mailed to membership November 15

The Official Notice of the 2000 NCAA Convention was mailed to the membership November 15.

The Notice -- which includes one Executive Committee proposal, 47 Division II legislative proposals and 46 Division III proposals, as well as a schedule of meetings in all three divisions -- was sent to the chief executive officer, faculty athletics representative, director of athletics and senior woman administrator at every active NCAA institution. Officers of conferences and affiliated members also received copies.

The Official Notice is the final publication of proposed legislation for the Convention in San Diego, which will be conducted January 8-11, 2000. Proposals will not be reprinted in the Convention Program, although that publication will list any necessary editorial changes made between now and the Convention.

Staff contact: David Schnase.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

ESPN announces change in rebroadcast schedule

ESPN has announced new times for the rebroadcast of the 1999 NCAA Woman of the Year dinner.

The program now will be carried at 1 p.m. EST December 7 and 4:30 a.m. EST December 16.

Jamila Demby, a track and field athlete at the University of California, Davis, was named 1999 NCAA Woman of the Year during the annual dinner October 24 in Indianapolis.

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

Divisions I, II and III groups agree to important changes

The Divisions I, II and III Administrative Review Subcommittees have agreed on significant changes and clarifications designed to achieve greater consistency in the review process and to address the ever-growing number of cases submitted by the membership.

The changes will apply to all three divisions.

In addition, Division II will consider legislation that would make the Division II Administrative Review Subcommittee an appellate body rather than an adjudicatory one.

Staff contact: Julie Roe-Sumner.

BASEBALL

List of approved bats available on NCAA Web site

The NCAA has released an initial list of baseball bats that are in compliance for use beginning January 1, 2000.

Twenty-two bats have been approved as of November 15, with more bats to be tested. Future lists will be made available on the NCAA's Web site (www.ncaa.org) and will be mailed to member institutions.

The protocol for testing also is available on the site.

Staff contact: Ty Halpin.