CHAMPS/Life Skills

Reservation process underway for February conference

The conference will take place February 10-13, 2001, at the Hilton Hotel in Long Beach, California. A limited number of spaces for NCAA institutions not participating in the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program are available.

The conference agenda includes topics such as hazing, leadership, conflict resolution, peer mentoring, diversity education, due process and eating disorders. For conference and hotel reservation forms, contact Melissa Parsons via e-mail at mparsons@ncaa.org.

Staff contact: Melissa Parsons.

BASKETBALL

Basketball issues group addresses recruiting environment

The men's subcommittee of the newly created Division I Basketball Issues Committee has proposed a combination of certification, education, regulation and accommodation to redesign the Division I men's basketball recruiting environment.

The package, which will be included for discussion at the Division I forum January 8 at the NCAA Convention in Orlando, Florida, will come before the Division I Management Council for the first time in April 2001, be sent out for membership comment and then will return to the Council and Board of Directors for final action in October 2001.

Staff contact: David Berst.

EXEMPTED CONTESTS

Subcommittee examines exempted-contest policy

A proposal from the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet's Certified Contests Subcommittee that would eliminate exempted contests in basketball was examined in more detail during the subcommittee's recent meeting.

The legislation in question -- Proposal No. 2000-106 -- would add one game to the regular season in basketball while eliminating preseason certified contests. The proposal also would permit an institution to participate in either one informal scrimmage against a four-year collegiate institution or one exhibition contest against a non-Division I four-year college in addition to 29 regular-season games.

Staff contact: Bob Oliver.

HONORS PROGRAM

Top student-athletes to be honored at Convention

An outstanding collection of student-athletes who have performed well on and off the fields and courts has been selected as NCAA Today's Top VIII award winners.

The group will be honored January 7 at the Honors Dinner during the NCAA Convention in Orlando, Florida.

This year's selections are Drew Brees, football, Purdue University; Matthew L. Busbee, swimming and diving, Auburn University; Alia Fischer, basketball, Washington University (Missouri); Andrea M. Garner, basketball, Pennsylvania State University; Kristy Kowal, swimming and diving, University of Georgia; Kevin M. Listerman, basketball; Northern Kentucky University; Amanda Scott, softball, California State University, Fresno; Josh Sims, lacrosse, Princeton University.

Also, three Appalachian State University assistant football coaches -- Rob Best, Shawn Elliot and Stacy Searels -- will share the 2001 NCAA Award of Valor.

Staff contact: Kellie Leeman.

DEATHS

Death claims former president, Management Council member

Wilford S. Bailey, a former NCAA president who presided over the 1988 and 1989 Conventions, died October 7 in Opelika, Alabama.

In addition to serving as NCAA president, Bailey was NCAA secretary-treasurer in 1985-86.

Also, Jean Bell Chandler, a Division II Management Council member and interim director of athletics at Clark Atlanta University, died October 31.