FOOTBALL

Attendance tops 39 million for second-highest mark ever

NCAA football attracted more than 39 million fans for only the second time in history as the sport achieved the second-highest home attendance total ever in 2000.

The 606 NCAA teams totaled 39,147,114 fans for all three divisions, trailing only the all-time record of 39,482,657, set in 1999.

Division I-A totaled 28,839,284 fans in 2000, a drop of 193,689 from the record of more than 29 million in 1999.

Staff contact: Richard M. Campbell -- rcampbell@ncaa.org.

LITIGATION

NCAA, Adidas settle suit over logo placement, size

The NCAA and Adidas America, Inc., have have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the shoe and apparel manufacturer that challenged the Association's rules regarding size and placement of apparel manufacturers' logos.

The settlement is based on a clarification of the bylaw and provides Adidas and other manufacturers with clear guidelines regarding how such manufacturers can design distinctive collegiate uniforms while complying fully with the bylaw.

"Our agreement with Adidas leaves our logo bylaw fully intact and at the same time allows Adidas to design unique uniforms for our members," said NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey. "We are happy that we have found a way to work with Adidas and also protect intercollegiate athletics from intrusive commercialization."

Staff contact: Elsa Cole -- ecole@ncaa.org.

CONVENTION

Division II blazes trail with amateurism legislation

The Division II membership took a bold step at its January 8 business session when it approved a proposal to modify amateurism legislation for pre-enrolled student-athletes.

Proposal No. 12 (Amateurism -- Activities Prior to Initial Enrollment) was approved by a margin of 217-29, with two abstentions.

Division II delegates also improved a 13-proposal deregulation package for financial aid.

Staff contact: Mike Racy -- mracy@ncaa.org.

CONVENTION

Division III takes action on financial aid compliance

Division III moved toward a new financial aid compliance process for the future with several major decisions January 8 at the 2001 NCAA Convention.

Taking the first step toward a new financial aid compliance process, the membership overwhelmingly approved an amended version of Proposal No. 46, which simplified Bylaw 15 and eliminated the need for institutions to submit their awards of circumstance and nonathletics achievement awards to the NCAA. The proposal also confirmed that financial aid packaging for student-athletes must be consistent with financial aid packaging for students in general.

Staff contact: Dan Dutcher -- ddutcher@ncaa.org.