Calendar

Division I

Management Council endorses modification of 5/8 rule

The Division I Management Council has forwarded to the Board of Directors a plan it believes will offer both immediate and long-term relief to the five/eight initial-counter rule without compromising its intent.

The Council is asking the Board to approve that schools be afforded up to nine initial grants-in-aid, rather than eight, over the two-year period that began with the most recent recruiting class (which enrolled during the 2001-02 academic year) and extends through the next (which will enroll for the 2002-03 academic year). After 2002-03, the two-year maximum of nine would revert to eight, but the new plan would allow schools to earn a "bonus" scholarship if the attrition on their rosters exceeds the initial limit in a given year.

Staff contact: David Berst -- dberst@ncaa.org

FOOTBALL

Study oversight committee seeks changes to certification criteria

The Division I Football Study Oversight Committee recently discussed bowl certification and several other significant issues relating to postseason football. The group recommended that the current postseason bowl certification criteria be replaced with the following policies:

Sponsors must guarantee revenue potential of $1 million in net receipts, excluding revenue derived from contractual arrangements between participating conferences and schools.

Sponsors must guarantee to sell a number of tickets equal in value to the combined contractual obligations of the participating schools.

Bowls must average, over a three-year period, actual attendance of 50 percent of stadium capacity.

Sponsors must provide a $1 million letter of credit, payable to the NCAA.

Staff contact: Dennis Poppe -- dpoppe@ncaa.org

CONVENTION

Compliance Assistance software training to be available

The NCAA membership services staff will conduct "hands-on" training of the NCAA Compliance Assistant software program during the 2002 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. The sessions will be conducted January 12-13 at the Marriott Hotel. Both sessions will be from 8 a.m. to noon each day.

The Compliance Assistant software training will allow participants the opportunity to receive training on different areas of the program. A total of 30 computers will be available for the hands-on training and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The four-hour introduction session will introduce participants to all of the information that may be tracked in each Compliance Assistant module (that is, setup, student-athlete general information, financial aid, eligibility, recruiting, reports, tools). Individuals will learn how to move through the program and how to produce reports (for example, NCAA squad list, eligibility checklist).

Staff contact: Mandi Kern -- mkern@ncaa.org