The NCAA's 96th annual Convention was the first to be held in the city in which the NCAA is headquartered, and it might not be the last.

One of the reasons the Association moved its national office to Indianapolis was so that the NCAA headquarters would be more centrally located within its mem bership. Indianapolis also offered plentiful, convenient and efficient meeting facilities. Both factors were put to good use as almost 1,700 delegates converged on Indianapolis to conduct what NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey called "one of the best NCAA Conventions ever."

Dempsey's remark was prompted by several factors. First of all, the Association's annual meeting was a productive one. Division II delegates approved a legislative package designed to manage membership growth and made significant progress in deregulating Bylaw 17 (playing and practice seasons).

Division III members not only approved an amateurism deregulation package, they also appointed a subcommittee that will examine the future of Division III. According to Ohio Wesleyan University President Tom Courtice, the outgoing Presidents Council chair who announced the decision, the subcommittee will work to "better articulate the academic and athletics values within the sports cultures on Division III campuses and explore the manner in which the division might organize itself around those values."

Division I members prepared for the future by engaging in a presentation on academic reform issues, including proposed changes to initial and continuing eligibility. Also, the Division I Board of Directors Task Force, a group of presidents appointed in November, made it clear that other reforms, both academic and fiscal, would be forthcoming.

Another reason Dempsey called attention to this Convention was because it came with some new twists. The opening business session, if not the most dramatic in Convention history, perhaps was the most inspirational. With the compelling aftermath of September 11 as a backdrop, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice addressed delegates live via satellite from the White House and urged national unity through values acquired in higher education. Her message delivered over giant video screens was almost as effective, if not more so, than if it had been delivered in person.

Dempsey also emphasized higher education values in his State of the Association address, and he leaned on Silver Anniversary Award winners for help. Three of this year's class of six 25-year honorees delivered videotaped messages of how the values they learned while participating in intercollegiate athletics guided them in other areas of their lives.

Also new this year was the setup at the annual Honors Dinner. The honorees -- the Theodore Roosevelt Award winner, the six Silver Anniversary Award recipients, the Today's Top VIII and the two Inspiration Award recipients -- were interspersed throughout the crowd instead of assembled at a head table.

But nothing about the Convention was more different than the delegates reception, which was held this year at the national office. The building's unique configuration offered delegates a guided tour of the headquarters facility in addition to the adjoining Hall of Champions. The reception also allowed delegates the chance to put a face on national office staff members they work with throughout the year on the phone.

"I received more positive comments on that aspect of the Convention than anything else," Dempsey said afterward. "The delegates reception clearly was a hit with the members."

More good news: The Convention won't be a hit to members' pocketbooks. In fact, this year's gathering, given the central location and the fact that some functions were held at the national office, is projected to save a six-figure dollar amount when the final numbers are crunched.

That might lead the Executive Committee to consider returning the Convention to Indianapolis, if not on a rotating basis, at least occasionally.

"Many of the delegates asked about conducting future Conventions here," Dempsey said. "I would think that certainly is a possibility, especially since this one went so well. Two of the reasons we moved the national office here were to improve the meeting facilities and reduce the travel burden on the membership. I think both factors played a role in the success of this Convention, and that would lead me to support Indianapolis as a future Convention site."

Past Convention attendance

2002 (Indianapolis) 1,689

2001 (Orlando) 1,778

2000 (San Diego) 1,597

1999 (San Antonio) 1,872

1998 (Atlanta) 2,096

1997 (Nashville) 2,685

1996 (Dallas) 2,663

1995 (San Diego) 2,603

1994 (San Antonio) 2,447

1993 (Dallas) 2,297

1992 (Anaheim) 2,282

1991 (Nashville) 2,366

1990 (Dallas) 2,171

The 1997 Convention attendance was a record high. The 1997 Convention also was the last
before the Association restructured into its current federated system
of governance.