The Division III Football Committee recently voted to recommend changes to the championship criteria on strength of schedule and pairings.

At its meeting February 6-9 in Palm Springs, California, the committee recommended to the Division III Championships Committee that it be allowed to use the record of a team and conference in postseason play from previous years as a seeding criteria. Currently, the criteria used to select the participating teams also are the standards by which they are seeded.

Following a review of the methods that determine the strength of schedule for teams under consideration for the championship, the committee recommended to the Championships Committee that record against regionally ranked teams replace the opponents' opponents' records. The use of opponents' records will continue to be a strength-of-schedule component.

The committee also heard a presentation from officials from Salem, Virginia, regarding the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III championship game. Salem has played host to the game since 1993.

The group discussed proposed activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Stagg Bowl in 2002, including possible enhancements to the Gagliardi Award presentation and a commitment to introduce all participating student-athletes from both teams at the championship banquet.

The committee made several recommendations in response to issues regarding game-clock operation in one of the 2001 semifinal games. The alternate official, as well as the six officials on the field, will be reminded that it is the ultimate responsibility of the officiating crew to ensure that game- and play-clock operation is properly managed. Clock operators will be asked to attend the Friday evening pregame meeting, and game officials will meet with them again on Saturday morning.

In addition, host institutions will be required to provide a dedicated means of communication, other than using the coaches' headsets, for the officiating crew to communicate with press-box personnel. They will also be strongly encouraged to remove persons not essential to game operations from the press box.

Finally, NCAA game representatives will be required to be available to the officiating crew immediately after the game as it leaves the field. This will provide the officials the opportunity to report any concerns they have before their jurisdiction of the game ends.