Joe Paterno, head football coach
Pennsylvania State University
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Discussing a proposal from the Big 12 Conference to establish a permanent 12th regular-season game in Division I-A football:

"I think the athletics directors and the people who are on the Management Council have to decide whether we're in this to educate kids or whether we're in the business that these kids are going to be used to make money. And if you look at some of the graduation rates from around the country, you wonder. Now we're going to play a 12th game? It's going to be like basketball. None of these kids will go to school, if we're not careful. I think we have to sit down and be reasonable about what we ask of kids."

Joe Castiglione, director of athletics
University of Oklahoma
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Why is it OK to play 12 games in certain years and not in others? The precedent already has been set. That argument doesn't hold up."

Randy Walker, head football coach
Northwestern University
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Our coaches and our players are being asked to do more and more with less and less. ...

"I'm all for scholarship limitation and academic legislation and all that. But all I know is they keep increasing the season length and asking our players to do more and more. And we're having less resources to do it with. It's difficult.

"Any movement on this should be coupled with some kind of assistance to football. It's going to put more pressure on the players, more pressure on young players especially. I'm not sure it's in the best interests of the kids. That's where I draw the line."

Morgan Burke, director of athletics
Purdue University
Indianapolis Star

"There comes a point where there's too much. But if you're starting at Labor Day and ending around Thanksgiving, you're still dealing with the traditional football season."

Recruiting

Bill Self, head men's basketball coach
University of Kansas
Lawrence (Kansas) Journal World

Discussing emergency legislation the Board of Directors adopted in August that affects official visits:

"The NCAA obviously has done some things positive to level the playing field, but there has been some very immediate reaction to negativity that's existed in our profession over the last 12 to 18 months. Since (then), administrators have given a hard look to, 'How can we eliminate potential problems?' A lot of things they are doing are trying to eliminate potential problems.

"I'm not in favor of all the rules, like not flying kids in on private planes. I don't think that's a good rule. I will say a lot of people think that is a good rule. Of all the changes that are going to occur, I will not be happy with all of them across the board, but I, like all coaches, can be happy with the movement taking place. It may affect certain schools differently. Coaches understand some progress is made even if we don't see every rule favoring us individually."

Ice hockey rules

Brady Murray, student-athlete
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks Herald

Discussing stricter rules enforcement this year in college ice hockey:

"I like the fact (officials are) calling (penalties), but it's getting carried away. In the three games we've played, they've called everything. They want to speed up the game, I guess. But it's kind of slowing them down, because there's so many whistles. ... Last year, when the playoffs started, they backed away from making those calls. So we'll see what they do this year."

Dave Hakstol, head men's ice hockey coach
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks Herald

"Everyone, from the commissioners of the leagues to the supervisors of officials, seems committed to sticking with this plan. It's not a change of any rules, it's just more of an emphasis on calling the hooking, holding and obstruction the way they were meant to be called. It'll force players defensively to work an awful lot harder. You have to use your feet and body positioning rather than your stick or throwing an arm around someone. ...

"I like the concept of the change. I think we will end up with a more exciting brand of hockey. At the same time, I think we have a great product in the (Western Collegiate Hockey Association), so I think there has to be some moderation with this. That's the part that remains to be seen."

Tom Anastos, commissioner
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
CollegeSports.com

"There was a cultural attitude in hockey that made it so permissive to tolerate illegal tactics that were in our rule book. It has infested the game to the point where the game has slowed down. The challenge out there is not so much the rules enforcement, but the mindset the players, the coaches, the officials, and the fans will have. ...

"I don't think that's fair to officials to have that thought process of, 'Yeah, it's a penalty, but not in that situation.' We have been sending mixed messages to our officials. The biggest complaint about officiating has been consistency. Well, if you are going to send mixed messages to the officials, you should expect mixed results."

Mike Schafer, head men's ice hockey coach
Cornell University
CollegeSports.com

"The NCAA and the hockey people in general can do as much as they want; I don't think the game is going to change. The offense isn't just going to blossom back. The goaltenders and the equipment are too big; the goalies are too good. We are not going to change our style. We are a good defensive team, and good in the way the NCAA would define as the good way, with good body positioning and doing things properly."