BASEBALL

NCAA, Omaha renew contract for Men's College World Series

The Men's College World Series will continue in Omaha through 2010 under the terms of a new contract agreement announced February 3.

The five-year agreement, which will go into effect in 2006, contains several improvements to Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium, including a new video board and scoreboard, installation of protective fencing in front of each dugout, laser grading of the field, enhanced photojournalist booths and press conference rooms, and an expanded umpire's locker room to accommodate eight umpires.

The contract also grants College World Series of Omaha, Inc., a right-of-renegotiation provision beginning August 1, 2009.

"The fact that we have this agreement is an indication of our confidence in the people of Omaha to provide the best possible experience for the student-athletes and fans and to make sure that we measure up with other major sporting events," said Dennis Poppe, NCAA managing director of baseball and football.

"The historic partnership between the City of Omaha and the NCAA over the past 56 years is unprecedented -- no other NCAA championship can claim the longevity the College World Series has enjoyed in Omaha," said Jack Diesing Jr., president of College World Series of Omaha, Inc. "It has become one of the signature events in college athletics every year and we're proud to keep it here through 2010."

Staff contact: Dennis Poppe (dpoppe@ncaa.org).

FOOTBALL

Rules committee supports expanded video review

FONT SIZE=2>The NCAA Football Rules Committee has recommended the expanded experimental use of in-game video officiating review to all member conferences and institutions for the 2005 season, using the same parameters that were approved for experimentation in the 2004 season.

The committee's recommendations will be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) on a conference call February 24. If approved by PROP, the recommendations will be in place for the 2005 football season.

The committee heard a detailed report from the Big Ten Conference concerning its video replay system, which was granted experimentation privileges for the 2004 season. Numerous Division I-A conferences requested the ability to experiment with a replay system for the 2005 season.

Any conference that wishes to use video replay must confirm its administrative plans and system for use with the rules committee by June 1. Video replay will not be allowed in postseason bowl games or an NCAA championship as the comittee believes further experimentation is needed.

For more information, see page 8.

Staff contact: Ty Halpin (thalpin@ncaa.org).

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