DIVISION I

Board approves 12th contest for Division I-A football

Division I-A teams will be allowed to schedule a 12th regular-season football game every year beginning in 2006, following action by the Division I Board of Directors at its April 28 meeting in Indianapolis.

The 12-game proposal, however, was defeated by the Board's Division I-AA members, which means Division I-AA teams will continue to operate under the 11-game schedule.

The 12-game measure is permissive legislation, meaning Division I-A teams may schedule a 12th game if they choose to do so.

The Board of Directors also approved emergency legislation that alleviates pressure on institutions to meet attendance criteria to maintain Division I-A status. The legislation allows institutions to demonstrate over a rolling two-year period either an average minimum actual attendance of 15,000 for all home football games, or at least one season in which the institution averages a minimum of 15,000 in paid attendance for home games.

The new attendance measure becomes effective for the 2005 season, but there won't be an analysis of whether institutions meet the standard until after the 2006 season (because of the two-year rolling period).

Staff contact: David Berst (dberst@ncaa.org)

DIVISION II

Council receives report showing increase in championships TV

Television exposure for Division II championships events has more than quadrupled over the last two years, the Division II Presidents Council learned at its April 28 meeting in Indianapolis.

In 2004-05, a total of 17 championship finals, semifinals or selection shows will be televised -- 18 if a third game is necessary in the best-of-three softball finals. That contrasts with the 2002-03 academic year when only four championship finals were telecast.

Some of the expansion can be attributed to the Presidents Council's January decision to authorize funding to underwrite broadcast production for selected Division II events. That money so far has made it possible to air selection shows for the men's and women's basketball championships and to carry additional games in men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball.

Staff contact: Mike Racy (mracy@ncaa.org)

DIVISION III

Future of Division III initiative proceeds with presidents' list

The Division III Presidents Council has endorsed for further study a list of ideas generated from the Future of Division III initiative.

The ideas include ways to address membership growth, review conference alignment, seek sport equity and promote student-athlete academic success and campus involvement.

Only a handful of the 20-plus ideas presented to the Council by the Future of Division III -- Phase II Oversight Group would require membership approval of legislation, and many would be achieved through educational or informative efforts, such as creation of "best practices" guides.

The action to study specific ideas is a significant milestone in the initiative, which began with adoption at the 2004 Convention of a resolution directing a broad study of Division III's continuing growth and diversity.

Staff contact: Dan Dutcher (ddutcher@ncaa.org)

Calendar