National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2006
« back to 2006 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index
NCAA Year in Review
The NCAA News
|
The NCAA News
JANUARY: The Association begins the year by commemorating its 100th birthday at the 2006 NCAA Convention. The theme is Celebrate the Student-Athlete, a topic that carries through the entire year at the NCAA. ... At the Convention, Division I conducts its first override vote since restructuring, overturning a Board of Directors decision to add a scholarship in women’s volleyball and two each in women’s gymnastics and women’s track and field. A two-scholarship increase in women’s soccer is upheld. ... Also at the Convention, NCAA President Myles Brand delivers a State of the Association Address outlining the three key principles of the collegiate model, including that participants be students first. ... Later in the month, the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics hosts a summit on the student-athlete experience, covering topics ranging from recruiting to performance-enhancing substances. Several student-athletes attend to share their insights.
FEBRUARY: The working group charged with investigating the legitimacy of so-called “diploma mills” begins meeting, identifying a number of ways to address the issue, including requiring prospective student-athletes to register with the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse before completing an official visit at an institution. ... Graduation-rates data show that African-American student-athletes graduated at a rate 17 percentage points higher in 1998 than in 1984. The same study showed that African-American student-athletes perform better academically than the comparable demographic group for the general student body. ... The NCAA Football Rules Committee votes to make instant replay a permanent part of the college game. The committee also votes on changes designed to shorten the length of games. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel later approves instant replay and also adds a coaches’ challenge element to the equation.
MARCH: Academic Progress Rate data are released March 1, including recognition of 1,048 Division I teams for high achievement in the classroom. ... Division II begins collecting data for its Academic Success Rate, which will track academic performance for transfer student-athletes and those not receiving athletically related financial aid. ... The Association authorizes drug testing for student-athletes at Division I institutions during the summer months. Initially, the focus for the drug tests will be on baseball and football student-athletes. ... Kenyon’s men’s swimming and diving team wins its 27th consecutive title, continuing the longest national-championship streak in any NCAA sport.
APRIL: The University of Florida captures its first Division I men’s basketball title over the University of California, Los Angeles, in Indianapolis. The women’s team at the University of Maryland, College Park, overcomes a 13-point deficit to win the national championship in Boston. ... The NCAA Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics meets for the last time, endorsing a framework for the future of Division I and pledging to see it through. The plan revolves around fiscal responsibility, academic standards, presidential leadership and student-athlete well-being. ... Judith M. Sweet announces she will leave her position as NCAA senior vice president for championships and education services later in the year. ... Divisions I and II establish a comprehensive process for reviewing high schools and individual student academic credentials for purposes of meeting initial-eligibility requirements. ... Division II presidents authorize legislation to consider the creation of two national championship brackets in football.
MAY: The NCAA establishes a working group to examine the issue of “early commitments” in football and basketball. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, wins its 98th and 99th overall national titles in men’s volleyball and women’s water polo. UCLA has more NCAA championships than any other institution. ... Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, softball team wins its first national championship — and the first national title for the school overall — capping a year in which nine teams won a championship that was a first for their school.
JUNE: An independent report by Washington, D.C., attorney James C. Duff recommends adjusting Division I enforcement and infractions procedures to manage risks and improve operation efficiencies. ... The Association releases an initial list of preparatory or nontraditional high schools from which transcripts will not be accepted for the purpose of meeting NCAA initial-eligibility requirements. ... A working group formed by the NCAA Executive Committee to explore the Association-wide impact of divisional reclassification policies meets for the first time. The group focuses on ways of controlling growth in Division III without harming other divisions, as well as other issues.
JULY: The Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports announces that positive steroid tests have declined almost 50 percent in the last five years while the number of student-athletes tested has risen dramatically. ... The Division III Membership Committee recommends actions to manage growth in the division and ensure that schools seeking to join Division III are fully prepared for active membership. ... The Division III Management Council endorses a plan to combine alcohol and drug education with year-round testing during a pilot program involving nearly one-fourth of the division’s schools. ... National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members in all three divisions discuss the use of male practice players in women’s sports and the practice of posting personal information on online social networks at the groups’ meetings in Dallas. ... The Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet proposes restrictions on text messaging and other forms of computer-mediated communication between coaches and prospective student-athletes.
AUGUST: The Division I Board of Directors decides on 900 as a cut-off score in the Academic Progress Rate under which teams will be subject to penalties in the historically based phase of academic reform. ... Division I changes the names of its football subdivisions to the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). ... Division II and CSTV announce a three-year television and broadband partnership that will showcase more than 80 live Division II regular-season football and basketball games. ... The working group charged with mitigating barriers to academic performance among baseball student-athletes meets for the first time, dividing into subcommittees on retention, eligibility and financial aid. ... The NCAA Life and Work Balance Task Force meets in Dallas to review research data that indicate those working in intercollegiate athletics have a difficult time balancing work with the rest of their life.
SEPTEMBER: Joni Comstock joins the NCAA staff as senior vice president for championships. The former athletics director at American University, Comstock also was designated the national office senior woman administrator. ... Graduation Success Rate data are released September 27, showing a one percentage point increase over the previous year. ... The Black Coaches Association releases its annual report card. It gives “A” grades to 12 NCAA institutions for their hiring processes to fill head coaching vacancies. Six institutions receive failing grades. ... Greg Shaheen is promoted to senior vice president for basketball and business strategies. He had been vice president for Division I men’s basketball.
OCTOBER: Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is named recipient of the NCAA’s highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Award. NCAA President Myles Brand also bestows the Ford Award upon longtime University of Iowa administrator Christine Grant. ... President Bush signs legislation that bans Internet gambling, including all forms of sports wagering. The law holds credit card companies responsible if they process payments for online gambling activity. ... Anne Bersagel, a former cross country runner at Wake Forest University, is named the 2006 Woman of the Year. ... Division III presidents oppose an effort to cap the size of the division, preferring instead to deal with membership growth through proposals of their own. ... The Association marks the one-year anniversary of its partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. Division II led the way with a lead gift of $1 million. The collaboration, formed in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, draws on the resources of the NCAA and its member institutions to build homes for survivors of the storms.
NOVEMBER: The Division II Academic Success Rate is released, showing that on average, Division II student-athletes entering in 1999 graduated at a rate of 69 percent. ... The Division II National Championships Festival is conducted November 15-18, crowning champions in field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.
DECEMBER: The NCAA partners with RazorGator Experiences to provide services, including a fan ticket exchange, hotel and travel packages, and other hospitality services for the 2007 Men’s Final Four. ... The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics issues a a position statement calling for a ban on the use of male practice players in women’s intercollegiate athletics. The statement comes after months of debate within the governance structure and elsewhere in the membership about whether the practice should be allowed to continue. ... The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, women’s soccer team wins its 18th national championship. ... The NCAA extends its partnership with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., for five years. The Hartford will assist with marketing and program initiatives, including the Playbook for Life program... The University of California, Santa Barbara, wins its first men’s soccer championship. The Gauchos’ win over UCLA prevents the Bruins from winning the school’s 100th team title.
FEBRUARY: The working group charged with investigating the legitimacy of so-called “diploma mills” begins meeting, identifying a number of ways to address the issue, including requiring prospective student-athletes to register with the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse before completing an official visit at an institution. ... Graduation-rates data show that African-American student-athletes graduated at a rate 17 percentage points higher in 1998 than in 1984. The same study showed that African-American student-athletes perform better academically than the comparable demographic group for the general student body. ... The NCAA Football Rules Committee votes to make instant replay a permanent part of the college game. The committee also votes on changes designed to shorten the length of games. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel later approves instant replay and also adds a coaches’ challenge element to the equation.
MARCH: Academic Progress Rate data are released March 1, including recognition of 1,048 Division I teams for high achievement in the classroom. ... Division II begins collecting data for its Academic Success Rate, which will track academic performance for transfer student-athletes and those not receiving athletically related financial aid. ... The Association authorizes drug testing for student-athletes at Division I institutions during the summer months. Initially, the focus for the drug tests will be on baseball and football student-athletes. ... Kenyon’s men’s swimming and diving team wins its 27th consecutive title, continuing the longest national-championship streak in any NCAA sport.
APRIL: The University of Florida captures its first Division I men’s basketball title over the University of California, Los Angeles, in Indianapolis. The women’s team at the University of Maryland, College Park, overcomes a 13-point deficit to win the national championship in Boston. ... The NCAA Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics meets for the last time, endorsing a framework for the future of Division I and pledging to see it through. The plan revolves around fiscal responsibility, academic standards, presidential leadership and student-athlete well-being. ... Judith M. Sweet announces she will leave her position as NCAA senior vice president for championships and education services later in the year. ... Divisions I and II establish a comprehensive process for reviewing high schools and individual student academic credentials for purposes of meeting initial-eligibility requirements. ... Division II presidents authorize legislation to consider the creation of two national championship brackets in football.
MAY: The NCAA establishes a working group to examine the issue of “early commitments” in football and basketball. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, wins its 98th and 99th overall national titles in men’s volleyball and women’s water polo. UCLA has more NCAA championships than any other institution. ... Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, softball team wins its first national championship — and the first national title for the school overall — capping a year in which nine teams won a championship that was a first for their school.
JUNE: An independent report by Washington, D.C., attorney James C. Duff recommends adjusting Division I enforcement and infractions procedures to manage risks and improve operation efficiencies. ... The Association releases an initial list of preparatory or nontraditional high schools from which transcripts will not be accepted for the purpose of meeting NCAA initial-eligibility requirements. ... A working group formed by the NCAA Executive Committee to explore the Association-wide impact of divisional reclassification policies meets for the first time. The group focuses on ways of controlling growth in Division III without harming other divisions, as well as other issues.
JULY: The Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports announces that positive steroid tests have declined almost 50 percent in the last five years while the number of student-athletes tested has risen dramatically. ... The Division III Membership Committee recommends actions to manage growth in the division and ensure that schools seeking to join Division III are fully prepared for active membership. ... The Division III Management Council endorses a plan to combine alcohol and drug education with year-round testing during a pilot program involving nearly one-fourth of the division’s schools. ... National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members in all three divisions discuss the use of male practice players in women’s sports and the practice of posting personal information on online social networks at the groups’ meetings in Dallas. ... The Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet proposes restrictions on text messaging and other forms of computer-mediated communication between coaches and prospective student-athletes.
AUGUST: The Division I Board of Directors decides on 900 as a cut-off score in the Academic Progress Rate under which teams will be subject to penalties in the historically based phase of academic reform. ... Division I changes the names of its football subdivisions to the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). ... Division II and CSTV announce a three-year television and broadband partnership that will showcase more than 80 live Division II regular-season football and basketball games. ... The working group charged with mitigating barriers to academic performance among baseball student-athletes meets for the first time, dividing into subcommittees on retention, eligibility and financial aid. ... The NCAA Life and Work Balance Task Force meets in Dallas to review research data that indicate those working in intercollegiate athletics have a difficult time balancing work with the rest of their life.
SEPTEMBER: Joni Comstock joins the NCAA staff as senior vice president for championships. The former athletics director at American University, Comstock also was designated the national office senior woman administrator. ... Graduation Success Rate data are released September 27, showing a one percentage point increase over the previous year. ... The Black Coaches Association releases its annual report card. It gives “A” grades to 12 NCAA institutions for their hiring processes to fill head coaching vacancies. Six institutions receive failing grades. ... Greg Shaheen is promoted to senior vice president for basketball and business strategies. He had been vice president for Division I men’s basketball.
OCTOBER: Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is named recipient of the NCAA’s highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Award. NCAA President Myles Brand also bestows the Ford Award upon longtime University of Iowa administrator Christine Grant. ... President Bush signs legislation that bans Internet gambling, including all forms of sports wagering. The law holds credit card companies responsible if they process payments for online gambling activity. ... Anne Bersagel, a former cross country runner at Wake Forest University, is named the 2006 Woman of the Year. ... Division III presidents oppose an effort to cap the size of the division, preferring instead to deal with membership growth through proposals of their own. ... The Association marks the one-year anniversary of its partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. Division II led the way with a lead gift of $1 million. The collaboration, formed in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, draws on the resources of the NCAA and its member institutions to build homes for survivors of the storms.
NOVEMBER: The Division II Academic Success Rate is released, showing that on average, Division II student-athletes entering in 1999 graduated at a rate of 69 percent. ... The Division II National Championships Festival is conducted November 15-18, crowning champions in field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.
DECEMBER: The NCAA partners with RazorGator Experiences to provide services, including a fan ticket exchange, hotel and travel packages, and other hospitality services for the 2007 Men’s Final Four. ... The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics issues a a position statement calling for a ban on the use of male practice players in women’s intercollegiate athletics. The statement comes after months of debate within the governance structure and elsewhere in the membership about whether the practice should be allowed to continue. ... The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, women’s soccer team wins its 18th national championship. ... The NCAA extends its partnership with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., for five years. The Hartford will assist with marketing and program initiatives, including the Playbook for Life program... The University of California, Santa Barbara, wins its first men’s soccer championship. The Gauchos’ win over UCLA prevents the Bruins from winning the school’s 100th team title.
© 2010 The National Collegiate Athletic Association
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy