The NCAA's 100th birthday isn't the only occasion upon which stakeholders in intercollegiate athletics have peered into the crystal ball. Thousands of them helped do that two years ago in the development of the Association's strategic plan.

The document that helps guide the NCAA's present course also speculates about how the enterprise will change five to 10 years from now.

Among those "predictions" from stakeholders:

• Institutions will be pressured to increase funding subsidies for athletics -- and consumers, rather than government, may bear a greater share of the costs.

• Traditional academic institutions will be challenged in the marketplace by nontraditional alternatives, such as "for profit" institutions, online colleges (and courses) and other education providers.

• Economic conditions will increase the pressure for institutions and athletics programs to become more commercial and entrepreneurial.

• The nature of contests may move away from the competition itself and focus on the events surrounding the contests. Colleges may compete to produce increasingly complicated athletically related events.

• The number of students who can afford college may decrease, and those who do attend may require more financial aid.

• The overall purpose and value of intercollegiate athletics may be questioned as fiscal challenges grow. Governments may encourage academic performance by tying funding to graduation rates. College athletics will be pressured to create academic-eligibility standards that help ensure graduation.

• Technology will continue to fragment the media and the audience for intercollegiate athletics events. Athletics programs will be challenged to use communications technology to their advantage. In some cases, technology may actually discourage attendance. Media will continue to feed the desire for instant gratification. Coaches and student-athletes will need to be educated about the public nature of their positions as media seek provocative stories.

• Intercollegiate athletics will be faced with a conflict between financial opportunities and student-athlete well-being. Conflicts are possible as coaches, driven by the pressure to win, demand more of student-athletes while most student-athletes seek to take greater advantage of their educational opportunities.

• Athletes will become more specialized, affecting pre-college development of athletes as they choose a sport at earlier ages.

• The distinction between college and professional athletes will continue to blur as athletes turn professional before their college education is complete or, in some cases, before it has even begun.