National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - Digest

June 3, 1996

MARKETING

Special committee recommends more aggressive philosophy

A special committee examining the NCAA's marketing and licensing effort believes that the the NCAA "should be more aggressive and flexible" in the marketing and licensing area.

The Special Committee to Study NCAA Marketing, Licensing and Promotional Activities recently made a number of recommendations that will be considered by the NCAA Executive Committee at its August meeting.

The special committee was chaired by Robert Lawless, president of the University of Tulsa and chair of the Division I subcommittee of the NCAA Presidents Commission.

Staff contact: David E. Cawood.


RECRUITING

Committee endorses proposals to change timing on phone calls

The NCAA Recruiting Committee is endorsing proposals from basketball and football coaches that would permit earlier telephone calls to prospective student-athletes.

The committee agreed to recommend that the NCAA Council sponsor proposed legislation at the 1997 Convention that would permit Divisions I and II basketball coaches to make one telephone call during June following the prospect's junior year in high school and permit Division I football coaches to make one telephone call in May of the prospect's junior year in high school. In exchange, the coaches proposed the elimination in football of two calls that currently are permitted in August.

Staff contact: Charles E. Smrt.


TITLE IX

House committee report includes Title IX paragraph

The committee report that accompanies the House budget resolution includes language related to Title IX.

Title IX is addressed under a paragraph entitled "Restore Original Congressional Intent Regarding Athletic Opportunities Under Title IX." The language expresses a concern over the "reliance on the proportionality rule" in determining compliance with Title IX in collegiate athletics programs and concludes with a directive that Congress should "clarify that implementation of Title IX should not allow for the elimination of athletic opportunities for anyone."

The budget resolution serves as a blueprint for funding decisions made by the House Appropriations Committee. However, policy directives are nonbinding.

Staff contact: Doris A. Dixon.


DIVISION III

Survey forms to be returned to national office by June 3

The deadline is June 3 for returning to the NCAA national office a survey requesting feedback on five models for subdividing Division III championships in team sports.

Information included with the survey forms provides an explanation of the basic principles and concepts being used by the Division III Task Force to Review the NCAA Membership Structure as it considers various championships proposals.

The information packets were sent during the week of May 20 to chief executive officers of all Division III members. Institutions were asked to complete a feedback form on the basic concepts and one on the championships proposals, both according to the institution's perspective rather than that of the individual filling out the forms.

Enclosed with the forms was a summary of five championships models developed by the task force and a request that they be ranked in order of preference with an explanation of the reasons for supporting or opposing the proposals.

The task force will meet June 8 in Marco Island, Florida, to review responses to the survey request.

Staff contact: Daniel T. Dutcher.


ELECTIONS

Elections suspended until restructuring plan is in effect

Elections of Association officers and members of the NCAA Council, Presidents Commission and Executive Committee scheduled in January 1997 have been suspended until after implementation of the restructuring plan.

The Council, using its authority to enact legislation that is deemed noncontroversial, recently amended provisions of the NCAA Constitution dealing with elections of officers and members of the Association's governing bodies.

The Council also amended Bylaw 21 to suspend the nomination and selection process for vacancies scheduled to occur during 1997 on NCAA rules, sports and general committees.


VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball crowds on the rise

Women's collegiate volleyball continued to grow in popularity during the 1995 season as attendance surpassed the 3.9 million mark for all levels combined, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced. NCAA Divis-ions I, II, III, NAIA and the NJCAA combined to total 3,936,275 fans at all home matches.

Nearly half of that came at the Division I level, which surpassed the 1.5 million mark for the third consecutive season. Division I members drew a record 1,850,612 fans for the year, Division II drew 469,443 and Division III brought in 425,872.

For the second consecutive year, the University of Hawaii, Manoa, shattered all previous collegiate volleyball attendance records to capture both the overall attendance and average attendance titles. Hawaii, which drew 72,652 fans in 18 matches (an average of 4,036) in 1994, nearly doubled its total attendance re-cord by squeezing 145,006 fans through its turnstiles in 24 home matches, an average of 6,042.

Division I leaders
Rank/institution - Avg. att.

1. Hawaii 6,042
2. Nebraska 3,917
3. Florida 2,571
4. Illinois 2,347
5. Texas 2,054
6. Illinois State 2,019
7. Wisconsin 1,915
8. Washington State 1,814
9. Stanford 1,751
10. Pacific (California) 1,636

Division II leaders
Rank/institution - Avg. att.

1. Nebraska-Kearney 1,130
2. Northern Colorado 562
3. Cal State Bakersfield 531
4. North Dakota State 523
5. Nebraska-Omaha 450
6. Mesa State 448
7. Hawaii-Hilo 432
8. Morningside 417
9. Barry 401
10. Northern Michigan 372

Division III leaders
Rank/institution - Avg. att.

1. Dubuque 477
2. Simpson 458
3. Washington (Missouri) 442
4. John Carroll 386
5. Marantha Baptist 350
6. Ohio Northern 258
7. Juniata 250
Lawrence 250
Millikin 250
Nebraska Wesleyan 250
St. Norbert 250