National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News Features

November 25, 1996

I baseball looks to build upon its anniversary

Last year's 50th celebration should help future events, I committee contends

The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee discussed what it termed the great success of the 50th anniverary celebration of the Division I Baseball Championship and expressed its intent to build on that success for future events during the committee's recent review of the championship.

During its November 11-14 meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, the committee discussed the current contract with the city of Omaha, Nebraska, to host the College World Series through 2000.

It agreed to form a subcommittee to study issues that will enter into future negotiations.

The committee also met with representatives from College World Series, Inc., and discussed plans for a coaches survey; potential stadium renovations; the installation of a new infield; ticket prices; a new scalping ordinance; marketing policies; game operation concerns; and plans for celebrating Omaha's 50th College World Series in 1999.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Division I Baseball Committee
November 11-14/Kansas City, Missouri

  • Reviewed the television schedule for the 1997 College World Series.

  • Discussed the calculation of the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and its use in determining automatic qualification and play-in conferences. It agreed to continue using postseason NCAA play in the RPI calculation.

  • Discussed the 1997 rules changes and points of emphasis with William E. Thurston, secretary-rules editor of the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee. Thurston also reported on the ongoing baseball bat performance-research program and options available to the rules committee.

  • Discussed the schedule for the American Baseball Coaches Association convention with Dave Keilitz, executive director of the ABCA. Keilitz also discussed a change-of-season plan and a related Big Ten Conference resolution that will be presented at the NCAA Convention.

  • Discussed the structure of the National Umpire Program and approved several new policies and procedures presented by Dave Yeast, the program's national coordinator. The committee reviewed a preliminary list of regional advisory committee members who will work with the four national umpire evaluators, and approved the 48 umpires recommended by the National Umpire Committee to umpire Division I regionals and the College World Series in 1997.

    The committee also discussed plans for 1997 umpire clinics, the strike zone and the "red-lining" problem that affects some conference umpires.