National Collegiate Athletic Association |
CommentAugust 3, 1998
Guest editorial -- NACDA proud of preseason games
BY MICHAEL J. CLEARY
NACDA sponsors the Kickoff Classic, begun in 1983, and the Pigskin Classic, started in 1990. In the 15 years NACDA has sponsored these events, at no time have the NCAA's rules ever been "disregarded." In the article, it says, "The race to sign marquee teams was so intense last year that the one-team-per-conference rule was disregarded and three teams from the Big Ten (Conference) were allowed to participate." Participants from the Big Ten last year included the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the Kickoff Classic, Northwestern University in the Pigskin Classic and Ohio State University in the BCA Classic. NACDA was issued a waiver by the NCAA which allowed more than one team from a conference to participate in separate events. A January 8, 1997 memo from the NCAA states, "...there is not a problem with two teams from the same conference participating in separate exempted contests. The Kickoff Classic and the Pigskin Classic are separate events, just as the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic and the Great Eight Tournament are separate events." NACDA's request for an interpretation and the NCAA's response certainly shows there was no intent to "disregard" any NCAA rule or regulation. The Kickoff and Pigskin Classics are run for college athletics by collegiate administrators. The NACDA Preseason Games Committee oversees both games, while there is a separate Host and Games Committee for each Classic. Outside promoters are not involved in the administration of, nor receive any funds from, NACDA's preseason games. NACDA also takes exception to the implication that NACDA does not use the funds for the purpose they were originally intended. In fact, the entities which receive funds from the Kickoff and Pigskin Classics are NACDA, the NACDA Foundation, the AFCA, the National Football Foundation and the Division I-A Athletics Directors' Association. As a result of 15 Kickoff Classics and eight Pigskin Classics, NACDA has provided more than $7.6 million in funding for postgraduate scholarships. Additionally, over the course of the next five years, NACDA will contribute another $4.5 million to be used toward postgraduate scholarships. This is in addition to the millions of dollars that have been returned to the participating institutions. There may or may not be problems with the other preseason games. However, NACDA does not wish to be painted with the same brush by having all of the preseason games lumped into one category. In the past 15 years, NACDA has operated 23 preseason games without any problems. It is inappropriate to put NACDA into the same group with the operators of the other preseason games when they have only operated one game. As of this date, to the best of our knowledge, NACDA is in strict accordance with the NCAA's rules governing preseason games. Since the Kickoff and Pigskin Classics have been in existence prior to the NCAA's recent meetings concerning exempted contests, the NCAA Division I Management Council granted a waiver of the current limitations on an institution's appearance in the preseason games. The Kickoff and Pigskin Classics have independent once-in-four-year windows that apply separately to the institutions that appear in them. Thus, if an institution participates in the 1998 Kickoff Classic, it would still be eligible for the 1999 Pigskin Classic, but would not be eligible for the Kickoff Classic again until 2002. Additionally, since the Kickoff and Pigskin Classics are considered separate exempted contests, it is permissible to have more than one team from the same conference participate in the two events in the same year. Further, NACDA is extremely proud of the postgraduate scholarships that have been funded as a result of the Kickoff and Pigskin Classic. As a result of these games, hundreds of students have been given the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees, including legal and medical degrees. The preseason games also have allowed NACDA to provide internship opportunities in the national office for more than 80 students, the majority of whom have gone on to jobs in the field of athletics. The Kickoff and Pigskin Classics have been beneficial to many entities and individuals involved with intercollegiate athletics, many of whom are not aware of it. NACDA is proud of the manner these games have been conducted for the past 15 years and will stand behind its methods. Michael J. Cleary is executive director of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Editor's note: The article did not intend to suggest that NACDA or any other sponsoring agency disregarded the one-team-from-a-conference annual provision. Rather, it intended to convey that the legislation was disregarded by the NCAA when it certified the games. The News regrets any confusion that may have resulted. Letter to the Editor -- Time to check 'win at all costs' mentalityThere is a great deal of skepticism regarding the value of sportsmanship and fair play. The comments of Dave Morris that appeared in The NCAA News June 22 I think sadly but accurately reflect a prevailing attitude on the subject. In many ways, sportsmanship is seen as a luxury for the victor who can afford to be benevolent and the uncomfortable consolation for those in defeat who have nothing else to offer for their effort. The "win at all cost" mentality is very pervasive. If not checked, we run the risk of losing our integrity as educators of character, which is ultimately whom we profess to be as coaches and administrators. If sport, as we so often witness, is reduced principally and primarily to winning, there is no reason to play by the rules, to treat others with respect or to take responsibility for how we play the game. When the end justifies the means, sportsmanship and plain civil decency go out the window. If verbally abusive coaching methods or aggressive taunting by players are utilized to achieve positive results, these behaviors will become accepted as "part of the game." Winning, however, does not minimize the damage these practices have on individuals and the game itself. Sportsmanship, fair play, character development and civil behavior are habits that are taught. We have an essential role to play in this process. Whether sportsmanship is on the wane or rise seems of little importance compared to the reality that in our transparent world of high technology and access to information, everything that happens in sport is magnified to a high degree. Therefore, we need to talk about sportsmanship, identify role models and examples of sporting behavior, and put at the pinnacle of everything we do the concept that character in sport really matters. If we do not, we may find that "we have met the enemy and he is us!"
Lee Ellis Opinions -- Delany: Not every problem has a legislative solution
James E. Delany, commissioner "We need to have reasonable and defensible rules to give us structure. We don't need rules that are as extensive as they are now. We need rules regarding the number of scholarships, coaches, games, decipherable recruiting rules, some minimum academic standards. We don't need micro-management.... "One, the membership should get the strong message that you can't solve every problem legislatively. Two, the NCAA staff leadership, lawyers, need to do a better job of filtering out and advising on rules that could have consequences. "Third, I think we need to re-examine the NCAA function. What can it do that conferences do not? Conferences can't do our own enforcement and we can't stage national championships. We need the NCAA to provide a forum for reasonable recruiting and academic rules."
Ray M. Bowen, president "There has always been a certain survival-of-the-fittest issue in intercollegiate athletics. The importance of TV revenue as we try to manage our budgets may continue to create problems for some schools."
DeLoss Dodds, athletics director "Somewhere, somehow there's going to be a Division IV or something, a weeding out of Division I-A."
W. James Copeland Jr., athletics director "I've talked with a lot of people across the country. I think there will be another shift of some type involving changes of league membership other than the (Western Athletic Conference). That could represent some opportunities for us in terms of adding people to the league if the league is amenable to that. It could affect the eight remaining in the league, the eight who left the league, the Big 12 and maybe the Big East."
Thomas C. Hansen, commissioner "I think most of our people believe (NCAA restructuring) is working quite well, but they're finding it's hard to keep up with the flow of legislation. I know some people are frustrated, but there are more people involved with things than ever before."
Title IX
Richard M. Bay, athletics director Discussing the possibility of altering the permissible number of grants-in-aid in Division I-A football: "It's too early to tell what might happen, but this only reconfirms there is a movement nationally to define the opportunities for men in intercollegiate athletics by the interests of women. This is another example of an effort to reduce scholarship opportunity for men simply because we don't have the money to increase scholarship money for women. It's unfair. It's ludicrous."
Kathy Van Wyk, women's softball coach "It is unfortunate for the men because I don't think the original intention (of Title IX) was to take anything away from them. "Maybe it's karma. The men have benefited for years and the women have suffered for years. Maybe it's time things even out more. I don't think cutting (football scholarships) should be the first option, but if it has to be, it has to be."
Deborah Brake, senior counsel "I don't think it's a drastic measure at all (to cut football scholarships). I'm sure the football coaches would give you a different opinion. But they screamed bloody murder when they went from 95 to 85, and the world never fell apart."
Sheila Schroeder, guest columnist "Why don't the male wrestlers, swimmers, gymnasts and baseball players question the corporate model (of) university athletic departments ... that looks for profitability as its primary criterion for a sport? Why don't you ask the financially draining football programs to pare down their numbers rather than ... shake an angry fist at the minority? Why don't you look at the athletic departments and universities and ask who makes the decisions to cut programs? Why don't you ask what alternatives exist for universities to come into compliance? "All women want is a fair share that needs to start with scholarships, with educational opportunity. Stop feeding into the myths about Title IX and let's see how women, as the affected minority, can, at the very least, have equal educational benefits."
Baseball bats
Bill Rowe Jr., athletics director Reacting to development of an "electric" bat that expands the "sweet spot" throughout a bat: "How far is technology going to go? We don't blame the manufacturers at all. They're doing what they need to do to sell bats. But everybody's got to check on limitations."
Synchronized swimming
Gene Bartow, athletics director "We think synchronized swimming can be very interesting, different and successful. In 2000, we may be one of the few schools with a program like this. But by 2005, who knows how many different colleges will have it? Throughout this part of the country, I'd imagine it will be more than just UAB."
Academic standards
Richard Harris, director of disabled student development Reacting to the NCAA's agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice relating to learning-disabled students: "I do like the fact that the NCAA is going to take a better look at each individual. But the NCAA has tried, in the last few years, to strengthen academic standards, and I find it hard to disagree with that stand."
|