Interaction with two other football groups drove most of the agenda for the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee's February 18-20 meeting in Dallas.

The Football Issues Committee heard reports and concerns from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the NCAA's Football Study Oversight Committee (FSOC) in addition to its regular agenda items that included a review of proposed NCAA legislation relating to football.

AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff led a discussion of coaches' concerns, including the concept of granting football student-athletes a fifth year of eligibility. Teaff told the Football Issues Committee that the idea, which has gained support among Division I-A football coaches, would be beneficial because it would eliminate or at least reduce redshirting and thus give the head coach full use of the entire squad. Coaches say that in turn it would minimize the impact of injuries and maximize the morale of players who might otherwise be withheld from competition. Teaff said the proposal also would not necessarily increase costs since most scholarships in football extend through a five-year period anyway.

The Football Issues Committee decided not to take a position on the issue until further study is completed. Specifically, the committee wants to determine a more accurate measure of how many student-athletes would benefit from such a rule and what, if any, cost-savings actually would be realized. In addition, the committee noted that if such a proposal were to be approved, it likely would be extended to all sports; therefore, the group also wants to solicit input from the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Division I Championships/
Competition Cabinet declined to sponsor a similar proposal during its September 2000 meeting.

Another issue from the AFCA concerned coaches' involvement in summer conditioning programs. The issue has been debated recently as a student-athlete welfare initiative, since some coaches believe their presence during those sessions would help ensure player safety.

The Football Issues Committee appointed a subcommittee to work with the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports in order to determine whether a modified workout structure could be effectively implemented by this summer. The committee also noted that the FSOC is studying the issue and received input on the issue during a panel discussion it sponsored during its meeting in February.

In addition to the AFCA report, the committee reviewed issues from the FSOC, including an FSOC recommendation to support, on a one-year trial basis, a policy stipulating that teams finishing 6-6 in conferences that have contractual commitments to postseason bowls would be bowl eligible for 2002. The Championships/Competition Cabinet's Football Certification Subcommittee also has supported that recommendation. The Football Issues Committee, however, would prefer a two-year trial basis. Teams are allowed to play 12 regular-season games in each of the next two years.

The Division I Board of Directors is considering a similar proposal and is expected to rule on the matter in April.

The Football Issues Committee also reviewed membership classification criteria proposals that are in the comment period in the Division I legislative pipeline. The committee expressed some concern over the practicality of the requirement that teams schedule at least five home games against Division I-A schools in order to be classified as a Division I-A institution in football. The committee's concern is that the requirement may be unrealistic due to the fact that there might not be enough Division I-A opponents available to schedule those home games. The group will forward those concerns to the Division I Management Council.

Legislation review

As it does in every meeting, the Football Issues Committee reviewed legislative proposals relating to football.

The group did not support two proposals (Nos. 02-06 and 02-07) regarding football student-athletes who enter the professional draft. The proposals (one for student-athletes who are drafted and the other for those who are not drafted) would allow student-athletes the option to resume intercollegiate football participation 30 days after the draft.

The committee opposed the measures because of logistical concerns related to football's recruiting calendar. The Management Council is slated to review the proposals for the first time in April.

The committee did support an amended version of Proposal No. 01-06, which would permit an institution to employ a graduate assistant coach who is enrolled in another institution's graduate program. The proposal had been referred back to the Football Issues Committee from the Championships/Competition Cabinet, which had requested clarification on whether there is a restriction on where the individual could be enrolled (for example, not outside a specified number of miles from the institution) and whether the institution would be able to provide transportation expenses.

The Football Issues Committee agreed that where the individual should be enrolled is a matter of institutional discretion and therefore did not recommend specific mileage restriction. The committee did recommend, however, that institutions should not be able to provide transportation expenses.

The amended proposal will be sent on to the Management Council for review in April.