Official Publication of the National Collegiate Athletic Association December 14, 1994, Volume 3 1, Number 45 Women’s coaches find plenty to like about ESPN deal By Laura E. Bollig “I’m very excited. I think this is a land- THE NCAA NEWS STAFF mark occasion. It is going to be a signifi- cant happening for women’s basketball,” What they really wanted was a day off. said Jody Conradt, head women’s basket- What Division I women’s basketball pro- ball coach and director of women’s athlet- grams got was this: ics at the University of Texas at Austin. “I n More than three times the exposure to think we are going to follow the same pat- which they are accustomed. tern the men’s championship did with the n Virtually no competition for air time visibility it was afforded by ESPN initially.” with the men. Ditto from University of Tennessee, n A long-term television home for their Knoxville, head coach Pat Summitt. championship. “I think that’s good news for women’s H And, the day off. basketball. I think we’re at a stage right Women’s basketball coaches are cele- now in our growth where television expo- brating the announcement December 7 by sure is very important to our future and to ESPN that it has purchased the television the growth of our game. To have that type rights to 19 NCAA championships, includ- of extensive exposure in the postseason is ing exclusive rights to all rounds of the certainly great for the women’s game.” Division I Women’s Basketball Cham- pionship. See ESPN, page 14 b .--I.;","I. Itnanbers' ., - higm receive supplement of $24 million The Division I membership soon will re- in-aid funds. The Executive Committee direct- ceive two substantial distributions as a result ed another $5 million of the budget surplus Tim McKimq/NCAA Photos of recent actions by the NCAA Executive to the funded operating reserve. Committee. Second, the committee voted to distribute Over the top First, the committee approved a supple- $8.1 million lium the membership bust, upon mental distribution of a $16 million budget execution of the new television corm-act with Liz Jokerst (middle) and Washington University (Missoun’) were successful CBS. On December 6, the Association an- surplus from the 1993-94 fiscal year. Half of December3 in the Bears’ attempt to win th& fourth straight NCAA Division that money will be distributed through the nounced an eight-year, $1.725 billion agree- ment with CBS, which eliminated the need III Women’s Volleyball Chu mp- aonship. Washington, tallying 13 aces in the provisions of the basketball fund of the rev- enue-distribution plan and the other half final, defeated the University of Wuconsin, Oshkosh, 15-10, 15-4, 15-9. through the sports-sponsorship and grants- See Supplement, page 20 b Council wants to simplify playing-and-practice-season rules This is the fifth in a series of six An attempt to simplify legisla- tional” seasons - the terms cur- into two segments. although Division III members articles on legislation that has been tion heads a lengthy list of NCAA rently used for distinct season The Council also proposes also will be offered the option of submitted for the 89th annual NCAA Council-sponsored or cospon- segments in a team or individual establishing September 7 or the retaining earlier practice and Conuention Januuly 7-l 1, 1995, in sored proposals for the 1995 sport (for example, fall and first day of classes ~ whichever competition dates for golf. and San Diego. This installment features Convention that deal with play- spring baseball). The proposal comes first - as the first date of tennis, thus avoiding cold weath- the 16 proposals in the pluying-and- ing and practice seasons. also would establish the simpli- practice or competition in sports er. practice seasons grouping, four pro- The Council is sponsoring a fied option of selecting either a (except basketball) that do not The proposals are based on posaLc in the championships group- proposal in Divisions I and II 24-week or 144-day season in have a fall championship. All recommendations by the NCAA ing and eight proposals in the germ- that would eliminate references individual sports, while retaining three divisions will have the al grouping. to “traditional” and “nontradi- the option to divide the season opportunity to adopt that date, See Proposals, page 15 b n In the News 1 n On deck News Digest Page 2 n Tailback Rashaan Salaam of the University of January 6-7 Council, Son Diego Colorado, Boulder, is the runaway choice to receive Briefly 3 January 7- 11 NCAA Convention, San Dieno this yeor’s Heismon Trophy in college fuotball: Page 3. Comment 4 January 8 Presidents Commission, San Diego n The NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification Administrative Januafy 14 Infractions Appeals Committee, Atlanta establishes procedures it will use when it begins delib- Committee minutes 5 January 24-25 Committee on Athletics Certification erations over actual cases in February: Page 5. Championships results 6 Peer Selection Subcommittee, n The collegiate rifle communi agrees that gender Los Angeles Basketball statistics 10 equity will help the sport grow, 1 ut it’s unclear which January 24-26 Legislative Review Committee, NCAA Record 17 path is best to follow: Page 8. Newport Beach, California Legislative assistance 20 Salaam ‘! Page 2 The NCAANews December 14, 1994 TheNCAANews p)[@jEsT A weekly summary of major activities within the Association will be moved to a Friday-Sunday format, adding a day of rest that currently is not avail- BCA plans to probe able. employment practices Schedule of key dates for For more information, see page 1 and the December 5 issue of The NCAA News. December and January Staff contact: Thomas W. Jemstedt. The Black Coaches Association (BCA), charging that major college football has the “worst record in hiring minority coaches,” announced plans December 8 to investigate employment practices at 10 universities. Executive Committee The organization said it will report any program deemed unfair to minorities. approves distributions The BCA’s action came shortly after the The Division I membership soon will re- National Rainbow Coalition and its presi- ceive two distributions totaling $24.1 million dent, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, criti- as a result of recent actions taken by the cized the University of Colorado, Boulder, NCAA Executive Committee. for hiring white assistant coach Rick The committee approved a supplemental Neuheisel as head coach instead of promot- DECEMBER not visit a prospect’s educational institution on distribution of a $16 million budget surplus ing another assistant, Bob Simmons, who is RECRUlTlNG more than one calendar da during this peri- from the 1993-94 fiscal year and also voted black. od. (Effective in 199495 on ry, as a result of a Men’s Division I barkerball to distribute $8.1 million from the member- For more information, see page 16. September 6 action by the NCAA Administrative 13 1: Quiet period, except for 20 days between ship trust, upon execution of the new televi- October 2 l,lW4, and March 15,lW5, cho Committee.) sari at the discretion of the institution as an eval- Woman’s Division I bask&all’ sion contract with CBS. uation period; institutional staff members shall 131: Quiet iod except far 20 days between Another $5 million of the budget surplus not visit a prospect’s educational institution on Octdxr 8 /??‘4, bnd February 28 1995, cho was directed to the funded operating reserve. Committee discusses more than one calendar da during this peri- sen at the &r&ion of the institutio; as an evol- od. (Effective in 199495 on ry, as a result of a uation period; institutional staff members shall For more information, see page 1. deliberative process September 6 action by the NCAA Administrative not visit a prospect’s educational institution on Staff contacts: Tricia Bork and Frank E. Committee.) more than one calendar day during this period. Marshall. The NCAA Committee on Athletics Cer- Wonml’s Division I baskol4all’ Mm’s Division II basketball October 15 until the date of the prospect’s ini- tification recently discussed the procedures 13l:Quiet iod,exceptfor20daysbetwwn Waber 8, E4, and February 28 1995 cho tial highschool or twayear college contest Quiet it plans to use when it begins deliberations sen at the discretion of the institutio; as an’eval- over actual cases. uation period; institutional staff members shall Fd.enod between initial and final high-school or To aid in anticipating how many institu- not visit a prospecVs educational institution on two-year college contest: Evaluation period. Division task forces tions will be reviewed at its February 20-21 more than one calendar day during this period. Women’s Divisian II baskerbll’ to issue update reports Men’s Division II basketball October 15 until the date of the prospect’s ini- meeting, the committee established a cutoff tial highschml or twoyeur college contest: Quiet of the first week ofJanuary. If a peer-review The three task forces evaluating the team report is complete by that time, that in- If=+-enod between initial and final high-school or NCAA membership structure are looking te tweyear college contest: Evaluation period. stitution’s case will be considered in Febru- initial and final high-school or ward the 1995 Convention as a forum for dis- ary. If not, it will be considered at the next two-year college contest: Evaluation period. Divisioll I hotball l-2 . .._..__.._._....................... Dead period. cussing their work to date. meeting, May 89. The committee anticipates Wollmn’s Division II basketball’ Time has been set aside during the Divi- October 15 until the date of the prospect’s ini- 3-16: Any seven consecutive da s, excluding that between 15 and 20 cases will be reviewed tial high.school or twoyear college contest: Quiet periods noted below, during whlc-K only one in- sions II and III Convention business sessions at the February meeting.