-The NCAA February l&1987, Volume 24 Number 8 Offkial Publication of tional Collegiate Athletic Association Commission begins survey of presidents A survey of presidents and chan- Ira Michael Heyman of the University cellors of NCAA Division 1 member of California, Berkeley, has scheduled institutions will begin next week as a meeting March 2 in the Washington, part of the NCAA Presidents Com- D.C., area. The ad hoc committee mission’s preparation for the special will use that meeting to determine Convention to be held in June. legislation that it may ask the Com- The survey will be conducted by mission to sponsor for the special the American Institutes for Research, See Commission, page 20 Palo Alto, California. AIR, an inde- pendent organization that is not con netted in any way with the NCAA or Firm stand any member institution, also conduc- ted the Commission’s 1985 CEO sur- on Division II vey and developed the NCAA institutional self-study materials now academics seen being used by member institutions. AIR will mail the survey question- By Thomas A. Wilson naires to all Division I chief executives Editor-in-Chief, The NCAA News approximately February 24. Results The days of the academically un- of the survey will be available to the qualified athlete in college sports are Commission just before its April l-2 numbered. meeting in Greenbelt, Maryland. When NCAA Division 11members The survey will solicit the CEOs’ at the January NCAA Convention views regarding the need for addi- adopted academic requirements for tional NCAA legislation in the six incoming student-athletes identical to areas designated by the Commission those in place at Division 1 institu- for possible action at the June 29-30 tions, young athletes who view higher special Convention: recruiting, education solely as a place to develop coaches’ compensation, playing and their athletics skills were left with few places to go, unless they can meet practice seasons, size of coaching staffs, financial aid, and academic certain academic requirements. performance. Beginning with the fall class of It also will review the Commission’s 1988, freshman studenttathletes at Division II schools must score at least positions regarding those issues, as set forth in the document distributed 720 on an SAT test or 16 on an ACT and have a core-curriculum grade- by the Commission at the January point average of 1900 to 1.999 (on a Convention in San Diego and re- Outdoor track preview 4.000 scale), or combine a 680 score printed in the January 21 issue of The An all-America in cross country, Dean Crowe of Boston is the top qualifier in the 5,000-meter run NCAA News. on the SAT or a 14 score on the ACT with a grade-point average of 2.100 or for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track Championships, while Stephanie In the meantime, the Commission’s higher to be eligible for athletics Ad Hoc Committee on Institutional Herbst of Wisconsin leads qualifiers in the 3,000-, 5,000- and lO,OOO-meter runs. She was the 5,000- competition. A grade-point average and lO,OOO-meter champion in last year’s championships. Responsibility, chaired by Chancellor of 2.000 to 2.099 with a 700 on the SAT or a 15 on the ACT also will be accepted, and that will become the College basketball network TV ratings decline standard in Division II for the fall Scoring is up but television ratings are too many games being televised. Merritt said NBC will continue to NBC at 3.6 class of freshmen in 1989. are down in college basketball this But the real question is, ‘Are there too televise college basketball next season To improve its ratings, ABC must Sponsors of the legislation foresee season, the Associated Press reports. many games for the fans?’ And the but probably will show fewer games. convince more of its affiliates to carry no changes in the requirements, even At NBC, ratings are 20 percent answer to that seems to be no, because “It’s going to be a different-looking college basketball. Only 82 percent of though opponents have another op- lower than last year. CBS telecasts a lot of people are still watching.” schedule,” he said. “For instance, we ABC’s stations have been showing the portunity to “water down” the re- have dropped two percent, while new- There actually are more people may not do split regional telecasts Sunday games, compared with 96 quirements at the 1988 NCAA comer ABC is averaging an anemic watching college basketball on televi- anymore. And we’re going to take a percent at CBS and 90 percent at Convention in Nashville. 2.6 rating for its Sunday afternoon sion this season, but ABC’s entry into serious look at Saturday double-head- NBC. Lloyd D. Vincent, president of games. the crowded field has diluted every- ers. One game on Saturday may be “Maybe we have an identity prob- Angelo State University, a member of Network officials say there is a one’s share of the market. enough.” lem,” ABC spokesman Donn Bern- the Lone Star Conference, which was simple explanation for the ratings “Just look at the TV listings on ABC was hoping to average a rating stein said. “We’ve never done college one of the sponsors of the new acade- slump: a glut of televised games. Saturday,” NBC’s Tom Merritt said. between 4 and 5 on college basketball basketball before. I guess some people mic requirements, is confident that “There’s no question about it,” CBS “Between the networks and cable, this season, but it’s falling far short of still don’t know that we’re doing it.” the legislation will stand. spokesman Mark Carlson said. you’ve got 10 or I5 games to choose the goal. The network’s 2.6 average is Of the three networks, CBS is the “My considered judgment is that “From the networks’standpoint, there from. That’s a lot of basketball.” a distant third behind CBS at 4.7 and See College. page 20 See Firm stand, page 4 In the News Davis cites improved status of student-athlete Setting standards i%e following comments by John forcement program and compliance forcement. The final responsibility for con- R. Davis, immediatepast president of with rules of the membership. Many of the proposals at this Con- trolling intercollegiate athletics the NCAA, were addressed to the The third area was governance of vention especially those proposed rests with the CEO, not the Association membership ut the close the Association, considering the rich by the Council in the Presidents Com- NCAA. Page 2. of the 81st Convention in San Diego diversity of interests and the desire to mission grouping-continue progress : Notes, stats in January. provide optimum opportunities for toward institutional control, federated Basketball notes and statistics Two years ago, when I succeeded intercollegiate athletics for men and voting and academic integrity. I shall in all NCAA men’s and women’s John Toner as president of the NCAA, women in all of our institutions. leave the position as president with divisions. Pages 5-7. I identified three areas 1 hoped the In my opinion, the membership of confidence that this momentum in NCAA would emphasize during my the NCAA has successfully addressed building institutional integrity and S orts clinics term of office. all of these areas. The Presidents control and an even more effective NCA Apclinics will provide free The first was the academic well- Commission, the Council and several Association will continue, with resolve sports instruction by some of the being of student-athletes, including key committees all have aggressively and with skilled leadership. country’s top coaches for more those matters dealing with initial developed proposals that the mem- Permit me to share with you some than 1,000 youths. Page 12. eligibility, academic progress, success bership has adopted and that have observations I have accumulated over Committee minutes in achieving graduation, support ser- aroused positive responses from the the past four years as sccretary-treas- For the first time, the News is vices, and the issues of reporting and entire academic community. Without urer and president. publishing minutes of the meetings accountability for academics in ath- going into detail, I wish to say only Last month, 1 had the honor of of the Legislation and Interpreta- letics. that I believe the academic quality of presenting the scholar-athletes at the tions Committee and of telephone The second area dealt with the athletes entering member institutions National Football Foundation and conferences of the Administrative integrity of institutions seeking com- has significantly improved and that Hall of Fame dinner, on behalf of the Committee. Page 16. petitive equity and the resolve of the the NCAA is dealing effectively with NCAA, and 1 again experienced the membership for a strengthened en- issues of competitive equity and en- See Davis, page 3 John R. Davis 2 February 18,1987 The NCAA Comment In final analysis, CEOs, not NCAA, must control athletics By Asa N. Green tive advantage. chip” athletes. Its enforcement staff others are intimidated by coaches dismissal. President, I.ivingston IJnivrrsity Path incident generates a new has been expanded. It has revised its who have gained national recognition, In 1985, the Association enacted There is growing public concern round of comment deploring the situ- enforcement procedures to expedite by wealthy boosters, or even by trus- legislation requiring the president of about major violations of regulations ation and calling for reform, most the handling of minor violations and tees who place a premium on athletics an institution to approve the athletics governing intercollegiate athletics often by urging the NCAA to“tighten concentrate attention upon major success.