The NCA December 18,1985, Volume 22 Number 45--. __ Offkial Publication of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Convention Big Sky proposes to honor five years’ eligibility Robinson Six members of the Big Sky Con- pay for the fifth year, and many ference are seeking to change one of students-especially those from out- &ambling State University athlet- the Association’s oldest eligibility rules of-state-cannot complete their edu- ics director and football coach Ed- at the 1986 annual Convention. catlon because of the expense,” he ward G. Robinson will receive a Spe- Since at least the 194Os,a student- wrote. cial Recognition Award at the 1986 The sponsors also beheve that in- NCAA honors luncheon during the athlete has been allowed no more than four years of eligibility for inter- stitutions could save money “because annual NCAA Convention as college they would not have to recruit as football’s all-time winningest coach. collegiate competition under NCAA legislation. The Big Sky institutions many students each year.” Robinson earned his 324th career want Co change that to five. Currently, a student-athlete is re- victory October 5 when Grambling quired to complete the permissible defeated Prairie View A&M, 27-7, to That proposed amendment to By- law 5-I-(d) begins a grouping of I2 four seasons of eligibility within five surpass Robinson’s late friend and calendar years of initial enrollment in coaching great Paul “Bear” Bryant. proposals dealing with eligibility that will be acted upon by the delegates lo a collegiate institution for Division I Robinson’s all-time record now stands members and within IO semesters or at 329-109-15 (.743 in 43 seasons) the Convenrion in New Orleans. It is offered for vote by all three divisions, I5 quarters of collegiate enrollment following a 9-3 campaign in 1985 that for Divisions 11 and 111members. included a trip to the Division I-AA and any division can adopt or reject it independently of the other divisions. The amendment would eliminate play-offs. the current “hardship” provisions com- The sponsors of the amendment Robinson also has become the win- pletely, simply allowing student-ath- suggest that permitting five years of ningest coach in history above the high letes five seasons of eligibility within eligibility would help student-athletes school level. His 329 victories sur- the live years in Division I or the IO graduate because the Association’s passed the legendary George Halas, semesters or I5 quarters in Divisions who won 326 games during a stellar satisfactory-progress requirements (ap- plicable to Divisions I and II) indicate 11 and Ill. coaching career with the National If adopted, the proposal would a live-year academic plan. Football League’s Chicago Bears. apply to all student-athletes in all Robinson’s is only the second Spe- “Our belief is that many student- NCAA-recognized sports. cial Recognition Award given at the athletes lose interest in school and honors luncheon. The first honored lose purpose or direction once their Indoor track Bryant when he passed Amos Alonzo eligibility expires,” Gene Bleymaier, Another proposal in the eligibility Stagg’s record with his 315th victory. director of athletics at Boise State grouping would specify that indoor “I don’t want to be remembered as University, stated in a letter to The and outdoor track cannot be treated the guy who broke his (Bryant’s) NCAA News. as separate sports for eligibility pu;- record any more than Bryant wanted Photo by Corkv &win “Even if the institution offers to poses, effective August I, 1986. to be remembered as the man who Title play pay for the fifth year (to complete a Currently, it is possible for a stud- broke Amos Alonzo Stagg’s record,” degree), many student-athletes still ent-athlete to have completed his or Robinson said. “No one really ‘repla- UCLA’S Paul Caligiuri (right) and American> Sieve Marland leave school because of the change in her four seasons of eligibility in out- ces’ anyone else. 1 would like to be collide during Division I Men5 Soccer Championship acbon, in lifestyle and loss of being part of a door track and have remaining sea- Sfe C0nventi0rz. page 18 which it took UCLA eighr overtimes to earn a I-O de&ion. team. Many schools cannot afford to See Big Sky, page 18 Division I basketball leagues grow 78 percent since 1975 By James M. Van Valkenburg tournament has doubled (from 32 to New conferences rise have nourished the nation. (The their home area. The climax was NCAA Director of’ Statistlcr 64, or a 100 percent increase). Five of the new conferences (using players) are courted by institutions all reached in 1985, when Big East teams All these facts are related, of course, “new” in historical perspective) are over the land. They are mined from were 89-19 vs. outside Division I Division I men’s basketball has in different ways. The driving force in among the 14 conferences with win- suhurhan I.ong Island and theghettos teams, toran .X24 percentage. and 18. undergone some drastic changes since the proliferation of conferences and ning records vs. outside Division I of New York. from New Jersey’s 5 in the NCAA tournament, including 1975. Just consider these facts: The the vanishing of independents was teams over the first six seasons of the teeming cities, the streets of Philadel- both teams in the championship game. number of Division I teams has gone the desire to qualify automatically for IYXOa. and the most successful of phia, the playgrounds tif Baltimore The pcrcnnial leader, the Atlantic up more than 20 percent since 1975 the NCAA tournament as a confer- these is the Big East Confcrcnce. It and from what has been the mother Coast Conference, was next with lO3- (from 235 to 283), the number of ence champion. Fueling this was tour- started in 19X0 and has gone heyond lode: the Washington, D.C., environs.” 26 and 12-5 in the tournament. Division I conferences has gone up nament expansion, fed by probably perhaps even its own expectations. Indeed, past NCAA press-kit stud- AC<1 lends in 1980s almost 78 percent since then (from I8 the most important factor in this Chuck Newman 01 the Philadelphia ies have shown that this area has For the lust six seasons 01 the to 32). the number of Division I entire picture --the remarkable in- Inquirer, writing for the 19x1 NCAA produced more than its share of all- 1980s. the ACC leads by a wide mar- independents has shrunk 75 percent crease in tournament television re- Basketball Guide, put it this way: America players over the years gin, with a remarkable .799 winning (from 6X to 17) and the field for the ceipts, up almost l3-fold since 1975 “The Big East encompasses all the playing all over the country. Now, percentage against oulslde Division I NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball (from $2.5 million to $32.2 million). large Eastern markets, which for years more of them are going to college in SQ~ Divi.vion I, pugr 4 Executive Committee accepts In the News Commission completes audited report of treasurer Unfulfilled An NBA scoring star realizes Approval of the 1984-85 report charge against royalty payments co election of new officers that his biggest unmade goal is a from the treasurer highlighted the qualified member institutions. The college degree. Page 2. James J. Whalen, president of December 9 meeting of the NCAA committee affirmed the distribution Ithaca College since 1975, has been Executive Committee in Dallas, of the 1981-82 Copyright Royalty Champions elected by the Division III members Texas. Tribunal funds co member institu- Results of championships in of the Presidents Commission to chair The Executive Committee accepted tions. Division 1 men’s soccer, Divisions the group’s Division 111subcommit- the audited report of the treasurer to The Executive Committee also re- II and III football, and Divisions tee. r be placed in the Annual Reports. viewed in executive session NCAA II and Ill women’s volleyball. At the conclusion of the 1986 d Revenue for the 1984-85 fiscal year staff benefits and an article appearing Pages 7-X. NCAA Convention next month, was %44,674,237, compared to ex- in the Washington Post concerning Previews Whalen will succeed Kenneth J. penses of $42,828,6 I I. The Executive those benefits. A detailed story on the Championships previews for Dim Weller, Central College (Iowa), as the c -; Commlttee voted Co close reserve benelits program appears in this issue visions I and 111men ’s and wom- Division III chair. His election com- accounts for Football Television De- of the News. en’s indoor track. Pages 9-10. pletes the lineup of new officers of the velopment, College World Series, Tele- Following is a list of all actions Commission for 1986-87. vision Research and Electronic Vot- taken by the NCAA Executive Com- In detail Elected earlier were John B. Slaugh- ing, moving those funds into the mittee during its December 9 meeting The NCAA’s fringe benefits pro- ter, chancellor, University of Mary- unallocated surplus. in Dallas: gram for the national office staff is land, College Park, Commission The Executive Committee also ap- examined in detail. Page 13. chair; 1. M. Heyman, chancellor, Uni- proved the concept specifying that the Financial It’s academic versity of California, Berkeley, Divi- Association’s direct legal fees for copy- Accepted the audited report for the The College Sports Information sion 1 chair, and James W. Cleary, right royalty activities on behalf of fiscal year that ended August 31, Directors of America selects its president, California State University, the membership be allocated on a 1985, to be placed in the Annual academic all-America football Northridge, Division 11 chair.