Baseball, I-A commissioners softball stats recommend reform published The NCAA Presidents Commis- tribution and other suggestions from sion has endorsed in concept a series the membership. Division I baseball and women’s of recommendations for reform in The commissioners’ recommen- softball statistics will be published college athletics prepared by a group dations address initial athletics eli- weekly for the next eight weeks in of Division I-A conference commis- gibility, satisfactory academic The NCAA News, beginning with sioners. progress, coaching staff limitations, this issue. The recommendations cover aca- grants-in-aid, limitations on playing “Because of the success of the demics, cost reductions, time de- and practice seasons, membership Division I men’s and women’s bas- mands on student-athletes, recruit- restructuring, recruiting contacts, ketball programs, which have been ing and professional drafts. and changes in the National Letter based on reporting by conference The Commission requested of Intent signing periods. offices, we decided about a year ago NCAA Executive Director Richard The commissioners’ recommen- to explore the possibility of weekly D. Schultz to work with the NCAA dations also will be presented to the baseball and women’s softball stats: Council and Executive Committee Council at its April meeting. said James E Wright, assistant di- and “other legislative constituencies” The I-A commissioners’effot-ts in rector of communications. to prepare a legislative package, preparing the reform recommenda- “We received overwhelming sup- incorporating the commissioners tions were reported in the March 28 port from the conferences, so the recommendations to be placed on issue of The NCAA News. programs have been initiated,” the Commission’s agenda for its The Commission also received Wright added. June 26-27 meeting in Chicago. reports from the special committees “We hope to produce weekly sta- Specific details of the recommen concerned with membership strut tistics for Divisions II and III in the dations were not released. The Corn- ture, cost reduction and revenue not-too-distant future.” mission will consider the proposals distribution but took no action. Statistics will be published in the by the commissioners in conjunction Commission Chair Martin A. News weekly through May 23 (wom- with reports from NCAA special Massengale, chancellor of the Uni- en’s softball) and May 30 (baseball). committees on cost reduction, mcm- versity of Nebraska, Lincoln, said, “The baseball statistics will be bership structure and revenue dis- See I-A commissioners, page 3 updated after the Division I region- ah,” Wright said, “so the statistics published May 30 wilI be current Special committees through the start of the College World Series.” As in past years, a season wrapup to report to Council of baseball and softball statistics will be published in an issue of the Reports by the Special Commit- are the Academic Requirements, News this summer. tee on Cost Reduction and the Spe- Legislative Review, Professional cial Committee to Review the Sports Liaison, Research, Special He added that several national NCAA Membership Structure will Events and Postgraduate Scholar- media outlets have expressed an bc major topics on the agenda for ship Committees; the Special Com- interest in receiving the weekly com- the NCAA Council’s spring meeting mittee to Review Amateurism pilations as soon as they are availa- April 23-25 in Overland Park, Kan- Issues: the Council Subcommittee ble. S&S. on Initial-Eligibility Waivers; the “Among others,” Wright said, Those two reports-which will three division steering committees, “we have received requests for the Tops in nation not be released publicly until after and the Committee on Competitive stats from Associated Press, USA the Council meeting-promise to Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Today, ESPN, The Sporting News, be among the key issues at next Sports, the Committee on Financial Collegiate Baseball and Baseball UCLA catcher Paul Ellis lea& the natlon in home tuns with year’s NCAA Convention, along Aid and Amateurism, and the Com- America.” 19 in 37games. Baseball and softball statistics am on page 9. with other reform-agenda thrusts. mittee on Review and Planning. Eugene F. Corrigan, commis- Other topics sioner of the Atlantic Coast Confer Among the other topics on the Scholarship application deadline is May 1 ence and chair of the cost-reduction April agenda: Nominations for NCAA post- (4.000 scale) is required. information. committee, will present that report. *The results of a staff survey of graduate scholarships in sports other Faculty athletics representatives NCAA Secretary-Treasurer Judith the numbers and types of athletics aInclude a copy of the student- than football and basketball must are responsible for nominating stu- M. Sweet, University of California, dormitories at Divisions I and II athlete’s transcript. be mailed to district selection com- dent-athletes at each institution. San Diego, will lead the member- member institutions. mittee chairs by May 1. The following guidelines must be *Mail the form and transcripts ship-structure presentation. That l A report on the April 4-5 meet- A total of 55 awards (30 for men met: in one package by certified mail- committee includes several Council ing of the Presidents Commission. and 25 for women, each worth postmarked not later than May I ~ members, and Sweet served as chair l Nominate not more than two l The annual appointments to $4,000) will be given to student- men and two women. to the appropriate district selection pro tern during a portion of its the Nominating Committee and to athletes. Nominees must have dem- committee chair. The names of dis- deliberations. the Men’s and Women’s Committees onstrated abilities on the playing l Us.e the nomination forms trict chairs are listed in the memo- Those special committees will be on Committees. field and in the classroom. A mini- mailed from the national office, randum that accompanies the among 16 committees presenting l Consideration of the 1989 Ad- mum grade-point average of 3.000 making certain to provide complete nomination folders. reports during the meeting. Others See Special, page 2 Change no-contact rule, Division II coaches say Division II footballcoaches say sessions. The rule for Division 11 negative effect on their programs money, it’s insignificant; we don’t cial or study or academic reasons.” they will make a concerted effort to that went into effect this spring calls and their student-athletes. They pay for officials for practices as “It’s difficult to see the logic be- get the no-contact rule in spring for 12 days of two-hour practices also are convinced that the new rule Division I does. All we have is a hind it (rule change),” said Ron football drills changed at the next with no pads and no contact over a will not result in lower costs or little wear and tear on equipment. Harms, head coach at Texas A&I NCAA Convention. 24-day period. appreciably affect athletes’ time on University. “There may have been “If they are trying to save kids A poll still being conducted The rule was adopted at the 1990 academics. some logic behind it if it had been some time, they are going about it among Division II members of the NCAA Convention in Dallas as In past springs, Division II was suggested that less contact caused American Football Coaches Asso- part of an effort to allow student- allowed 20 practices, I5 of which in the wrong way. In the spring, we less injuries; but in all the years I’ve don’t take that much time, there are ciation shows at this point only four athletes more time for academics could involve contact. been here, I can’t point to a single no night meetings, no early work of 78 coaches in favor of the rule, and other activities. “I wonder why they changed the injury suffered in the spring that and 72 of 78 say Division II should Some Division II coaches say rule,” said John Williams, coach of and no looking at film. We spend cost the player the next season.” have the same number of contact they have no real problem with the Division II champion Mississippi twice as much time with the kids in There is no reason to worry about drills allowed in Division I, whose reduced number of practice oppor- College. “1 have never come to an the fa1l. time, according to Harms. “We teams next season will be limited to tunities, but they say the lack of explanation of the justification for “They arc barking up the wrong don’t have the time to dcvotc full 10 contact practices in 15 practice contact drills will have an overall the change. If you arc talking about tree if they arc talking about finan See Chunge, puge 3 2 THE NCAA NEWS/A@ 11,1980 Special (imrinued from page I ministrative Committee’s recom- mendations regarding possible changes in the Association’s com- mittee-appointment procedures. l The lirst look at proposed legis- lation for the 1991 NCAA Conven- tion. *The customary review of Inter- pretations Committee actions, Ad- ministrative Committee actions and membership-classification issues. Off ice vlsit The Council will be the first of the Association’s administrative bod- ies to visit the new national offlice buildmg, which is the reason for the Overland Park meeting location. A reception for the Council is planned at the new building for the evening of April 24. Rocco .I. Carzo, new Division III vice-president, will chair his first full session of the Division III Steer- ing Committee. Continuing officers chairing other segments of the meet- ing will be NCAA President Albert M. Witte, Council; Division 1 Vice- The paid atten&nce at the Cent& regional of the National CiM whem 5,569 turned out.