Surprising Statistic: More Footballadded Than Discontinued
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NCAA Television Plan a Factor in Reviving Interest Surprising Statistic: More FootballAdded ThanD iscontinued A frequently asked question these days is: “How many right, 39-announced they were dropping football for members and 40 non-members. colleges have dropped football?” the 1951 season (31 were not NCAA members, but 13 Limit this to major colleges only, the ratio improves: Almost never does anyone ask, “How many teams later joined the NCAA after the success of the NCAA A total of 11 majors dropped football in 1950-55, eight have started varsity football?” Television Plan, and seven resumed football). After in all the seasons since then. And six of those 11 of the The truth is, more NCAA member institutions have the first year of the NCAA Television Plan, the number Fifties have varsity teams today-Georgetown, Nevada- started varsity teams in the 1970s than have dropped dropping football fell to 12 (including four NCAA Reno. St. Mary’s, Santa Clara, Washington & Lee and the sport. In the first six seasons of the 19709, 25 NCAA members), after the second year it was 11 (only two Fordhnm. members), after the third year eight (five members) members started varsity football teams, while 20 mem- Here the NCAA members who have started (or re- and after the fourth year two (one member). bers dropped varsity football during the same six sea- sumed) varsity football in the 1970s: sons-a net gain of five. Television Plan 1970-Fordham, Fullerton State, Georgetown (D.C.), It is really nothing new. In the last six seasons of the The end of the Korean War and the return to “Iron Plattsburgh State, Plymouth State, St. Mary’s (Calif.). 196Os, 10 NCAA members started varsity football teams, Man” football also helped a lot. but the NCAA Tele- 1971-Boston State, Federal City, Rochester Tech, St. while nine members dropped football over the same vision Plan unquestionably was a factor in the recovery Peter’s. span, a net gain of one. and growth of college football. While not downgrading the severe financial problems Including those who dropped in the summer of 1950, 1972-Nicholls State, Kcan, Lake Forest, U. San of the 1970s one bit, it is worth considering the situation a total of 78 four-year colleges dropped football in the Diego, William Paterson. in the early 1950s. As a point of historical reference, first five years of the Fifties (56 were not NCAA mem- 1973-Albany State, Bowie State, Madison, New Hav- 1950 was the final season of virtually unrestricted tele- bers, but 22 later joined and 10 of them later resumed en, New York Tech, Salisbury State, Seton Hall. casting of college football. varsity football). 1974-Framingham State. After the 1950 season, 39 four-year colleges-that’s In 21 years since then, 84 have dropped-44 NCAA 1975-Fairleigh-Dickinson Madison, Canisius. VOL. 12 l NO. 11 SEPTEMBER 1, 1975 Changesin Enforcement--__ ~~ Mew Badget Department Approved Expandsto 9 A general operating budget of Four investigators have been $3,363,100 for the fiscal year added to the NCAA’s enforce- 1975-76, which began September ment department, increasing per- 1, was approved by the NCAA sonnel in that department to nine Executive Committee at its Au- administrators and investigators, gust meeting. according to Executive Director The comparable figure for 1974- Walter Byers. 75 was $2,495,400. The 1975-76 Brent Clark, who earned his budget includes a number of ac- undergraduate and law degrees tivities previously financed from at the University of Oklahoma; reserve accounts. Hale McMenamin, who joins the A feature of the 1975-76 bud- staff from the San Francisco bu- get is that $117,300 more will be reau of the Federal Bureau of channeled to the membership un- Investigation after 26 years of der revised regulations which service; Bob Minnix, a former were approved by the Executive Notre Dame running back and a Committee. University of Washington law For certain championships, the school graduate, and Ron Strat- Association previously received ten, head football coach at Port- eight per cent of the net receipts. ENFORCEMENT STAFF-Eight members of the NCAA enforcement staff are pictured in a rare moment when land State University the past That eight per cent will remain three years, are the new investi- all staff members were in the same location. From left ore Bill Hunt, Doug Dunlop, Hole McMenamin, Ron a part of the net receipts and will gators. be distributed to competing insti- Stratten, Brent Clark, Dove Berst, Jim Delany and assistant executive director Warren S. Brown. Not pic- “These individuals have im- tutions. tured is Bob Minnix, who is scheduled to join the stoff September 8. pressive backgrounds, they be- Also, a host institution for an lieve in our program and we feel NCAA Championship will have fortunate to have them with US,” its share of net receipts increased said Byers. ‘The NCAA member- from five to 10 per cent of the receipts. ship voted last January in strong The value of each NCAA Post- Judge ChangesTrave l Squadli mit support of an expanded enforce- graduate Scholarship, which had ment program and this is a direct been at $1000 since the program response to that mandate.” was inaugurated in 1964, was in- Bycrs added that two other in- creased to $1500. The Association From 48 to 60; Fast Appeal Set vestigators would be hired prior annually awards 80 Postgraduate The NCAA traveling squad size The University of Alabama in-, the membcrshlp, to match the to the 1976-77 academic year. Scholarships and has distributed limit in the sport of football has stigated the suit, which chal- NCAA’s home squad limit of 60 Cooperative more than three-quarters of a been ordered suspendqd by a lenged limits on football travel- players in uniform. million dollars in this program. “Indicative of the member- United States Distriiit’ Court ing squads, which were adopted Harold Bowron, attorney for Judge in Tuscaloosa, Ala., effec- by the membership at the NCAA’s ship’s attitude toward the Five sports committees ex- the Association in the case, said tive September 3. second Special Convention in Au- stepped-up enforcement program penses have been added to the upon learning of Judge Sam genrral operating budget for gust. Its basis was that grants-in- is that member institutions are However, as the NEWS went to Pointer’s decision, “I have ad- 1975-76 and the per diem allow- aid of student-athletes entitled more cooperative than they ever press, counsel for the Associa- vised the clerk and pointed ance for committee members them to participate. have been in supplying informa- tion was seeking either a stay of out the difficulties with that in has been increased from $35 to tion to our investigators,” said the order or an appeal of the de- Alabama’s contention was not the sense that on one hand, he $40. Byers. cision and a change in the status upheld, but Judge Pointer sub- (Judge Pointer) in effect finds For the first time, the regular of the rule was likely by the time stituted a go-player travel squad the rule to be invalid and then Byers said he was pleased at television assessment has been the NEWS reached its readership. limit instead of the 4X voted by in effect seeks to legislate a new the increased interest of mem- incorporated in the general op- bers in cooperating in the NCAA crating budget of the Associa- rule which is not the rule of the enforcement program because it tion, although it still will sup- NCAA. means a more effective, unified port such specific programs as “I pointed out the difficulties effort to improve conditions in the Postgraduatr Scholarship of that and have questioned the Tifle IX Amendments Alive college athletics. awards. Court’s authority and power to, Enforcement Title IX, which became ef- In the House, James G. in effect, legislate a new rule Warren S. Brown directs the The expanded enfotcrmrnt de- fective July 21, may be in for O’Hara (D-Mich.) has intro- which is not the rule of the NCAA enforcement department, partment of the NCAA has bene- alterations as two bills regard- duced le&ation (H.R. 8395) NCAA,” Bowron said. with Dave Berst primarily re- fitted from an increase in dues ing the legislation are still be- sponsible for directing investiga- to the Subcommittee on Post- “It would be my thought,” he and from a special television as- fore Congress. tions and Bill Hunt in charge of continued, “that the Court order, sessment, which was voted by The Education Subcommit- secondary Education. Hearing even if it is wrong, is still an legislative interpretations and the membership at the 69th an- tee of the Senate Labor and dates have not yet been estab- order of a United States Court eligibility. nual Convention last January. Public Welfare Committee lished, but O’Hara indicated and that member institu- Jim Delaney and Doug Dunlop, will hold hearings on S. 2106 hearings would be held soon Proposed membership dues for who joined the staff during the in mid-September. after the August recess. tions be advised or requested to 1975-76 will total $184,500, ac- abide by it, certainly for the time past academic year, are the other Continued on page 5 being.” enforcement staff members. The Editor’s View CoIumnary Craft Reprinted below is an ercerpt from the writing of a news columnist commenting pertinently about college athletics. It is seIected because Footbal Readies for First Kick-Off the NCAA NEWS feels it makes a point, discusses a topic which will interest NEWS readers.