The NCAA News ’ Cement the Time Is Ripe for Reform in Collegiate Athletics - by Wilford S
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The N -- ~- _ -. ~_ - ------~~ January 16,1985, Volume 22 Number 3 Ofiicial Publication of tional Collegiate Athletic Association Autonomy, federation enhanced by Convention The 1985 NCAA Convention in will allow members of Division I (I-A, conference, cited some significant those problems. Animosity seems to pertains to basketball. Nashville was mild compared to the and I-AA and I-AAA combined) to actions and important trends and a be fading away. l Bylaws I l-l-(a) through (e) and past two years, but the 1.604delegates act separately on issues other than sense of accomodation on several “There is a mood of revival among I l-4, which deal with Division I cri- nonetheless took important steps Jan- football. A complete list of legislative items among the various divisions. the leadership in college athletics. teria that are not based on football uary 14-16 in the areas of autonomy voting actions can be found on Page “There seems to be a greater appre- They seem to want to move to rees- requirements. and increased federation. 7. ciation among the divisions that each tablish the direction of athletics and The legislatcon also contains a re- Meeting at the Opryland Hotel, NCAA Executive Director Walter has problems in certain areas,” Byers move toward a better day. I see a scission procedure, which would allow delegates approved the Division 1 Byers, meeting with members of the said. “And there is a desire to assist strengthening of commitment to the all members of Division I voting autonomy proposal (No. 30), which media in a post-Convention press each other in reaching conclusions to rules of intercollegiate athletics.” together an opportunity to rescind Autonomy any legislation approved by the sub- It took only four minutes for dele- divisions acting separately. gates to approve Proposal No. 30 Delegates also approved No. 29, regarding Division I autonomy, which will permit voting on legislation thanks to extensive discussion in pertaining only to a single division in round tables and other meetings prior a separate division legislative session to the business session. at an annual Convention (i.e., round Effective immediately, Divisions I- tables) or a special meeting of the A and I-AA and I-AAA (the latter Association. two voting together) can vote separ- Drug testing ately on any issue in those bylaws that When Wilford S. Bailey, faculty may be amended by a division acting athletics representative at Auburn separately with the following excep- University and Council member, an- tions: nounced that the Council had decided l Bylaws 5-6 and 5-7, which deal to delay consideration of a drug- with establishing NCAA champion- testing program, applause and sighs ships and with institutional and con- of relief were heard across the Presi- ference eligibility for those cham- dential Ballroom floor. pionships. Bailey recommended that Proposal l Bylaw 6-5-(e), which pertains to No. 75 be referred to the Council, the annual number of financial aid Executive Committee and Special awards in Division 1 men’s and wom- Committee on Drug Testing for fur- en’s basketball. ther study, and delegates approved l Bylaw 7-I-(b), which sets forth the motion by a near-unanimous mar- the number of permissible coaches in gin. Division 1 basketball, and the re- “It is obvious that there are serious mainder of Bylaw 7 legislation as it See Autonomy, page 9 1,732 delegates five short of record MM Convention A total of 1,732 delegates attended posal No. 48) in 1983. Outgoing NCAA President John L Toner opens Convention business session the 1985 NCAA Convention in Nash- Attendance has increased tremend- ville, five shy of the record 1,737 at ously at NCAA Conventions during the 1984 Convention in Dallas. the past five years. In 1980 at New Orleans, 1,075 were in attendance, Faculty representatives plan annual meeting- That total includes 1,604 active, followed by 1,314 in 1981 at Miami, The role of the faculty athletics 1972, addressed the group. chief executive officers and report to conference, affiliated and visiting dele- I.3 I5 in 1982 at Houston, 1,521 in representative was one of many items Slaughter, a member of the NCAA the CEO’s ofiice. He said that in gates and I28 members of the media. discussed at a special meeting of Presidents’ Commission, said that 1977-78, 85 percent of NCAA 1983 at San Diego and 1,737 in 1984 faculty representatives January I3 at one of the best ways to involve the member institutions reported active The 1,732 total is even more re- at Dallas. the NCAA Convention in Nashville. faculty representative is to have regu- faculty representatives. markable because there was not a Not only did a large number of William D. Bradford, M.D., faculty lar meetings. Ramer said the functions of faculty proposal on the agenda with the sig- delegates and media attend the busi- representative at Duke University, “I have regular meetings with our representatives are to certify the eligi- nificance of the President’s Commis- nesssession, the number of individuals was pleased with the attendance of faculty rep, in concert with our direc- bility of student-athletes, act as advis- sion in 1984 or the proposal to attending the honors luncheon was 175 for the initial meeting and said tor of athletics, to discuss major issues See Faculty. page 8 strengthen academic standards (Pro- about 1,500, an all-time record. the group expressed strong sentiment in intercollegiate athletics. We recently to continue a similar meeting at each rewrote the charter for the athletic year’s Convention. council.” Commission announces changes ’ “The faculty reps feel they need Ramer, the author of “Athletic Nine members of the NCAA Presi- State University (Division I-AA at more information about rules and Committees and Faculty Representa- dents’Commission have been reelected large), and Noah N. Langdale Jr., regulations of the NCAA,” Bradford tives,” told the group that a forum for to serve full four-year terms, one Georgia State University (Division I- said. “We will consider the possibility faculty representatives to study their Division I-A conference has named a AAA). of workshops in connection with next problems and improve their perform- new representative to the Commission Division II: Charles A. Lyons Jr., year’s meeting. Those attending had ance on a national level is something and another conference has reap- Fayetteville State University (Region questions mainly concerning the role that is long overdue. pointed its representative. 2). and Del D. Weber, University of that faculty reps should have.” “The collaboration of faculty rem The composition of the Commis- Nebraska, Omaha (Region 4). The new meeting was approved by presentatives often has been absent sion for 1985 was announced during Division III: James T Amsler, Sa- the NCAA Council in October after not only at the national level, but also the annual NCAA Convention in lem State College (Region I); William such a session was recomended by a at district and conference levels,” Ra- Nashville. Election of the nine A. Kinnison, Wittenberg University Council subcommittee of Bradford; mer said. “There may have been sound members whose initial one-year terms (Region 3), and George Drake, Grin- Francis W. Banner, Furman Univer- basis for the long delay. It may have had expired was completed January nell College (at large). sity, and Charles H. Samson, Texas been justified since there now is an 2. In addition, the Mid-American A&M University. awareness of need that did not exist Newly named to the Commission Athletic Conference reappointed Glen In addition to Bradford, Bonner some years ago. Certainly an aware- for a four-year term was Jeffrey R. R. Driscoll, University of Toledo, to a and Samson, John B. Slaughter, chan- ness is essential for any new agency or Holland, president of Brigham Young full four-year term. cellor of the University of Maryland, movement. And if that need is evident University. Holland was named by The other 33 members of the Corn- College Park, and Earl M. Ramer, now, we should have few regrets.” the Western Athletic Conference to mission are serving continuing terms longtime faculty representative at the Ramer noted that three-fourths of replace Donald Veal, University of and there is no change in the Com- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, faculty representatives at NCAA Wyoming, who declined reappoint- mission’s elected officers for 1985- member institutions are appointed by and NCAA president in 1971 and ment by the conference. Jeffrey R. Holland John W. Ryan, Indiana University, Holland, president of BYU since Bloomington, chair; Otis A. Single- In the News 1980, earned a bachelor’s degree in Christ of Latter-day Saints for more tary, University of Kentucky, Division English and a master’s in religious than four years. Prior to that, he was I chair; Barbara J. Seelye, Keene NCAA Secretary-‘lieasurer Wilford S. Bailey of Auburn University education at BYU. He then obtained dean of religious instruction at BYU. State College, Division II chair, and discusses the prospects for reforms in collegiate athletics .2 a second master’s degree and a doc- The nine Commission members Legislative Assistance . .,. .3 Kenneth J. Weller, Central College who were reelected to serve full terms: Summary of legislative actions at the annual Convention . .7 torate in American studies at Yale (Iowa), Division 111chair. LaVell Edwards of Brigham Young llniversity selected as Division I-A coach University, where he was a Yale Uni- Division I: The Rev. J. Donald A total of 4 I I chief executive officers of the year by the American Football Coaches Association IO versity Fellow.