Official Publication of the National Collegiate Athletic Association January 13,1999, Volume 25 Number 2 Economic trouble seen for most athletics programs By Timothy J. Lilley got under way the morning of Jan- versity of Michigan; Edward F membership division for 1987-88. Managing Editor, The NCAA News uary 11. During that session, five Fort, chancellor, North Carolina Included were average operating primary speakers outlined their A&T State University; Judith R. budgets for schools in each mem- From Mitchell H. Raibom’s spec- thoughts on the financial state of Holland, senior associate director bership division and a projected ulation that most NCAA member intercollegiate athletics at NCAA of athletics, University of California, percentage of the schools in each institutions will operate athletically member institutions. Los Angeles; John R. Thompson, division that would operate “in the in the red this year to CBS Sports’ Speaking were Raiborn, profes- men’s basketball coach, Georgetown red” during 1988. Neal H. Pilson’s claim that “TV is sor of accounting, Bradley Univer- Ifniversity, and James J. Whalen, Raiborn’s projections indicate not the cause” of current problems sity; Robert H. Atwell, president, president, lthaca College. that, at 35 percent, Division I-AA in intercollegiate athletics, Conven- American Council on Education; Although complete texts of the would contain the lowest number of tion delegates taking part in the Christopher C. Fordham III, chan- presentations made by the primary institutions with budget deficits. second NCAA Presidents Commis- cellor, University of North Carolina, speakers will appear in the January The highest percentage, according sion National Forum heard a smor- Chapel Hill; Thomas J. Frericks, 20 issue of The NCAA News, fol- to Raiborn, will occur among Divi- gasboard of views on college sports, University of Dayton (NCAA sec- lowing are highlights of those re- sion II football-playing members particularly in the area of econom- retary-treasurer), and Pilson. Fol- marks by the primary speakers: (75 percent). its. lowing a midday break for the Raibom In pure dollars, he projected the As it was for the January 10 NCAA honorsluncheon, the Forum Author of the NCAA-published highest averagedeficit in Division I- Convention opening business ses- continued with five respondents report, “Revenues and Expenses of A ($1 million). He also noted that sion, the Tennessee Ballroom in and a short discussion session. Intercollegiate Athletics,” Raiborn the cost of operating an intercollegi- Nashville’s Opryland Hotel was Respondents included Donald B. began by reviewing budget forecasts ate athletics program has escalated Mitchell H. Raibom jammed with people as the Forum Canham, director of athletics, Uni- he had made for each Association See Economic, page 2 Mutual trust key to solving athletics problems, Schultz savs J “It’s time to change,” NCAA Ex- just as quickly as we possibly can.” has dealt with that in a very positive in our planning and in our practices. ecutive Director Richard D. Schultz He also asked delegates for a way.” And at the same time,” Schultz told delegates at the opening busi- commitment to change. “We need He noted that all NCAA inter- continued, -we need to provide more nesssession of the 1988Convention, your commitment,” he said. pretations have been computerized flexibility in our rules structure so January 10 in Nashville. “That “And we need the commitment and that ~ as reported in the Janu- that we can deal with some of the change should be effected (however) from all of your people all your ary 6 issue of The NCAA News-- apparent needs and loopholes that only if we, as a group, can establish coaches and all your athletes. the legislative servicesdata base has have been created by some of the mutual trust. Trust may be the most “But if together we make a com- gone on-line on DialCorn, a sub- broad legislation we have passed.” important issue (facing intercollegi- mitment to integrity we make a scription public data-base service, Schultz also noted that the Asso- ate athletics).” commitment to trust we will have to assist members, in Schultz’s ciation is in “excellent shape Iinan- However, trust certamly wasn’t the commitment to meet the chal- words, “to dial directly into the cially. It has an excellent professional the only issue Schultz covered in his lenge.” NCAA computer and get an inter- staff, and we’ve established a pro- 25minute “State of the Association” Wide-ranging address pretation at any time of the day.” gram of constant evaluation so that address, the first speech of its kind Schultz received a standing ova- More help we can be more efficient in doing given to Convention delegates. tion from a packed house in the Schultz called the compliance our jobs and be of greater service to Schultz talked about flexibility in Opryland Hotel’s Tennessee Ball- department “one of the least known you.” NCAA rules that would eliminate room following his address, which new areas or departments of the Better access adverse effects of legislation on touched on everything from the Association,” but he went on to note In discussing issues of interest in “innocent student-athletes.” He also Association’s legislative servicesand that, “Those institutions who have intercollegiate athletics, Schultz reaffirmed the concept of firm, con compliance departments to the need taken advantage of the compliance noted that NCAA members must sistent enforcement of NCAA regu- for increased involvement in NCAA people have been very positive in Richad D. Schultz he “sure that we’re doing everything lations. affairs on the part of student-ath- their feedback. It’s a department that we possibly can to ensure that He urged those in attendance to letes. that is there to help you in your rules thinking,” he said. “We need to we have better access for women take the necessary legislative steps “Legislative services has been the compliance (efforts).” know what their concerns are. So and ethnic minorities in all phases to complete the “federation” process ‘whipping boy’ for the Association In terms of legislative and organi- many times, we make the mistake of the Association and in all job in the near future. for many years,”he noted, discussing zational philosophies, Schultz em- of trying to solve the problems for opportunities that present them- “We’re halfway there now,” he past problems experienced by the phasized a need for greater student- all the student-athletes,and we really selves in intercollegiate athletics. noted. “WC need to get the rest of membership in obtaining interpre- athlete involvement. don’t know what their concerns are. “And we hope that we can provide the way to a fully federatedAssociation tations. “I think legislative services “We need to know what they’re “We need to involve them more See Muruul, page 3 Byers says he’s grateful Cable systems may pay for opportunity to serve higher fees to members Walter Byers’ last words to honorees: “And a special thanks to The U.S. Court of Appeals for programming, including college and NCAA Convention delegates and Mr. Walter Bycrs, on behalf of all of the District of Columbia Circuit professional sports events, movies, guests at the Association’s honors us who have gone through (college January 5 issued a decision in Ca- syndicated shows, and local shows. luncheon were fittingly simple. and athletics participation) over the blevision Systems Development Co. At issue was the meaning of the “Thanks a lot,” he said. “It’s been past 36 years.” vs. Motion Picture Association of term “gross receipts . for the basic a lot 01 fun.” Asa N. Green, president, Living- America Inc. that is expected to service of providing secondary trans- During the two-hour affair, held ston University: “Walter always dis- result in cable systems paying an missions of primary broadcast trans- January 11 at the Opryland Hotel played a fundamental commitment additional $50 million in 1986copy- mitters,” which is the base amount in Nashville, Byers was recognized to the welllbcing of the studentt right royalty fees and to restore the from which the copyright fee is for 36 years of service to the NCAA athletes on our campuses.” annual pool of royalty fees to its calculated. as its first (and only, until October 1, ‘A great soul’ previous level of more than $100 The principal dispute arose in the 1987) executive director. Marino H. Casem, director of million. context of a “mixed” package of Followmg is a sampling of the athletics, Southern University, Baton The NCAA, the professional cable television service that contains comments made during the pro- Rouge: “Some people are born to sports leagues and other copyright both distant broadcast signals gram: greatness.. they are called kings, owners had filed a “friend of the (WTBS, for example) and cable Master of ceremonies Keith Jack- queens, maharajahs and potentates. court” brief urging the court of programming services (ESPN, for son, ABC-TV: “We are here to Others achieve greatness. We call appeals to decide the case as it did. example). Cable companies had honor a brave man. If you don’t them great souls. The controversy centered on how argued before the Copyright Office think he’s brave, try satisfying 1,000 “Walter displayed shrewd negoti- cable systems are to calculate the that. in the case of a “mixed” pack- college presidents. ating skills, a genuine interest in the fees that they are required to pay to age, they should be allowed to ex- “Walter would give you the best well-being of student-athletes, the the U.S. Copyright Office for the elude from “gross receipts” revenues argument in the world.. .and he abilitv to develoo a consensus of right to retransmit nonnetwork- attributable to nonbroadcast pro- always wins.