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NCAA panel endorses
12-game season
©2005 The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA
Division I Management Council has backed legislation that would allow
Division I-A and I-AA schools to add a 12th football game starting with
the 2006 season.
The plan was given
tentative approval by the council during its meeting Monday, but still
must be approved by the NCAA Board of Directors when it meets April 28.
Division I vice-president
David Berst said Tuesday he didn't know whether the NCAA board would
give final approval for a 12th football game. Only the Atlantic Coast
Conference was opposed to the proposal.
``I would expect there
will be more discussion,'' he said. ``The board should have the freedom
to make its own decision.''
There was no discussion of
the issue at the council's meeting.
``The various conferences
came to the meeting prepared to vote, and we just tallied the votes,''
Berst said.
Ron Wellman, the athletic
director at Wake Forest and chairman of the ACC athletic directors, said
many of the conference's concerns dealt with academics.
``We believe the season is
long enough at 11 games, and we actually enjoy the bye week,'' he said.
The council also approved
legislation for more flexible recruiting calendars in men's basketball
and increased the number of scholarships for women in gymnastics,
soccer, volleyball and track and field.
It also voted to grant
another year of eligibility to players who were academically ineligible
as freshmen but have completed 80 percent of their degree requirements
after four years.
No action was taken on the
length of the season in basketball because of a pending court case,
Berst said.
Page updated:
02/23/07 10:42 AM
©2005
The Associated Press. All rights rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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