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Influential group comes
out against 12th game
© The Associated Press
MIAMI — The Knight
commission urged the NCAA to oppose the addition of a 12th
regular-season game for Division I football teams until the effects of
recent academic reforms for players become clear.
The NCAA Division I
Management Council has backed legislation that would allow Division I-A
and I-AA schools to add a 12th game starting with the 2006 season.
The NCAA Board of
Directors on Thursday considers the legislation, which has the support
of most athletic directors.
The Knight commission last
week sent a memo to the NCAA Board of Directors, indicating it believed
the effects of new academic reforms should be gauged before legislation
authorizing the extra game is passed.
The commission is a
privately funded group formed in 1989 to promote reforms and greater
presidential control of college sports.
The NCAA's latest academic
reform movement is based on a points system that measures the retention
and graduation rates of each team.
Teams that fail to meet
minimum standards — about a 50 percent gradation rate — are in danger of
losing scholarships.
Teams that persistently
fall short of the NCAA's minimum requirements could face postseason
bans.
According to the report
released in February, half the 328 Division I schools have at least one
team that could face sanctions.
``This coming fall will be
the first time juniors will be subject to the increased progress toward
degree requirements, and the academic performance program will be in
effect as well,'' the Knight commission wrote in its letter.
``The commission, by a
substantial majority, urges the board to oppose the addition of a 12th
football game until the impact of these academics reform is clear,''
said the memo.
Page updated:
02/23/07 10:42 AM
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights rights reserved.
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