Division I-A, I-AA and I-AAA Labels.

ACTION ITEM:

· Division I-A, I-AA and I-AAA Labels.

a. Recommendation. It is requested that the Board of Directors take action at its August 2006 meeting to:

(1) Delete the labels Division I-A, I-AA and I-AAA from NCAA use, effective December 22, 2006, (the date of the scheduled Division I-AA Football Championship);

(2) Adopt the title “NCAA Division I Football Championship” to replace the “Division I-AA Football Championship,” the current title; and

(3) Adopt the terms “Football Bowl Subdivision” and “NCAA Football Championship Subdivision” to refer to the level of football played by Division I members.

b. Rationale. In April 2006, the Board was asked to take action to delete the Division I-A, I-AA and I-AAA labels, but was not provided replacement terms. The following excerpt from the April meeting describes this action:

BD ACTION: Deferred taking action on a recommendation to delete subdivisional labels in Division I that pertain only to football (i.e., Divisions I-A, I-AA and I-AAA) until such time as appropriate replacement football labels can be developed.

[Note: In deferring this request, the Board acknowledged its appreciation for the frustration associated with the current misapplication of the labels whereby nonfootball sport teams are referred to as Division I-AA/I-AAA, but indicated concern that in the absence of new nomenclature, others may use less desirable labels to refer to the subdivisions.]

Following the Board of Directors action, the Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) continued its discussion of this matter during its annual June meeting. The CCA has supported action to eliminate the current subdivision labels for sometime and was unanimous in agreeing that the labels should refer to postseason formats, i.e. “Football Bowl Subdivision” and “NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.”

In supporting the new labels, it was noted that Division I-A conferences attempt to brand each individual conference during the regular football season and seldom have used the Division I-A label. Division I-AA institutions and conferences tend to use references to Division I-AA football more often, but find the term confusing and misapplied by the public, boosters and media when referring not only their football programs but their overall athletics programs. The label Division I-AAA has no meaning beyond noting that the institution or conference does not sponsor football and elimination of its use should have no detrimental impact.

The actions requested of the Board will require numerous editorial changes in NCAA publications and manuals. Please also note that there is no intention to consider altering the negotiated balance of votes in Division I, where the Football Bowl Subdivision has, and will continue to have, a majority position in the governance structure.