MINUTES OF THE

 

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

 

DIVISION I BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

NCAA Office                                                                                                                April 26, 2007

Indianapolis, Indiana

 

 

Participants:

 

Michael Adams, University of Georgia, Southeastern Conference

Philip Austin, University of Connecticut, Big East Conference, chair

James Barker, Clemson University, Atlantic Coast Conference

Robert Bruininks, University of Minnesota, Big Ten Conference

Daniel Curran, University of Dayton, Atlantic 10 Conference

Robert Fisher, Belmont University, Atlantic Sun Conference 

Gregory Geoffroy, Iowa State University, Big Twelve Conference 

Bruce Grube, Georgia Southern University, Southern Conference

Walter Harrison, University of Hartford, America East Conference

Michael McFarland, College of the Holy Cross, Patriot League

Sidney McPhee, Middle Tennessee State University, Sun Belt Conference

Shirley Raines, University of Memphis, Conference USA

V. Lane Rawlins, Washington State University, Pacific-10 Conference  

Sidney Ribeau, Bowling Green State University, Mid-American Conference

Steve Weber, San Diego State University, Mountain West Conference

John Welty, Fresno State University, Western Athletic Conference

S. David Berst, NCAA

Myles Brand, NCAA

Beth DeBauche, NCAA, recording secretary

Bernard Franklin, NCAA

 

[NOTE:   Unable to attend were Anthony DiGiorgio, Winthrop University, Big South Conference and Lawrence Davis Jr., University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Southwestern Athletic Conference.]

 

Also in attendance was Kathleen Hickey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Big East Conference, chair of the Division I Man­agement Council. 

 

NCAA staff members Erik Christianson, Elsa Cole, Joni Comstock, Julie Cromer, Diane Dickman, Michelle Hosick, Damani Leech, Kevin Lennon, Todd Leyden (Eligibility Center), Steve Mallonee, Delise O’Meally, Tom Paskus, Todd Petr, Dennie Poppe, Bill Regan, Wallace Renfro, Charlotte Westerhaus, and J.P. Williams (intern) were also present during portions of the meeting.

 

[Joint report of the April Board of Directors and Management Council meetings.]

 

The meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m. by the chair, President Austin. All were present as noted above.

 

1.      Opening remarks. Philip Austin welcomed the group and acknowledged new Board member Robert Bruininks, president of the University of Minnesota, representing the Big Ten Conference.

 

 

2.      Governmental Relations. Abe Frank from the NCAA’s Washington D.C. office presented the Governmental Relations report via video conference. 

 

 

3.      Report of the Division I Presidential Advisory Group (PAG). The Division I Presidential Advisory Group chair, Walter Harrison, provided an overview of the group’s April 25 meeting. Additionally, throughout the meeting he shared comments and suggestions offered by members of the Division I Presidential Advisory Group.  President Austin thanked President Harrison for serving as chair of the Division I Presidential Advisory Group.

 

 

4.            Report of the Division I Management Council meeting. Kathleen Hickey, chair of the Division I Management Council, provided the Board with the report of the April 16 – 17, 2007, Division I Management Council meeting. President Austin thanked Ms. Hickey for her good work and service to Division I as her term as Management Council chair expired in April 2007.

 

 

5.      News regarding the NCAA Eligibility Center and discussion of the pilot certification concept. NCAA Eligibility Center President Todd Leyden and NCAA staff member Diane Dickman presented a recommendation to the Board regarding establishing, for the class of 2007, a pilot initial-eligibility waiver program for prospective student-athletes who meet specified criteria. 

 

 

6.      Report of the Committee on Academic Performance (CAP). Walter Harrison, as chair of the Committee on Academic Performance, presented the report of the April 23 - 24, 2007, committee meeting. Additionally, Julie Cromer, Diane Dickman, Kevin Lennon, Bill Regan and Todd Petr of the NCAA staff joined President Harrison to discuss the committee’s work.

 

 

7.      Update on the efforts of the Baseball Enhancement Working Group. Working group members Walter Harrison and Wake Forest University Director of Athletics Ron Wellman reviewed the recommendations of the Baseball Academic Enhancement Working Group.


Staff members Dennie Poppe and Damani Leech joined the working group members for this presentation.  

 

 

8.            Closing Comments. President Austin thanked the following Division I Board of Directors members who’s terms expired at the conclusion of the meeting:

 

·              Lawrence Davis Jr., University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Southwestern Athletic Conference

·              Robert Fisher, Belmont University, Atlantic Sun Conference

·              Walter Harrison, University of Hartford, America East Conference 

·              Sidney McPhee, Middle Tennessee State University, Sun Belt Conference 

·              V. Lane Rawlins, Washington State University, Pacific 10 Conference  

·              John Welty, Fresno State University, Western Athletic Conference   

 

Additionally, the NCAA President thanked President Philip Austin for his service to Division I and to the Board of Directors as his term as chair concluded at the end of this meeting.  

 

 

9.      Executive Session. The Division II and III members of the Executive Committee joined the Board of Directors for an Executive Session.  

 

 

10.        Adjournment. President Austin adjourned the meeting at 2:50 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#   #   #   #   #