Discussions in February could lead to the Big Ten and Pac-10
champs participating in the college football bowl alliance,
according to Steve Berkowitz of the WASHINGTON POST.  The
Alliance's current participants will meet then to "evaluate the
successes and problems the alliance had this season."  Also next
month, ADs from Pac-10 and Big Ten  schools will discuss the
national championship game.  Ohio State AD Andy Geiger:  "We have
to be interested in changing the situation so that if we qualify
for a one versus two game, we have access to it" (WASHINGTON
POST, 1/10).  Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney says the
conference supports "incorporating the Rose Bowl into the
national championship picture."  Officials at both conferences
are in talks with Rose Bowl sponsors and ABC to "keep the
integrity" of the game intact (Joseph Tybor, CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
1/10).  NCAA Exec Dir Cedric Dempsey, on a possible college
football playoff system: "There's not a lot of support out there.
... Right now everyone is more interested to see if the Alliance
process will work" ("Sports Tonight," CNN, 1/9).
     OTHER DALLAS NEWS:  Division I member delegates voted down a
proposal to change the academic requirements to receive
scholarships as freshman beginning in August.  The "surprisingly
narrow" vote was 163-161.  The delegates also approved a new
governing structure, which will give more control over Division I
rules to schools with the largest-profile football programs.  The
rules will also give college presidents control over the NCAA and
the rules-making process (WASHINGTON POST, 1/10).  The only
"significant" piece of legislation yesterday was a measure that
will allow athletes who drop out of school or enroll part-time to
continue training with their college teams in preparation for the
Olympics (Danny Robbins, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/10).
     SUCCESS:  The "resounding support for the restructuring
plan" makes the convention a "success in the eyes of the NCAA's
leaders" (Danny Robbins, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/10).