NCAA FORMS NEW MARKETING UMBRELLA GROUP FOR FOOTBALL

          The NCAA has formed "NCAA Football USA" to increase
     interest and awareness of college football. The organization
     will market and promote football on a national level by
     producing a marketing fund for research and education
     programs, merchandising, media and grass-roots initiatives. 
     National promotional programs include NCAA Football USA
     national TV programs; a PR and research element; a
     nationally-syndicated NCAA Football USA Radio Game of the
     Week; a traveling NCAA Football USA Fan Festival; on-campus
     interactive video game tours; PSAs and educational
     materials.  The organization will be the first phase in a
     four-phase "cooperative marketing effort" to promote college
     athletics under NCAA Sports USA.  The next phase includes
     basketball, women's sports and Olympic sports (NCAA).  USA
     TODAY's Michael Hiestand notes the program "finally gives
     college football an overall marketing scheme that's
     analogous to ones used by pro leagues" (USA TODAY, 2/14).