Facing Elimination? CBS Affil Could Be Sent Home By NCAA

While the '02 NCAA men's Final Four will be held in Atlanta, Atlanta's WGCL-CBS "could be in the embarrassing position of only being allowed to cover the event from outside" the Georgia Dome, according to Prentis Rogers of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. The NCAA is currently withholding credentials from WGCL "after discovering the ... station transferred its credentials from last season's regional" at the GA Dome to WNEM-CBS, its sister station in Flint, MI. WNEM "was denied credentials because it did not meet the requirement of covering 90[%] of Michigan State's home games. [WNEM] sought to circumvent the rules by asking for part of WGCL's allotment. When WGCL agreed to the transfer, it violated NCAA rules." WGCL GM Allen Shakland: "There was a dispute and some misunderstanding. But we're confident of being able to resolve it" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/9).