The NCAA D-I Board of Directors “endorsed sweeping recommendations Thursday to dramatically change the way the association deals with those who flout its rules,” according to Eric Prisbell of USA TODAY. The “most egregious acts of misconduct would be subject to postseason bans of as long as four years.” For schools that incur postseason bans, all the revenue generated “during the years the violations occurred would be negated.” A vote on the proposal “is not expected until the board’s October meeting.” Another change, which would not take effect until Aug. 1, 2013, is that a “four-tier violation structure would replace the current two-tier -- major and secondary -- model.” In addition, the Committee on Infractions would “grow to as many as 24 members from its current 10” (USA TODAY, 8/3). The AP’s Michael Marot noted programs found to be in breach of conduct “may have to return money from specific events or a series of events or the amount of gross revenue generated by the sport during the years in which sanctions occurred -- fines that could cost a school millions of dollars.” The board also “approved a provision that would publicly identify individuals responsible for the violations if there is a finding of lack of institutional control or failure to monitor” (AP, 8/2).
DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF: A Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL editorial is written under the header, “NCAA Wise To Overhaul Rule Book.” Secondary violations are a “fact of life in college athletics, and for coaches and schools, it's often a case of the old saying: Don't sweat the small stuff.” That is why NCAA President Mark Emmert “has set in motion an overhaul of the manual.” The editorial: “Let's hope the NCAA follows through and produces a new rule book that's clear, concise and guided by common sense. … The real problem with college athletics is the big stuff.” A smaller rule book “won't cure those ills, but at least it might lessen the distractions and put the focus where it belongs” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 8/3).
