Pac-12 presidents last week "sent a letter to their colleagues" at the Big 12, ACC, Big Ten and SEC "calling for sweeping changes to the NCAA model and autonomy for those leagues," according to Antonio Gonzalez of the AP. The presidents "outlined a 10-point plan for reform that includes many proposals commissioners have been advocating for several years, including a stipend for athletes." Arizona State President Michael Crow said his counterparts in the Pac-12 are not "happy with where things are going. We're not happy with the nature of the debate out there. And we felt like our voice is not well understood." The list of proposals in the letter include permitting schools to "make scholarship awards up to the full cost of attendance," and to "decrease the demands placed on the athlete in-season." They also call for the schools to "provide reasonable ongoing medical or insurance assistance for student-athletes who suffer an incapacitating injury in competition or practice," and to "guarantee scholarships for enough time to complete a bachelor's degree." Included is a call to "decrease time demands out of season by reducing out-of-season competition and practices, and by considering shorter seasons in specific sports." The proposal also seeks to "further strengthen" APR requirements for postseason play and to address the "'one and done' phenomenon in men's basketball." If the NBA and NBPA are "unable to agree to raising the age limit for players, consider restoring the freshman ineligibility rule in men's basketball." Meanwhile, it seeks to "provide student-athletes a meaningful role in governance at the conference and NCAA levels," and "adjust existing restrictions so that student-athletes ... are not unnecessarily deprived of the advice and counsel of agents." Finally, it looks to "liberalize the current rules limiting the ability of student-athletes to transfer between institutions." The presidents are "asking for a response to the proposed reforms by June 4" (AP, 5/20).
