NCAA President Mark Emmert on Thursday during his annual state of the association address "laid out plans to rewrite and simplify its often criticized, dense rule book while continuing to hold its membership accountable to core principles," according to Eric Prisbell of USA TODAY. Emmert said, "Some of the rules are more ignored and laughed at than followed." Among the 27 proposals the BOD on Saturday will vote on will be "plans for sweeping changes that would slim down the NCAA rule book." The new rules "would take effect Aug. 1." Emmert also has been "a proponent of student-athletes receiving stipends of up to $2,000 for the full cost of attendance." Emmert said that when the proposal is revisited in April, there will be "some consideration of a need-based model for the stipend." Emmert added that the model "needs to address issues of Title IX compliance and equity" (USA TODAY, 1/18). CBSSPORTS.com's Dennis Dodd wrote Emmert spent "thirty-two minutes speaking to an audience of about 3,200 at the NCAA Convention opening business session and not one mention of Penn State." Dodd: "Not one. That, frankly, is jaw-dropping. And completely understandable." Emmert afterward said, "I cannot comment on a pending lawsuit." The omission was "an indicator of how lightly the organization has to tread." Emmert "not only didn't bury the lead, he didn't tell the story." This was "his chance to merely say, 'It was a tough decision, but we believe we made the right one.'" Dodd: "Or is that small statement at risk to end up in a court document?" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/17).
