INDIANAPOLIS — The scandal-plagued NCAA is moving swiftly to clean up its image.
On Thursday, the Division I board of directors approved a package of sweeping reforms that gives conferences the option of adding more money to scholarship offers, schools the opportunity to award scholarships for multiple years, imposes tougher academic standards on recruits and changes the summer basketball recruiting model.
“It was one of the most aggressive and fullest agendas the board has ever faced,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said. “They moved with dispatch on it.”
The board approved a measure allowing conferences to vote on providing up to $2,000 in spending money, or what the NCAA calls the full cost of attendance. Emmert insists it is not pay-for-play, merely the reintroduction of a stipend that existed for college athletes until 1972. He also compared it to the stipends received by other students who receive nonathletic scholarships.
“I think it needs to happen or else I think what’s left of the system itself is going to implode,” said Ohio University professor David Ridpath, past president of The Drake Group, an NCAA watchdog. “We’ve always lost the moral high ground by saying the educational model is what makes this thing go. I think we’re delivering a model that can exploit kids while they’re here.”
Schools must infer the cost of additional funding, and it will have to be doled out equally to men’s and women’s athletes because of Title IX rules.
While BCS schools have the money and are expected to swiftly approve additional funding, it might prove too costly for non-BCS schools. There are fears it will increase the disparity between the haves and the have-nots and could prompt another round of conference realignment.
The board also passed a four-year plan to phase in the new requirements of the Academic Progress Rate. As part of the plan, the board agreed to raise eligibility standards for incoming freshmen and junior college transfers.
No. 18 Houston 73, Rice 34
HOUSTON — Case Keenum threw nine touchdown passes to set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career TD tosses for the Cougars. Keenum moved ahead of former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell with his 139th touchdown pass.
Footnotes.
Commissioner Mike Slive said the Southeastern Conference transition team that includes Texas A&M is working on scheduling for a 13- and 14-school league just in case the SEC expands further.
• Pittsburgh running back Ray Graham, the Big East’s leading rusher, will miss the rest of the season after injuring his right knee in the first quarter of Wednesday’s 35-20 win over Connecticut.
• Big East Conference executives paid a visit to Boise State, giving the university’s president an informational pitch on the beleaguered conference and its plans to expand.
