INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA approved a sweeping package of academic reforms Thursday that will penalize schools starting in 2006 if athletes perform too poorly in the classroom.
"This is the beginning of a sea change in college sports," NCAA president Myles Brand said. "Landmark legislation was passed to ensure each and every student athlete has a genuine opportunity to receive a high-quality education and graduate."
To avoid punishment, schools will have to stay above a still-undetermined "cut line" that includes graduation rates as one factor showing academic progress.
The NCAA board of directors previously voted to increase the number of core courses needed for freshman eligibility and to increase the number of hours required toward graduation to remain eligible.
Another piece of the package, approved last fall, requires athletes to complete 20 percent of their degree requirements each year to remain eligible. The latest measure is designed to make the colleges themselves more accountable for keeping athletes on track to graduate.
The graduation rate "cut line" will be the same in all sports. Schools that fall below that line will receive warning letters beginning in 2006-07. Consistently poor performing teams could begin losing scholarships in 2007-08 and postseason eligibility and tournament money starting in 2008-09.
Also, if a scholarship athlete leaves school while not academically eligible, that scholarship may not be replaced for one year under a "contemporaneous" penalty that goes into effect this fall.
The board also rescinded the so-called "5-8" rule, which allowed a school to award five basketball scholarships in one year or eight scholarships in a two-year period.
Florida is one school that could benefit from repeal of the rule. The Gators lost three players this past season: forward Christian Drejer quit the team to play professionally in Spain, and Rashid Al-Kaleem and Ryan Appleby transferred at the end of the season. With four recruits scheduled to join the Gators next season, Florida would still be three shy of a full scholarship load.
Although the 5-8 rule was implemented to prevent coaches from dismissing players who didn't measure up to their standards, Florida coach Billy Donovan said he disliked the rule because it unfairly penalized teams that lost players due to circumstances beyond their control.
The NCAA board also discussed, but took no action, on recommendations by a task force on recruiting that was formed after allegations of rape at Colorado. The recommendations will be considered in July and new rules are expected before the 2004-05 recruiting season.
In another action, major colleges no longer will be allowed to schedule men's exhibition basketball games against noncollegiate opponents, such as foreign teams, AAU clubs or Athletes in Action. The prohibition will go into effect Aug. 1. Contracts signed before Oct. 21, 2003, will be honored.
The measure is designed to eliminate possible advantages some schools might have in recruiting by playing exhibition games against teams that could include prospective college players. Division I teams would still be allowed to make foreign tours.
DIVING: Florida juniors Nicole Bolt and Zach Wilcox are among 24 athletes nationwide invited to participate in the USA Diving Olympic trials on the 3-meter springboard beginning June 8.
GOLF: Tampa junior Brian Ward, who averaged 74.21 strokes over 19 rounds, was named to the six-man All-Sunshine State Conference first team. Lynn's Keir McNicoll was selected player of the year.
TENNIS: The Eckerd men will face Sunshine State Conference rival Lynn and the Eckerd women take on SSC rival Florida Southern in the opening round of the Division II national championships. First- and second-round tournaments will be May 7-9 at 16 sites.
BASKETBALL: Central Arkansas senior guard Aaron Mackey died in a fire that authorities believe was caused by food on the stove and which consumed the oxygen in his small apartment outside Conway. Syracuse forward Hakim Warrick said he would return for his senior year. Saint Joseph's junior guard Delonte West said he will declare for the NBA draft, but won't hire an agent. Auburn said freshman center Dwayne Curtis will seek a transfer. Former St. Bonaventure coach Jan van Breda Kolff is suing the school, saying he was wrongfully dismissed after last year's player eligibility scandal.
- Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report.
