CONVENTION CONTROVERSY ISN'T LIKELY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 10, 1993                   TAG: 9301100137
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
CONVENTION CONTROVERSY ISN'T LIKELY
Schools that run afoul of the NCAA soon may have an entirely new group of people to hear their appeal.
In addition, the infractions committee that conducts enforcement hearings and metes out punishment could add two new members from the public at large, people who have no direct link to schools or the NCAA.
About 2,000 delegates will vote on about 150 items during the 87th annual NCAA convention that opens Wednesday in Dallas. Unlike recent conventions that dealt with such touchy issues as eligibility, drug-testing and financial aide, these meetings are not expected to generate great controversy.
"I think we're in for a quiet one," said Chuck Neinas, executive director of the College Football Association.
The two proposals dealing with the infractions committee and the appeals process were recommended by the committee headed by Rex Lee, the president of Brigham Young University who spent a year studying enforcement procedures.
Delegates will vote on whether to add two people to the five-person infractions committee, with both new members being recognized legal experts, possibly retired judges.
One common complaint among schools is that there is little chance of getting relief through appeal because the appeal is heard by the NCAA Council, the organization's policy-making body. Under the new idea, a five-person appeal committee would be created, with three members coming from NCAA schools and two from the public.
Certain to draw much debate will be a broad, complicated package of proposals setting up a certification program for athletic departments, similar to accreditation programs that universities already use for academic programs. Perhaps the most significant component will be an independent audit of everybody's department every five years.
"For the first time, people can come in from the outside and take a look at what you're doing," said Ted Tow, the NCAA's associate executive director for executive affairs.
NCAA executive director Dick Schultz long has championed certification as a part of the NCAA's continuing reform effort.
"Certification in my mind is the most important legislative item the convention will deal with," said Schultz. "I'm sure there will be a lot of debate. It does have strong support of the Presidents Commission and Division I-A athletic directors. I think it's going to pass by a substantial margin."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB