Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 8, 1993 TAG: 9312080103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: OVERLAND PARK, KAN. LENGTH: Medium
The governing body said Tuesday it has formed a group to study the advantages and drawbacks of a Division I-A playoff.
Clearly, there would be no time to institute a Division I playoff and settle this season's Nebraska-West Virginia-Florida State logjam at the top of the polls. Nor could a playoff system be in place before the 1995 season.
But the mere fact of such a study group will be hailed by playoff advocates. It could also mean schools will vote on a playoff at their convention in January 1995.
"I don't think this necessarily advances the possibility of a football playoff," said Francis Canavan, the NCAA's group executive director for public affairs. "What it advances is that, finally, there will be a firm decision, yes or no. There has been lots of talk about a playoff, and it has heightened this year, as it does every year at this time."
The NCAA Joint Policy Board said it had formed a group chaired by UCLA chancellor Charles Young, and will include incoming NCAA executive director Cedric Dempsey; Donnie Duncan, Oklahoma athletic director and chairman of the NCAA special events committee; and Tom Jernstedt, chief operating officer of the NCAA.
"I've counted no fewer than four different playoff proposals being advanced by groups outside the NCAA," said NCAA president Joseph Crowley. "The NCAA membership needs solid, objective information to analyze this issue."
Greg O'Brien of New Orleans, chairman of the NCAA Presidents Commission, said the formation of the group should not be seen as an endorsement of the idea.
"This is simply a decision to gather information," he said. "Where that information will lead us is anybody's guess."
A high-powered sales pitch was made to the Presidents Commission at its meeting in Kansas City last summer, presented by in part by Nike International, which said as much as $40 million could be raised.
At that time, presidents said they were impressed by the slick presentation but not inclined to go along with it. There can not be a football playoff until it gets the approval of the commission, which has promised to try to lessen the commercial aspects of big-time athletics.
"If you took a vote of everybody in the commission right now, it would be turned down convincingly, I think," Jon Wefald of Kansas State, a member of the commission, said at the time.
Young also said he was not inclined to support a playoff. His research group will deliver a report to the NCAA Division I-A members in the next several months. A recommendation will then be made to the Presidents Commission and the NCAA executive committee and council, which could put a playoff on the ballot at the January 1995 convention.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.