Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 11, 1994 TAG: 9401110157
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Black Coaches Association had indicated it would consider action if its demands were not met. There was widespread speculation among delegates of a protest reminiscent of Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson's walkout over the NCAA convention's stand on academics several years ago.
"Personally, I find this offensive," said Dennis Coleman, general counsel for the BCA.
Coleman said black students had the most to gain from an estimated 330 scholarships that would have been saved by the proposal.
"We believe that those 330 scholarships are so critically important to our community," he said. "We are losing every day black men from our neighborhoods. Some of them, the only access that they are going to get, is these scholarships."
The BCA won an important victory on another vote when schools approved a resolution ordering a review of Proposal 16, which was passed at the 1992 convention and strengthens academic requirements for freshmen. The resolution also makes possible a delay in the Aug. 1, 1995, effective date if suggested by the review.
Two years ago, NCAA Division I schools voted to cut back scholarships in all sports as part of a sweeping reform and a cost-cutting movement. Men's basketball scholarships were dropped from 15 to 13 while women's stayed at 15.
The NCAA Presidents Commission argued that restoring one basketball grant would signal a retreat from reforms.
by CNB