October 17, 2004

David-And-Goliath Complex: I-AA Seeks Its Place In The Sun

FROM DIVISION I-AA SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES come many voices calling for enhancements that would elevate the legitimacy of the football-only division as well as provide greater differentiation from the dominant Division I-A.

The impetus for change comes from widespread misunderstanding�much of it from people who should know better�about what exactly the I-AA classification means. A common misconception is that I-AA extends to all teams a school, when in fact it applies to football teams only.

D-1AA Gateway Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito expressed some frustration regarding this false impression, "[Division I-AA is] automatically characterized as a mid-major or something less than the top for all sports. The media in many ways is uneducable, and I'm not sure any amount of name-changing will change perception."

Ms. Viverito was referring to the possibility of changing the division�s classification to something other than I-AA (which is quite close to Division I-A).

Other enhancements proposed and under consideration include:

� Increasing television exposure for D1-AA. Recently ESPN and ESPN2 signed on to carry Division I-AA Football Championship.

� Changing the seeding process to allow seeding 16 teams. After the 9-11 attacks, seeding was reduced to reduce travel. The prevailing thought is that now it�s time to seed more teams.

� Allowing I-A teams to count a game each year against a I-AA team toward bowl eligibility. Current rules allow this only once every four years.

� Changing the NCAA reimbursement structure, which is often insufficient to cover travel expenses for playoff teams.

Although these enhancements sound like they will make I-AA look quite like I-A, most I-AA member institutions claim they are not trying to be I-A.

Further, some schools have jumped to I-A without really thinking things through. New NCAA criteria this year�such as a minimum attendance average of 15,000�have made I-A eligibility more difficult. Some think the stricter standards are too tough, others don�t.

"We have so many schools that heed the siren's call and get dashed on the rocks as they move to I-A," said Doug Fullerton, commissioner of the Big Sky Conference.

The lure of I-A football has drawn many schools into its ranks. It has been fueled by a complex combination of ego, status, alumni pressure, administration derring-do and marketing to potential student applicants.

So I-A will continue to drive the bus, and I-AA will grab a seat wherever it can.

More later . . . .

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(this 402 word excerpt�with attendant commentary�was distilled from a 2281 word article from the NCAA News of 10-11-04)