Knight Commission Opposes Adding a 12th Game

[Water Pony]

Eleven is enough

Knight commission: Say no to 12-game season

Posted: Monday April 25, 2005 2:39PM; Updated: Monday April 25, 2005 4:15PM

MIAMI (AP) -- The Knight commission urged the NCAA to oppose the addition of a 12th regular-season game for Division I football teams until the effects of recent academic reforms for players become clear.

The NCAA Division I Management Council has backed legislation that would allow Division I-A and I-AA schools to add a 12th game starting with the 2006 season. The NCAA Board of Directors on Thursday considers the legislation, which has the support of most athletic directors.

The Knight commission last week sent a memo to the NCAA Board of Directors. The commission is a privately funded group formed in 1989 to promote reforms and greater presidential control of college sports.

The NCAA's latest academic reform movement is based on a points system that measures the retention and graduation rates of each team. Teams that fail to meet minimum standards -- about a 50 percent gradation rate -- are in danger of losing scholarships. Teams that persistently fall short of the NCAA's minimum requirements could face postseason bans.

According to the report released in February, half the 328 Division I schools have at least one team that could face sanctions.

"This coming fall will be the first time juniors will be subject to the increased progress toward degree requirements, and the academic performance program will be in effect as well," the Knight commission wrote in its letter. "The commission, by a substantial majority, urges the board to oppose the addition of a 12th football game until the impact of these academics reform is clear."

Linda Richmond, "The Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy or Roman, discuss?"

[MrMustang1965]

The Knight Commission, a privately-funded group that promotes reform in college sports, sent a memo to the NCAA last week urging the Board of Directors to oppose the 12th-game proposal. The commission cited academic concerns as the main reason for opposing the proposition and encouraged the Board to wait until the impact of the NCAA’s recent academic reforms is evaluated.

“The 12-game schedule eliminates a period toward the middle of the season where student athletes can catch up both physically and academically,” said R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University and co-vice chair of the Knight Commission. “With the new academic standards, which are definitely tougher, and this being the first class to come in under them, we ought to see how the students do before we allow for this kind of schedule.”

[PonySnob]

Who are the members that are on the Knight Commission? Is it mainly made up of administrators from schools that are not truly committed to winning at the D-1 level like what we appear to have at SMU?

[Original Frank]

Yet another deep and insightful opinion by Pony Snob!

[Original Frank]

Yet another deep and insightful opinion by Pony Snob!