The NCAA Slows Pace of Change : Boosters Are Target of Current Meeting

SAN DIEGO â€”  New rules that would curtail recruiting and attempt to eliminate abuses caused by overeager boosters in recruiting are expected to be among the most significant actions taken at the annual convention of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. here this week. Which means that there will not be much significant action.

At least not when compared to the actions taken last spring at the special convention on integrity concerning drugs and gambling and academics, or compared to the rules finally enacted at last year’s convention concerning academic requirements for incoming freshmen.

As NCAA President John Davis of Oregon State University put it Monday: “The association has done quite a bit in the last two years . . . and I think this convention recognizes that it is time to pause and take stock in all the things that have taken place. We don’t have legislation before us now that is as earth-shaking as we have had in the past.�

There will, however, be a lot of debate over some pending issues.

The president’s commission is expected to announce Wednesday a special convention on cost containment measures. Although that, supposedly, has not yet been established, it has been determined that such a special convention would be held June 29-30 in Dallas.

With that special convention in mind, several proposals, including two offered by the Pacific 10 to reduce the number of scholarships for football and basketball and proposals that would reduce the number of assistant coaches for both football and basketball, will probably be withdrawn from this convention and saved for the special convention.

Drug testing, the subject of a seminar being held in conjunction with this convention, is another important and controversial topic that probably will not yield any legislation this time around.

A resolution originally on the agenda for this convention to have sanctions apply only to an individual who tests positive for drugs and not to the team, will be ruled out of order on the advice of the parliamentarian because a resolution cannot conflict with existing legislation. The NCAA executive committee adopted an executive regulation last month suspending team sanctions because of drug violations until Sept. 1, but the sponsors of the proposal will have to come up with a new form in order to make that permanent.

Another proposal that could have major impact supports banning freshman eligibility. But the resolution asks only that the convention back the principle and draft legislation for future consideration.

Coaches will be watching for the outcome of a package of proposals that would require them to inform their administrations of all outside income, prohibit the use of the school’s name or logo in endorsements without prior approval of the school and require coaches to get the approval of the school’s chief executive officer before receiving compensation from shoe companies or other manufacturers.