PAC-10 Proposals Gain Momentum at NCAA Convention

The NCAA Management Council, in its first review at its annual convention in Indianapolis this week, approved PAC-10 proposed legislation to make Men’s Rowing an NCAA sport with an NCAA championship.
The men’s rowing proposals set a limit of five equivalencies in athletic grants-in-aid and coaching limitations of three total coaches, two who can recruit off campus, as well as limitations on practice and playing seasons.


NCAA President Miles Brand

USC Head Coach Gene Kininmonth says the proposed legislation is exciting for the sport. “Elevating Men’s Rowing to NCAA status is a welcome move for the sport. Making the student-athlete experience for collegiate men’s rowers the equivalent of the student-athlete experience in NCAA sponsored sports is a terrific goal.”

The proposals, submitted by Ron Barker, assistant commissioner of the PAC-10, and with majority support from PAC-10 coaches, will now enter a 60 day comment period prior to a second review by the Management Council in April. If again approved, the proposals will then be sent to the legislative meeting of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in April, who will choose to either adopt or defeat the proposals. If adopted, the Board’s action becomes final at the conclusion of the meeting.

Proponents of the proposed legislation say currently some institutions apply some or all of the NCAA bylaws to their men's rowing programs, while others do not, and operate under a different set of rules, which has been and continues to be a cause of concern.

Furthermore, history has seen many men’s rowing programs in the U.S. get axed by athletic directors in difficult financial times because the sport has never offered an official NCAA championship. “Although this legislation will not directly benefit USC Men’s Crew since we are now a club, the carrot of an NCAA championship cracks open the door just that little bit wider for club teams across the country hoping to gain varsity status.”

“This is likely to be the only chance in our lifetimes we will see this opportunity arise,” says Coach K. “Unfortunately, if there is going to be a spoiler it will be the ECAC, which currently controls men’s rowing nationally. I doubt it is about to willingly loosen its grip on the sport.”

But Coach K points out there is every reason the NCAA proposals will receive a favorable response from east coast academic institutions. “If anything, the scholarship limitation of just five grants hinders the PAC-10 more than any other conference. Since the Ivy League universities and many liberal arts colleges technically do not give athletic scholarships, this is a rather strict limitation the PAC-10 has placed on itself and shows fiscal responsibility.”