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NCAA

shrink to nearly half its present size. Division II
would then likely grab up those remainders
such as Davidson and Vanderbilt which
presently are unable to realistically compete
with the Ohio States and Southern Cals.

Division III would maintain the majority of
its present membership with a few exceptions
moving up to Division II. Each school in the
lower divisions would also be allowed to
compete in Division I in one of its sporting
programs.

The real impact of this proposal, however, is
that each division would gain the authority to
implement its own sets of rules and regulations
with regard to such matters as academic
standards, etc. And where the Eastern College
Athletic Conference (ECAC) and a number of
smaller schools have for some time
constantly battled and
consistently blocked the
efforts of such major athletic
conferences as the ACC, the
Big EIght, and independents
such as Penn State and South
Carolina to gain further
recruitment restrictions, they
could under this proposal conceivably
maintain their own set of
standards without affecting
those who wish for change.

If the redivisioning does not
pass, explains Mr. Williams,
there exists the distinct
possibility of a major walk-out
from the NCAA by a large
number of major institutions
including Virginia and the rest
of the ACC. The matter is by
no means simplistic but
rather a severely serious one.