Ncaa Dodges Idaho’s Request

(From Replay, Friday, April 18, 1997:) The University of Idaho’s $359,000 athletic department budget shortfall came in fiscal year 1996 (July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996) and not in its first year in the Big West Conference, as was reported in a Wednesday article.

The good news, from Idaho’s perspective, is that the NCAA didn’t deny the Vandals, as it has done twice previously. Not yet, anyway.

The bad news is that the NCAA didn’t embrace the Vandals’ request to have their football games count toward the Division I-A six-win bowl requirement. Not yet, anyway.

The NCAA Management Council tabled Idaho’s request at its meetings Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz., referring the matter to the new Championships/Competition cabinet.

UI, meanwhile, remains in limbo.

“We’re disappointed we didn’t get a favorable decision,” athletic director Oval Jaynes said. “For the future of our program, it’s important to get this resolved as soon as possible.”

Jaynes and Big West Conference commissioner Dennis Farrell, who pitched Idaho’s case in Tucson, expended considerable effort on the matter. Farrell didn’t return telephone messages.

Idaho plays in the I-A Big West, but it doesn’t meet NCAA I-A requirements for stadium seating and attendance. Many schools hesitate to schedule the Vandals because games against UI don’t count toward the I-A bowl requirement. Cal dropped Idaho from its 1997 schedule.

Idaho’s athletic department suffered a $359,000 budget shortfall in 1996, its first year in the Big West. The money woes could worsen if Idaho can’t schedule I-A opponents who offer big-dollar guarantees.

The NCAA, however, isn’t anxious to set a precedent by ruling in Idaho’s favor because it fears other I-AA schools would jump to I-A.

“We feel very strongly that we were given the permission to play by I-A rules and for our games not to count… we think there’s an inconsistency in the legislation,” Jaynes said.

, DataTimes