Minutes maac committee on Athletic Administration

Thursday, June 4 & Friday, June 5, 2009

Mohegan Sun Resort, Uncasville, CT
Present: B. Maher, T. Murphy (CAN), E. Doris, A. Sexton (FFD), P. Lyons, Chair, J. Fogarty (IONA), T. Burns (LOY), R. Byrnes (MAN), T. Murray, E. Donohue (MAR), E. McLaughlin, T. Berg (NIA), D. Harnum, K. Torchia (RID), P. Elliott, C. Stimpson (SPC), J. D’Argenio, J. Eggleston (SIE)
MAAC: R. Ensor, B. Church, K. Taylor, M. Foley, A. Kresge, M. Bertovich, W. Swab


I. Minutes of May 20, 2009 Conference Call
MOTION (Harnum) To approve minutes of May 20, 2009 MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration Conference Call, Second Elliott; Passed Unanimously.

II. Old Business:

1. Stafford Sports update

--Rich Oriolo of Stafford Sports Presentation has presented to the committee the following regarding the site selection of the 2012-2014 MAAC Basketball Tournaments.

The request for proposal was sent out on May 19. The bids are due Thursday, August 14. Following compilation of the bids, the MAAC Council of Presidents and MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration will conduct a joint meeting on Friday, October 30 at 9:00am with Stafford sports to review the bids received. Following the joint meeting, each institutional delegation will be separated into individual groups to discuss the school’s position on the bids. The MAAC Council of Presidents fall business meeting will take place during the afternoon of October 30. At that time the Council of Presidents will either select a site or defer the decision to a conference call in early December 2009. Additionally the bids will be reviewed by the MAAC Marketing Committee at its fall meeting on Thursday, October 29.
2. DragonFly Film Exchange

--Ensor stated the MAAC has renewed with DragonFly Athletics on a 3-Year Agreement to provide digital film exchange. The conference now has the ability to service an unlimited number of sports. The conference office will pay the service fee to DragonFly Athletics.

--Ensor stated the MAAC will not be using Groople in the future as they have not paid the sponsorship fee to the MAAC.

--Ensor reported the Presidents approved associate memberships for the sport of women’s golf in 2009-2010 for Albany, Boston University and Hartford.

--Bertovich reviewed the new championship format. With the addition of at least four teams (Niagara, Albany, Boston U and Hartford) the practice of teeing off holes one and ten simultaneously will be abandoned.

--Ensor stated the MAAC will work with Celebration golf course to see if it is willing to take on the additional tee times.

--Byrnes questioned the committee to see if they limit the number of golfers in the travel party. The committee discussed the concept.

--Ensor noted the league will seek a waiver of the 2-year waiting period for an AQ.

--Drake University was approved as a member of the MAAC Rowing League by the Presidents. Ensor noted the league currently has enough members to qualify for an automatic qualifier in the event they are added to the rowing championship. Ensor stated Drake will also travel one other time to the East Coast to compete against MAAC schools. The MAAC will look at sponsoring legislation to implement AQ for rowing.

--Ensor said he is awaiting the finalized contract extension with Disney Sports. The agreement will cover fall championships from 2011—2015 and will also re-instate golf. Ensor expects and additional cost assessed by Disney from previous contracts of approximately $30,000, spread out over 8 events in four years.

--Foley stated the new softball committee has not yet met to review the proposal of a 3-game format for regular season play. Sexton added that on the coaches post season conference call the coaches were not unanimous on changing the format. The committee discussed the pros and cons of the three game format. A straw poll indicated Canisius and Saint Peter’s opposed the 3 game format.

--McLaughlin reviewed the survey regarding start and end dates and first dates of competition for fall sports within the MAAC. The survey was done in response to the committee developing cost containment measures.

A. Review period for release of the conference schedule.

--Taylor said the coaches recommended allowing some time for schools provided feedback on significant issues to the conference schedule.
MOTION (D’Argenio) For men’s and women’s basketball, to have a 48 hour review period for administrators from each school to provide feedback on major issues (i.e. facility availability). Any issues brought forward will be evaluated by the conference office for any possible changes. Additionally, once the schedule is released teams may not move games. Second, Murray passed 9-1 (Niagara)
--Byrnes stated the coaches asked for a review of the manner in which BracketBuster officials were assigned. The coaches preferred either using a neutral crew of officials or using the home teams’ officials. Ensor will bring forward the recommendation to the CCA meetings in late June.

--Byrnes said the coaches wanted to provide in-season input regarding the selection of officials for the MAAC Championship game. The coaches also added that they preferred seeing if the Big East is willing to accommodate releasing three of its officials who also work the MAAC to do the MAAC Championship game.

--The committee discussed having the coaches develop a list of preferred officials for the championship.
The committee tabled a vote on developing preferred lists until the Commissioner discusses the issue with the Big East Conference.
--Taylor reviewed the hotel assignment process for the 2010 MAAC Tournament. The committee agreed to place all 9 traveling teams in the downtown area. Subsequently Canisius volunteered to be placed on Wolf Road.
The committee agreed to not allow bands, cheer teams and dance squads to stay in any team hotels. The conference office will set up a block of low cost hotels in the area to accommodate these groups.
2. Review of Women’s Basketball Coaches Meetings coaches action items

--Church reviewed the proposal by the women’s coaches to change the format of the tournament to the following:

Friday: Quarterfinals (9:30, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30 – men: 7:30, 9:30)

Saturday: Off Day (men 12:00, 2:00, 7:00, 9:00)

Sunday: Semifinals (12:00, 2:00,-- men 6:00, 8:00)

Monday: Championship during day with bus brigade (TBA, men—7:00 or 9:00)

--Ensor noted that the strategic plan reviewed the formats for championships and settled on the current format. He expressed concern that changes to format should not be adopted prior to allowing the plan to take effect. The committee discussed the pros and cons of the proposal.

--Ensor stated the coaches suggested new ways of promoting the women’s tournament. The committee will agreed to await word on the NCAA grant to incorporate any changes. (Note subsequent to this point the MAAC became aware the NCAA grant was denied).

--Elizabeth Bowers from ESPN addressed the group on the status of the network. The MAAC and ESPN are negotiations to extend the current deal. A draft contract from ESPN is expected very soon.

--Bowers noted that ESPN recently signed distribution deals with Comcast and DirecTV that increased ESPNU’s clearance to 46 million homes. The Comcast and DirecTV rollouts will begin on July 1, 2009 and will take up to one year. Bowers encouraged the committee to reach out to local Comcast outlets in order to ensure ESPNU gets picked up.

--Bowers indicated that Cablevision is target of the ESPN Affiliate relations team to add ESPNU to its lineup.

--Bowers encouraged the group to embrace the campus connection program that allows college students a chance to get valuable experience on the production and possibly talent side of ESPNU.
4. Pattison Sports Group

--Jeff Long of the Pattison Sports Group (PSG) joined the meeting. Ensor noted the Presidents authorized the MAAC to hire PSG to do sales on behalf of the MAAC.

--Long reviewed his experience and thanked the league for the opportunity to service them. He stated he will be hiring a full time general manager to be housed in the MAAC office who will be dedicated to selling the MAAC. Since he currently represents both the MAAC and the Atlantic 10 conference, he plans to present opportunities separately. He does not envision a conflict of interest as it is common for marketing agencies to represent and service multiple clients.

--Ensor said there has been a history of continuity issues and soft sales in the MAAC position. Long stated he will look to hire an aggressive sales person who wants to grow with the MAAC and PSG.

--Ensor informed the group the conference office will maintain the Director of Marketing position (Whitney Swab) and will add an additional Director of Marketing position to administer the Dorna signage and the campus tour. The conference office overall will have two administrative fellows (down from three in 2008-2009) and that a new Assistant Director of Championships position will be added.
5. Women’s Basketball Championship Format Change

--Doris asked if the format change could be implemented as early as 2010. Discussion ensued on the feasibility of 2010.

--Ensor stated that the media day (which is used to springboard promotion of the tournament) takes place prior to the fall Presidents’ Meeting.

--D’Argenio added the review of the format should be methodical and not rushed so the proposal to the Presidents is well thought out and complete.
6. Coaches Meetings Action Items:

A. Tennis

--Stimpson reviewed one proposal from the tennis coaches.

--Donohue reviewed the water polo coaches recommendations.

.

The recommendation to increase the championship field for 2010 from four team six teams failed for lack of motion.

--Murray presented one recommendation from the golf coaches:

The recommendation that a minimum of four USGA officials be present at the MAAC Golf Championship 2010 championship was tabled.
D. Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field

--Harnum presented the track & field recommendations.

--Maher presented the men’s lacrosse action items.

--The coaches recommended the addition of an all-rookie team. The committee noted this had been recommended in the past and not adopted. Currently basketball, soccer and volleyball in the MAAC name all-rookie teams.
MOTION (Murray) To refer the recommendation to the awards committee. Second D’Argenio; passed unanimously.
--The coaches recommended the championship be played all on campus sites with the two semifinals on Wednesday and the final on Sunday. The championship banquet would be eliminated. The proposal would reduce travel for host teams.

--The committee discussed the possible impact of the host sites. Ensor noted that hotel accommodations and last minute travel could have a significant impact on the championship experience. Berg noted that while coaches may not like the banquets, student-athletes do enjoy the camaraderie prior to the tournament. Ensor noted that teams’ advancing through the tourney at home sites seems like an extension of the regular season and not a tournament experience for the athletes. He noted that the MAAC brand had built its identity around strong championship operations, unlike leagues like the NEC.

--McLaughlin reviewed recommendations put forth by the women’s lacrosse coaches.

The coaches recommended that the regular season champion from the previous season will host the MAAC Championship, beginning in 2011 (2010 regular season champion will host 2011 championship). If the regular season champion does not want to host, the second place school will be given the option to host.

--The recommendation failed for lack of second.

--Foley added the coaches expressed concern on the quality of officials assigned to the MAAC Championship. Burns suggested having the conference contact Kim Basner who is the NCAA Coordinator of Officials for the championship to assist.

--Sexton reviewed the recommendations of the softball head coaches.

The committee discussed the recommendation to require that the host site for the MAAC Championship have a dirt infield. Lyons stated adding a rule only limits the ability for some schools to host.
MOTION (Sexton) To require the MAAC Softball Championship host to have a dirt infield. Fails for lack of second.
--The committee agreed to let the bid process stay as is and that schools can determined the dirt infields are preferred to turf infields.

--Sexton reviewed the recommendation to allow for changes to the conference schedule prior to a scheduled game to avoid potentially bad weather. The committee discussed the mechanics of the proposal

--Murphy reviewed one recommendation from the swimming & diving coaches. The committee noted this was in line with ECAC and NCAA Championship formats.

--See above under Pattison Sports Group.

--Ensor stated that he met with ESPN and Pattison Sports Group on Thursday, June 4. ESPN indicated it is possible the Olympic sport championship telecasts may be eliminated. The number of basketball telecasts would remain the same.

--Ensor added that PSP and Jeff Long suggested possibly doing a registration drive on campuses during move-in for the campus tour. The conference office will explore implementing this in late August/Early September.

Ensor noted the Presidents approved the budget forwarded by the MAAC Finance Committee.

--Ensor and Taylor reviewed the new tournament operations in place. Taylor stated from July 1—September 30, MAAC schools will have the first opportunity to purchase all-session passes to the MAAC Tournament. Between October 1 and 27, the conference office will allocate all-session seat locations based upon the number of tickets purchased by schools. On October 28, all session tickets will go on sale to the general public and seat locations remaining will be allocated first come, first served.

--Institutions will still be required to purchase 175 tickets to its first men’s game. All other rounds, the same ticket block will be held on consignment.

--Ensor stated the radio broadcast location will be located at center court in a new fourth row.

--Church reviewed the MAAC’s current policies on Sportsmanship and the initiatives put forth by the NCAA’s RESPECT program. Ensor noted sportsmanship and fan behavior will be part of the athletics certification process. It was noted that Siena College will work with the NCAA on its Respect initiative and will serve as a pilot study.

--Doris added that the NCAA Sportsmanship Committee will be adding a requirement that a senior level administrator within the athletics department be charged with responsibility to monitor sportsmanship and fan behavior issues.

--Doris suggested the conference add a sportsmanship award.
The committee referred the concept of a sportsmanship award to the Awards Committee.
2. Old Spice Classic Update.

--Taylor reviewed future participants in the Old Spice Classic. Ensor added that interested teams in the future should contact him. The current roster is 2009: Iona, 2010: Manhattan, 2011: Canisius, 2012: Marist.

--Ensor updated the committee on exempt event opportunities with ESPN. He continues to work on getting the MAAC a guaranteed slot in the Puerto Rico Event.
3. NCAA Women’s Basketball Grant Update.

--Ensor noted the NCAA Women’s Basketball Grant application submitted by the MAAC was denied. He stated that B. Church and M. Bertovich will work on a revised marketing plan for women’s basketball.

--Dr. John Ritschdorff of Marist College joined the committee to review the NCAA Leadership Council’s Proposed Division I Membership Criteria. He stated the proposal ties membership to affiliation with an existing Division I conference. Schools would then have five years to meet APR, certification, financial aid minimums, and an entrance fee of one million dollars would be charged.

--Ritschdorff noted the most significant part of the standards as it relates to the MAAC is possibly requiring Division I schools to award grant-in-aid at 75% of the minimum required (up from the current 50%).

--Ritschdorff reported on the report of the Task Force on Commercialism. The formation of an Oversight Committee is under consideration. That committee would be charged with determining those commercial arrangements or products that wold be considered exploitative or inappropriate.

--Diversity within the NCAA is a key issue for the Leadership Council and a variety of reports by different groups have been prepared and forwarded to the Council for review. This will be a major agenda item for next year.

--ADs and SWAs are encouraged to send information, concerns, and thoughts on these items to Ritschdorff.

--Doris asked if Division II members had been queried about this proposal. Ritschdorff said there had been little contact with members of Division II. Ensor added this was likely by design.

B. Legislative Council

--Ensor reviewed the MAAC’s support of the PAC 10/CCA Cost Containment Proposals. The committee asked to get clarification on seeing if all-stars (i.e. MAAC All-Stars) would be banned as well.

--Ensor reviewed the Horizon League’s proposal to allow a booster to provide an occasional meal outside his/her home.
C. Amateurism Cabinet

--Eggleston stated the guiding principles for amateurism continues to be developed. She stated policies on messageboards such as twitter and facebook would be reviewed. Lastly Eggleston said she had been appointed to the Amateurism Fact Finding Subcommittee.

--Taylor said tickets are still available for the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball 1^st/2^nd rounds in Buffalo.

--Ensor stated the MAAC has submitted bids on behalf of Albany and Buffalo for future Men’s Basketball Preliminary sites. Women’s Basketball bids will be sent out in late summer or early fall. Trenton will be bidding on 2012 for a regional site.

--The committee discussed meeting sites for 2009-2010. Lyons will explore rates for the Seaview Marriott.

9/30/09 AD/SWA Conference Call (CC) 10:30 am

10/26/09 AD/SWA Meeting@ NYC 12 noon–5 pm (BB Media Day 10.27)

10/30/09 Presidents/AD/SWA Joint Meeting Orlando, FL 9 am -12 noon

1/13-14/10 AD/SWA Meeting @ NCAA Convention TBD

NCAA Convention – Atlanta, GA

2/10/10 AD/SWA CC 10:30 am

3/5/10 AD/SWA Breakfast Meeting Times Union Center, Albany, NY

8-10:30 am

4/12-13/10 AD/SWA Meetings @ ??? TBD

5/19/10 AD/SWA CC 10:30 am

6/8-10/10 AD/SWA/BB Coaches @ Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL

cc: MAAC Staff

F. Steinberg, Esq.

R. Oriolo