FAMU Board of Trustees votes 7-5 to delay Division 1-A football
move
University to inform NCAA, MEAC of intention to delay move
February 10, 2004
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M University Board
of Trustees voted 7-5 on Tuesday afternoon to delay the school's
move of football to Division 1-A and return to Division 1-AA.
No definitive timeline for moving to Division 1-A was determined on Tuesday,
but University President Fred Gainous did stress that reinstatement of football
in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference would be pursued.
President recommends three-year delay
The president said that he was recommending at least a three-year delay, to
address some critical issues affecting the move, such as stadium renovation,
enhancement of student-athlete graduation rates and fund-raising for the
athletic program, in addition to making sure that the institution's
financial future was not affected adversely.
"I am asking the Board to give consideration to delay the
process of moving to Division 1-A, so that we may build up the infrastructure
of the department to better move forward… In isolation, there is a strong
desire to make this move, but we must remain true to the academic mission of
this university – to educate students – a“ and not mortgage
the future of the institution," Gainous said.
Last April, Florida A&M announced its intentions
to pursue Division 1-A status for its storied football
program, citing opportunities for increased national exposure and financial
gain.
By June 6, FAMU had submitted its application to the
NCAA for reclassification to Division 1-A from 1-AA. The Board of Trustees
gave its official approval of the application on June 21
and the NCAA granted the school Division 1-A status in late July.
Gainous told the Board members Tuesday that MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis
Thomas was scheduled to come to Tallahassee on Thursday to discuss the university's
status with the conference.
At the league's winter meetings in November, the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference leadership voted to put Florida A&M on notice that
all of its sports, including football, would have to commit
to league membership by March 15, 2004, or face sanctions including expulsion
by June 30, 2004.
2004 Football Schedule – four contracts, several committments
As of February 10, Florida A&M had just four confirmed Division 1-A games
contracted – at Illinois (Sept. 4), at Oklahoma (Sept. 11), at Virginia
Tech (Oct. 16), with Toledo (Nov. 6), as the lone confirmed home game for 2004.
FAMU also had letters of understanding with Tulane University (Oct. 9), at
a neutral site and Florida International (Dec. 4 in Miami). FIU is planning
to move to Division 1-A, and the agreement was to help both sides in meeting
scheduling requirements.
In addition, Tennessee State in the Atlanta Football Classic (Sept. 25) and
Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic (Nov. 20) were also said to be on tap
as well, although contracts were not finalized at press time.
Discussion of the Division 1-A issue lasted a little over three hours before
the Board voted to delay and seek a fully developed strategic plan to make
the transitition to major college status.
Dr. Joe Ramsey to serve as Special Assistant
to the President for Athletics
During the course of the Athletics discussion, President Gainous also introduced
Dr. Joseph P. Ramsey, II, a professor in the Department of Health, Physical
Education and Recreation who has extensive experience in sports management,
as the Special Assistant to the President for Athletics.
He replaces Dr. J.R.E. Lee, III, who resigned last Friday, after serving
since late November of 2002 as Interim Athletic Director.
Ramsey, who previously worked both Florida Atlantic University and Valdosta
(Ga.) State University, served as chairman of the Health, Physical Education
and Recreation department at FAMU.
He now oversees the school's graduate studies program
in sports management, and also serves as chairman of the FAMU Sports Hall of
Fame Steering Committee.
