c. 1998 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ The National Collegiate Athletic Association has fashioned a compromise aimed at defusing a controversy over some religious schools that object to playing championship games on Sundays.

At a Chicago meeting of the NCAA’s Division I board Tuesday (Aug. 11), new legislation was approved giving schools with policies against competing on a particular day for religious reasons an opportunity for accommodation.

With the new legislation, the NCAA division _ which includes more than 300 of the largest colleges and universities _ has superseded an April decision to eliminate a 35-year-old rule accommodating schools opposed to playing championship games on Sundays.

The previous decision prompted complaints from two schools _ Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C., and Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah _ that have rules forbidding Sunday play and who were, in turn, supported by dozens of other schools. They came one vote short of getting the legislation suspended when 99 schools requested an override by a July 6 deadline. Under the rules, the board was required to reconsider its decision if only 30 requests were received.”Our concern in April was that Sunday was just one of the days that could be important to schools with religious beliefs that might prohibit their competition,”said Kenneth Shaw, chair of the board.”In that regard, the old rule didn’t accommodate all of our membership.” Shaw, chancellor of Syracuse University in upstate New York, said the board changed its mind after the campaign opposing its action.”… We heard clearly that the membership is concerned about preserving its principles and beliefs,”he said in a statement.”This action gets Sunday out of the issue, while still acknowledging schools may have written policies that need to be accommodated.” The new measure includes a provision allowing petitions for a waiver of the rule if accommodating a school would”unduly disrupt the orderly conduct of a championship.” The two schools most concerned about the board’s April decision have hard and fast rules about not playing on Sunday, and officials at Campbell and Brigham Young led the charge in urging their fellow Division I schools to request an override. Campbell is a Southern Baptist-related school and Brigham Young is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”We recognize that this is a complicated issue _ one that is taken seriously by all parties,”said Campbell athletic director Tom Collins in a statement.”We are very appreciative that the NCAA Board of Directors has made an accommodation for schools such as Campbell and Brigham Young whose religious principles would prohibit them from competing on Sunday.” BYU President Merrill Bateman issued a statement voicing pleasure with the decision, though he added his expectation that the school will have to”work closely”with NCAA officials as the legislation is put into practice.”Under the new rule, the NCAA has recognized that colleges and universities should not have to sacrifice athletic opportunities in order to maintain their religious tenets,”Bateman said.

Just as with the April decision, schools will have a 60-day period to respond, with an option to request an override.

But one college representative does not think the new rule will cause a stir.”We’ve never had to forfeit an NCAA (championship) opportunity because of Sunday play,”said Stan Cole, sports information director for Campbell University.”Within this circumstance now, I don’t foresee any problem with it in the future.” Steve Mallonee, director of membership services for the NCAA at its headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., said the compromise shows that the board heeded the sentiments of the schools it represents.”The board, representing the membership, obviously … felt like this was the best way to go,”Mallonee said.”Certainly, there’s never been any attempt to preclude student athletes from being able to participate in championships.”

DEA END BANKS