c. 1998 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ A clash between two of the most ardently embraced facets of life _ religion and sports _ is pitting religious higher education leaders against secular athletic officials.

At least two faith-based universities have decided to challenge an April 22 decision by a the National Collegiate Athletic Association to jettison a rule that would accommodate division I schools that do not want to play championship games on Sundays.

The board of directors of NCAA Division I has approved a proposal eliminating the 30-year-old rule requiring adjustment of championship schedules to assist schools who have policies against Sunday competition. The approved proposal also allows Sunday competition to begin prior to noon.

But Campbell University, a Southern Baptist-related school in Buies Creek, N.C., has requested an override vote on the decision made by the board at its quarterly meeting in Indianapolis. On Wednesday (April 29), Brigham Young University, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joined Campbell in the challenge.”This unnecessary action … will ultimately place member institutions in the untenable position of choosing between the institution’s fundamental principles and championship participation opportunities for their student-athletes,”wrote Norman A. Wiggins, Campbell’s president, in a letter to colleagues seeking their assistance in getting the decision overturned.

Brigham Young President Merrill J. Bateman voiced similar concerns.”Student-athletes who have worked their entire lives to reach such milestones as NCAA championship competitions deserve the opportunity to compete whether they represent BYU or any other institution,”he said in a statement.”Unless some flexibility in scheduling is restored, student-athletes will be discriminated against on the basis of religion.” Steve Mallonee, the NCAA’s director of membership services, said the board’s decision was motivated by a desire to be less discriminatory.”The board was concerned that the current rule is actually more discriminatory than having no rule at all because, basically, you have student-athletes participating in institutions that are of all different religions,”he said.”They wanted to show respect for all religions, not just one religion or particular religions.” He said the rule was not”sensitive to those whose Sabbath is not on Sundays.” The rationale for the change, which came from a division championship committee, noted there are few schools for which scheduling adjustments have been made. The rationale also noted that adjustments to avoid Sunday competition have reduced television coverage and promotional opportunities for some sports.”It is disappointing that the Association, which in 1996-97 received over $191 million dollars in television rights fees and nearly $250 million dollars in total revenue, would sacrifice its traditional respect of religious principles in exchange for a few more additional television dollars,”Wiggins wrote.

Mallonee said that although promotional opportunities might be lost by limiting Sunday competitions, that was not a”driving force”in the board’s decision.”When you see the rationale statement, one might get the feeling that you’re sacrificing religion for revenue,”he said.”I don’t think that’s the case at all … The more you can promote a sport … the more that helps student-athletes in general.” He added he expects there will be”a continued effort to accommodate kids from schools that may ultimately end up in championships on Sunday”if the decision to eliminate the rule remains in effect.

The decision affects more than 300 Division I schools, which sponsor broad-based athletic programs, compete on the national level and provide athletic scholarships.

The board must reconsider its decision if at least 30 Division I schools send written requests for an override to the NCAA offices in Overland Park, Kan., by July 6. If 100 requests for an override vote are received, the decision will be suspended until the membership of the division votes on the matter.

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM _ STORY MAY END HERE)

For now, Wiggins said his school and other similar institutions have two choices _ changing their long-standing policies against Sunday competition or forcing athletes from their schools to sit out championship games scheduled on Sundays.”In a day when family break-up is so predominate, it is odd that the NCAA Board of Directors would take action to further separate student-athletes, coaches and support staff from their families,”he said.”We feel strongly that the practice of setting a day apart from the rest of the work week serves to strengthen the individual, the family, and ultimately, our nation as a whole.”

DEA END BANKS