COLLEGE NOTES : Loyola Athletic Director Backs NCAA Measures to Add Class Time for Athletes

Is there a sanity clause?

Loyola Marymount Athletic Director Brian Quinn says things may still be crazy in college athletics, but the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. seems to be trying to bring things into proportion based on its convention this week in Dallas.

At the just completed meetings, legislation the NCAA passed included:

* Trimming three games from basketball schedules and pushing the start of practice from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 beginning with the 1992-93 season;

* Amending Prop. 42 to allow freshmen with substandard grades to receive scholarships--based on need--even though they are athletically ineligible. Previously they had to pay their own way;

* Trimming the number of allowable days of spring football practice;

* Random drug testing throughout the school year. At first the testing will concentrate on steroid use in football;

* Disclosure of schools’ graduation rate among athletes.

The emphasis of much of the legislation is the time athletes are required to spend away from class and studies. Much of the latest legislation was pushed by the school presidents commission. And, Quinn said, this was the first time in recent memory the athletic directors backed their presidents, albeit with some grumbling.

Quinn supports the latest moves--he said he voted for about 90% of the legislation that passed--and said if the presidents continue to throw their weight around, next year’s convention could be earthshaking.

“I think the legislation is moving in the right direction,” Quinn said. “It’s not perfect. I don’t think this legislation is going to have a hard impact on education. It was the schools showing support for the presidents’ commission.

“I do think it’s a very positive statement--we do mean business and we’re going to do something to put back some sanity in college athletics. At least now the door is open to look at some things--length of seasons, playoff, money.”

Though this week’s actions are seen as radical in some corners, Quinn said they may be cosmetic compared to some of the things that will come up at next year’s convention at Nashville. Athletic directors and school presidents are talking about cutting back on the major sports--football and basketball--that have become multibillion-dollar industries. Quinn said they may tackle such issues as limiting coaching staffs, cutting the number of scholarships and even cutting back--or doing away with--midweek basketball games. That would seriously cut into cable television proceeds.

“We’re going to find out if it’s money or missed class time (that’s paramount),” Quinn said. “It would take a lot of courage (to cut out weeknight games). I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I guess it’s going to be looked at--and the amount of money spent on major sports.”

Quinn said the three fewer basketball games “won’t have a very large impact on education. However, the later start will help freshmen get going in school before going right into practice. Personally, our gym time will be helped. Our women’s volleyball team can just about finish (the season) before basketball needs the gym.” But the (class time) impact, we won’t know until we watch it for a while.”

He supported the amended Proposition 42--which becomes Proposition 26--to allow scholarships for nonqualifying freshman athletes. “Let him come in and have a year to get acclimated” was the reasoning, Quinn said.

Quinn said grades disclosure, which was pushed by U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), the former basketball All-American, was going to be imposed by Congress anyway, so the NCAA went ahead with it. “A lot of people are going to be up in arms when they see some of the numbers,” Quinn predicted. “A parent has the right to know what the chances are of his son or daughter graduating.”

And Quinn said that drug testing, while controversial and costly, is defensible “if we save one life or keep one or two kids off. (The legislation) is a statement. It’s a sickness we have out there. It’s a societal problem, not a sports problem. If we can help kids stay clean through our athletic programs, it’s worth it.”

Stay tuned for further developments. “All in all it was a pretty positive convention,” Quinn said. “The next convention could be a wingdinger.”

As Cal State Dominguez Hills heads into the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. basketball wars, junior guard Robert Barksdale may be more important to the Toro offense than any single player is at Loyola, including Bo Kimble.

In averaging 18.5 points and 5.2 assists through the Toros’ 13 games, Barksdale has a direct hand in 46% of the offense, which is scoring 63 points per game. Freshman Vincent Washington is the only other Toro scoring in double figures, at 11.3 points per game. Barksdale has led the team in scoring 10 times. He’s also the team’s most prolific three-point shooter, with 24, and a 77% foul shooter. Barksdale ranks fifth in the CCAA in scoring on a team that is last in the CCAA in points.

Loyola Marymount’s baseball team is rated 12th in Baseball America’s preseason poll but is not projected in the top 25 by Collegiate Baseball. Conference rival Pepperdine is ranked 19th in the first poll, 20th in the latter. Long Beach State, led by former Loyola Coach Dave Snow, is rated 11th and 19th.

In Collegiate Baseball’s preseason All-American listings, Loyola’s Miah Bradbury is one of two catchers listed. Other Southland players on the list are Pepperdine outfielder Jalal Leach, USC outfielder John Jackson and infielder Bret Boone and Long Beach State pitcher Andy Croghan.

Loyola opens the season at home Jan. 25 against Cal Poly Pomona.

The Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn. is set to begin play with two divisions for the first time. The WIVA, which has expanded to 12 teams, is split into divisions of six teams. A postseason tournament April 26-28 will determine the champion and automatic qualifier to the NCAA final four.

A poll of conference coaches tabbed UCLA the unanimous favorite to win the Burt DeGroot Division, followed by Pepperdine, UC Santa Barbara, newcomer Brigham Young, Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine.

Stanford is seen winning the Harry Wilson Division in a close race with Hawaii, Long Beach State and USC, who all received first-place votes. Loyola Marymount and San Diego State round out the six-pack.

Loyola, which has played in an exhibition tournament, officially opens at home Wednesday against Northridge.

College Notes

Loyola’s Bo Kimble was named Windex college basketball player of the week and Sports Illustrated player of the week. He was also chosen West Coast Conference basketball player of the week for the third straight time and fourth in five weeks. Kimble averaged 41.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and shot 61% from the field (76.2% on three-pointers) in three road games. St. Mary’s guard Mike Vontoure shares the WCC award with Kimble this week . . . Lions Coach Paul Westhead entered the week with 88 victories in four-plus seasons at Loyola. He should catch John Arndt next week for second in Loyola coaching victories at 91 . . . Loyola’s 61-50 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in a women’s basketball game on Monday was only its second in eight tries. Both teams play only conference games the rest of the season . . . The 17 points the Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team scored in the first half last week against Biola was a school record low . . . St. Bernard High graduate Reggie Howard is having a strong senior year at UC Riverside. The 5-10 point guard is averaging 12 points and is second in the CCAA in assists at 6.1 per game.