JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the first time in its 155-year history, Edward Waters University (EWU) has become a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The exciting news chronicling EWU’s inclusion as a new member of America’s premiere collegiate athletic association at the Division II level was shared during a university press conference Monday afternoon.

Relatedly, EWU has also officially accepted an invitation to become a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) after an 86-year separation. Edward Waters was previously a member of the SIAC from 1930-1935. Notably, Monday’s historic announcement distinctively marks Edward Waters University as the only NCAA Division II Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the State of Florida.

“This incredibly significant achievement is yet another important milestone in our continued ascendancy and transformation towards becoming one of America’s “best-in-class” higher educational institutions of choice,” said EWU President and CEO, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr.

“Today’s announcement is demonstrable evidence of our progress in realizing our Eminence 2025 strategic vision and aim towards advancing our overall institutional brand and comprehensively raising our collective competitive profile through the platform of athletics,” Dr. Faison said. “This is a truly watershed moment for our entire university community, athletics program and our dynamic student-athletes.”

As a new NCAA Division II member, Edward Waters will begin the first year of a three-year provisional process in August. When all benchmarks are met, the University will be eligible for full membership in the NCAA in August of 2024. Nevertheless, the recent announcement and acceptance of EWU by the NCAA into the NCAA transitional process affords the university and its student-athletes the ability to compete at the NCAA Division II level in all sports effective immediately (i.e., Fall 2021).   

“Our diligent work in this process has brought us to this historic moment in the long and storied history of EWU Athletics,” remarked Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant. “We are overjoyed to be accepted as a provisional member of the NCAA Division II and even more so excited to be returning home to the SIAC.

“The opportunities for success for our athletic programs are endless and we look forward to working with and competing against such storied programs in the conference.”

The addition of Edward Waters will increase the SIAC’s membership to 15 institutions. The conference’s current membership includes Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University.

“We are pleased to welcome back Edward Waters University as a member institution of the SIAC and congratulate President Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., Athletic Director Paul Bryant and the entire EWU community as they make their transition into NCAA membership.” remarked SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore.

The SIAC sponsors 14 championship sports, including six women’s sports (Basketball, Cross Country, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball) and eight men’s sports (Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball).

As the second oldest historically black college and university athletic conference, the SIAC has one of the most storied histories in all of the NCAA. Many of the conference’s former athletes and coaches have transcended to larger-than-life characters that continue to be monumental in the world of sports. Furthermore, the chronicles of many SIAC programs have been vital to the foundation of American society.

The SIAC has a rich history on the gridiron, as some of the biggest names in college and professional sports began their careers in the conference. Headlining the list are Pro Football Hall of Famers “Bullet” Bob Hayes (Florida A&M), David “Deacon” Jones (South Carolina State), Larry Little (Bethune-Cookman), Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State), John Stallworth (Alabama A&M) and Rayfield Wright (Fort Valley State). Overall, the conference has produced more than 300 NFL players.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Softball Rules Committee, which met virtually last week, proposed implementing video review and allowing coaches to have two video review challenges beginning in the 2021-22 academic year.

There would be no requirement to use the video review rule, but if approved, it would be optional for all schools, conferences and tournaments to implement.

All rules proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss softball recommendations Aug. 12.

Over the past few years, conferences have experimented with video review in conference tournament games, including the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Sun Belt conferences during the recently completed 2021 season. Rules committee members have received positive feedback about the experimental rule and are recommending that video review become a permanent aspect of the game.

Under the proposal, each head coach would have two challenges to initiate a review for the entirety of the game. A coach must verbally or visually indicate a challenge request before the next pitch, before the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding position and left fair territory, or before the umpires have left the field of play.

The umpire crew chief also has the discretion to initiate a review of designated plays beginning with the sixth inning of a game.

The following plays can be subject to review via initiation by the crew chief or via a head coach’s challenge:

• Regarding batted balls (any ball higher than the top of the foul pole when it leaves the field cannot have that aspect reviewed):

• Deciding if a batted ball called fair is fair or foul.
• Deciding if a batted ball called foul should be a ground rule double, home run or hit-by-pitch.

• Deciding if a batted ball called fair and ruled not to have left the field of play did leave the field.  
• Regarding pitched balls at the plate:
  • Deciding if a pitch ruled a dropped third strike was caught before the ball touched the ground. 
  • Deciding whether a live or dead ball should be changed to a foul ball.
  • Deciding whether a foul ball should be changed to a foul tip only with no base runners, or if it would result in a third out.
  • Deciding whether a batter is hit by a pitch. 
• Spectator interference. 
• Obstruction and interference (including collisions). 
• Deciding if malicious/flagrant contact occurred. Umpires may initiate this review without requiring a coach’s challenge at any point in the game to ensure student-athlete safety. 
• Timing plays (deciding whether the base runner scored ahead of a third out). 
• Force/tag play calls: Plays involving all runners acquiring the base before the defensive player’s attempt to put the runner out at any base. 
• Blocked or dead ball/placement of runners: Deciding whether a ball not ruled blocked should be ruled blocked, and the proper placement of runners after any blocked or dead ball call. 
• With no base runners, a no catch can be changed to a catch at any time. With runners on base, a no catch can be changed to a catch only if it results in a third out. 

The following criteria would be used in games using video review:

• All equipment should be tested by appropriate personnel before each game.
• A ruling on the field will only be changed if there is indisputable video evidence to reverse the call. Absent that evidence, the original ruling on the field will stand.
• A review must be verbally or visually indicated before the next pitch, before the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding position and left fair territory, or before the umpires leave the field of play.
• Coaches have 30 seconds to verbally or visually lodge a challenge.
• The video review may be conducted on-site by the crew chief or by an off-field official at a centralized video review location.
• If video review is conducted on-site by the crew chief, the video review area shall not require an umpire to walk through spectators or dugouts to view the coverage. At least one umpire must remain on the field.
• During the video review, the defensive team shall maintain its position on the field and may warm up if desired. Offensive base runners and the on-deck hitter shall maintain their position. Other personnel shall remain in the dugout. Any defensive or offensive conferences will be charged as during any other part of the game.
• Once the review is completed, the crew chief will communicate the ruling to both head coaches and the official scorer. This should also be communicated to the broadcasting booth, if applicable, via the umpire who has a microphone. The following rulings are allowed:
  • Ruling on the field is confirmed.
  • Ruling on the field is reversed.
  • Ruling stands due to no indisputable evidence to reverse it.
• If the reversing of a call results in the need for decisions on the placement of base runners, the crew chief shall use good judgment and/or the appropriate rule to determine where to place the runners as if the call had been made correctly.
• The final decision may not be argued by either coach. A coach who argues the final decision shall be immediately ejected.

Team conferences during play

With thoughts of increasing pace and flow of the game, the committee proposed allowing a total of seven charged coach-to-player conferences to occur during a game, beginning with the 2022 season.

Teams would be allowed a maximum of one per half inning. An additional defensive conference would be allowed for each pitching change if that pitcher has not already pitched in the half inning, which would count toward one of the seven allowable conferences.

In addition, teams would be allowed seven charged player-to-player conferences per game with a maximum of two per half inning. 

Time between innings

To further improve the pace and flow of the game, the committee recommended a standard time between innings — 90 seconds — for all games (media or nonmedia) and allowing pitchers to throw any number of warmup pitches during this time.

Hitter’s out of the batter’s box

Committee members recommended that if the umpire rules a hitter is out of the batter’s box at the moment of bat-ball contact, the play would become a dead ball immediately, and a strike would be added to the count. With two strikes, the batter would be declared out, and all runners would return to the base they legally occupied at the time of the pitch. 

Other recommendations

• The committee also recommended adding to the rules book that a runner will be out, including ejected, for a deliberate collision with a fielder regardless of if the fielder has possession of the ball. Also, a runner who slides out of the baseline to slide directly at a fielder may be issued a team warning rather than immediate ejection if the action is not egregious enough to warrant an ejection. The action could result in an additional runner being ruled out if it is deemed interference.  
• Committee members also proposed that the stride foot of the pitcher can be on the lane line/pitcher’s plate at the start of the pitching motion rather than within the pitcher’s plate.  
• The committee recommended standardizing ball specifications with the National Federation of State High School Associations and USA Softball (maximum compression of 275-375 pounds) by Jan. 1, 2024, to improve inventory availability and assist in cost containment.

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The NCAA issued this statement Monday following the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision regarding the association’s limits on benefits for athletes related to education:

While today’s decision preserves the lower court ruling, it also reaffirms the NCAA’s authority to adopt reasonable rules and repeatedly notes that the NCAA remains free to articulate what are and are not truly educational benefits, consistent with the NCAA’s mission to support student-athletes. 

 “Even though the decision does not directly address name, image and likeness, the NCAA remains committed to supporting NIL benefits for student-athletes,” said NCAA President Mark Emmert. “Additionally, we remain committed to working with Congress to chart a path forward, which is a point the Supreme Court expressly stated in its ruling.”

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After losing in the opening game of the D-II College World Series, Wingate (38-13) staved off elimination time after time after time and hung on to take the title

Logan McNeely’s single in the bottom of the fifth brought in McCann Mellett to tie the game at 3-3. McNeely then scored what proved to be the game-winning runoff the Bulldogs when two batters later, Gehrig Christopher’s single brought him home from second.

Sam Broderson earned the win for the Bulldogs. Broderson came into the game in the fifth and gave up no runs or hits in his five innings of work, striking out five and walking only one.

The top-seeded Mules finished the year at 48-7.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel today approved allowing the transmission of live statistics to the bench area for coaching purposes in men’s basketball, beginning with the 2021-22 season.

Conferences have experimented with live stats for the past two seasons and received positive feedback.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee supported an experimental rule for the upcoming season to allow teams to view live video and preloaded video on their bench during conference games only should the conference submit a waiver request for the experimental rule.

If a conference chooses to use this experimental rule, it will be a conference’s decision as to the type of appropriate technology that may be used.

Teams would not be allowed to use the rule in nonconference games.

Teams competing in the 2021 National Invitation Tournament experimented with this expanded use of technology, and the rules committee received positive feedback.

Shot clock

The panel approved allowing shot clocks to have tenths of seconds be displayed next season. It would not be required, but schools could choose to use this optional rule.

Experimental foul-structure rule

During its meeting last month, the Men’s Basketball Rules Committee voted to recommend to the NIT board to use an experimental rule regarding foul structure during the 2022 NIT.

Players could be allowed a maximum of six fouls instead of the current five, in some scenarios, before being disqualified from a game. Under the experimental rule, any player called for four personal fouls in one half would be disqualified from playing the rest of the game.

For example, a player who picks up four fouls in the first half would have to sit out the rest of the game. If a player has one foul in the first half, the player would be disqualified after picking up four in the second half.

If a player has three fouls in the first half, the player would be disqualified after being called for three fouls in the second half.

The rationale behind the experiment is to offer players a chance to remain on the court if they happen to be called for two fouls in the first half. Most college coaches limit their players’ time on the floor in this scenario. Committee members want to see how the change to the foul structure could impact the game.

Flopping proposal tabled

The panel did not support a proposal that would have allowed officials to immediately assess a Class B technical foul to a player who faked being fouled.

The recommendation would have eliminated the warning officials must currently give before assessing a technical foul. This rule began being implemented before the 2019-20 season.

The panel would like for the Men’s Basketball Rules Committee to gather more feedback from coaches over the next year on this proposal.

The Men’s Basketball Rules Committee proposed the change because members think adding the technical foul component is the next step in hopes of eliminating this tactic from the game.

Examples of what the committee wanted officials to watch for included players involved in block/charge plays, players falling to the court despite not being contacted after field goal attempts, dribblers who bob their heads to simulate being contacted and players who act like they were the recipient of contact despite not being touched.

Timeouts

After receiving feedback from the membership, the Men’s Basketball Rules Committee rescinded a proposal regarding the structure of media timeouts.

Men’s college basketball games generally have media timeouts after play is whistled dead for the first time under the 16-, 12-, eight- and four-minute marks of each half.

Under the rescinded proposal, a timeout called by a coach at the 18-minute mark would have served as the under-16-minute media timeout. If either team called a timeout under the 16-minute mark, it would have served as the under-12-minute media timeout. Under this scenario, the next media timeout wouldn’t occur until the under-eight-minute mark.

The Men’s Basketball Rules Committee determined that this proposal should not move forward without further study of its potential impact on schools and conferences. The committee will continue to explore ways to improve the pace and flow of games.

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The Bainbridge, Ga. hurdler became the first FAMU men’s track & field student-athlete to reach the outdoor track and field championships since Dennis Pugh in 2015.  

Scott clocked a personal and school record 50.36 to finish seventh overall and qualify for next week’s NCAA championships. 

“I honestly didn’t even know that I broke the school record,” Scott said. “That’s definitely something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a freshman, just leave a legacy with FAMU and be remembered forever.” 

Scott’s previous school record in the 400m hurdles was set on May 16 at the Aggie Classic Twilight, breaking Pugh’s mark of 50.97, which was set in April 2015. 

On the first day of the preliminaries, Scott chalked up a time of 51.20 and qualified for the quarterfinals as he finished 13th overall, with the top 24 advancing to the quarterfinals. 

“I feel like my performance at the East Preliminary was pretty good,” Scott said. “Anytime I run, I always feel like there is room for improvement, and I’m probably my hardest critic because of that mindset.” 

FAMU head men’s track & field coach Skye Dawson knew Scott had the potential to be great.  

“When he came in as a freshman, I knew this was bound to happen,” Dawson said. “I’m extremely proud of him and the times he’s hitting now are phenomenal. He hasn’t even reached his max potential.”  

Scott, who has five 400m hurdles wins in his career, joined an elite group of sprinters over the past eight years who have qualified for the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Pugh represented the Rattlers in 2015 in the 400m hurdles, while the women’s 4×100 relay team of Nakia Linson, Jasmine Smith, Ashley Ivey and Dynasty jones participated in the 2013 meet. 

The men’s 400m hurdlers semifinals are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9 at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. Fans will have the opportunity to watch the event on ESPN2 and ESPNU. 

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INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel today approved moving the 3-point line to the international distance of 22 feet, 1¾ inches in women’s basketball, beginning with the 2021-22 season.

The NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee proposed the change after studying statistical trends that showed the number of attempted and successful 3-point field goal attempts reached all-time high levels in all three divisions during the 2020-21 season.

In Division I, women’s teams attempted 16.4 3-point field goal attempts per game last season and made an average of 6.1 shots beyond the arc, which had been set at 20 feet, 9 inches.

Division II statistics showed an average of 20.5 3-point field goals attempted per game, with 6.4 made on average during the 2020-21 season. The Division III statistics were 19.3 and 5.7, respectively.

The panel approved allowing the transmission of live statistics to the bench area for coaching purposes.

In its meeting last month, the Women’s Basketball Rules Committee also supported an experimental rule for the upcoming season to allow teams to view live video in conference games only should a waiver request be submitted. Currently, women’s basketball teams already can view preloaded video on their bench during games.

If a conference chooses to use this experimental rule, it will be the league’s decision as to the type of appropriate technology that may be used.

Teams would not be allowed to view live video in nonconference games.

The panel approved two adjustments to the replay rules in effect during the last two minutes of the game and added a third replay situation.

Officials now may use instant replay on an out-of-bounds play, regardless of the number of players involved. Previously, a review was permitted only when there was a deflection involving two players.

Coaches now may challenge two additional plays that would require officials to use instant replay to review them. The first involves the result of a restricted area/lower defensive box play.

Previously, officials could use replay in the last two minutes of the game to determine the location of the players involved in the play. Now, at any time during the game, a coach may ask officials to review the play.

The new replay situation permits officials to use replay to determine whether a basket should count when a foul is not committed on or by a player with the ball. This play may be challenged at any time during the game by the coach, but officials may use replay on their own only in the last two minutes of the game.

If the review does not change the call, the team will lose a timeout.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved a change to overtime rules for the 2021 football season.

Teams will be required to run a 2-point conversion play after a touchdown when a game reaches a second overtime period. Previously, a 2-point attempt was required after the third overtime period.

Also, if the game reaches a third overtime, teams will run alternating 2-point plays, instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line. This is a change from the previous rule, which started to use 2-point plays in the fifth overtime period.

This rules change is being made to limit the number of plays from scrimmage and bring the game to a quicker conclusion. Teams can still choose whether to kick the point after touchdown or run a 2-point conversion play during the first overtime period.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Management Council approved changes to the format and the dates of selection and regional competition for the Division II 2021 baseball and softball championships.

Championships for both sports in 2021 will consist of one round of regional competition to advance to the finals, eliminating the super-regional round. The regional competitions will be completed over a single weekend in a double-elimination format to determine which team advances to the finals site.

The format changes came in part because of recommendations from the COVID-19 Advisory Panel to consolidate preliminary-round sites, along with one-year bracket reductions for the 2020-21 championships approved in December by the Division II Administrative Committee. Division II baseball’s bracket size was reduced from 56 to 42 for its 2021 championship; softball was reduced from 64 to 48.

Additionally, as a result of the consolidation, baseball and softball’s selections and regional-round dates will be moved back to provide schools more opportunities for regular-season games. The competition dates for the finals sites did not change.

Baseball’s championship dates will now be as follows:

• Selections: May 23.
• Regionals: May 27-30.
• Finals: June 5-12 in Cary, N.C.

Softball’s championship dates will now be as follows:

• Selections: May 16.
• Regionals: May 19-21.
• Finals: May 27-31 in Denver.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Division II Management Council and Presidents Council on Friday affirmed plans to host all the division’s 2021 winter championships.

The Division II Championships Committee recommended the division move forward with hosting its seven winter championships after reviewing participation data and upcoming schedules across those sports. Nearly all finals sites will remain the same, except for the women’s basketball and wrestling championships. The women’s basketball championship will be held at the Columbus (Ohio) Convention Center, and the wrestling championships will be at the America’s Center in St. Louis.

The Management Council approved a variety of other recommendations from the Championships Committee related to this year’s winter and spring championships, including adjustments to the 2021 basketball regional alignment, on which the Presidents Council took final action. The other changes approved fell within the Management Council’s authority and were presented to the Presidents Council as information-only items.

The Management Council and Presidents Council approved adjusting regional alignments for the 2021 Division II men’s and women’s basketball championships to better balance the number of active teams in each regional while trying to maintain geographic proximity for the schools in the regional. Prior to the approval, three regionals had 15 or fewer active teams, while three others had 36 or more active teams. The one-year regionals, which can be seen in the table below, keep seven of the eight regionals between 27-33 active teams.

Regional Advisory Committees, which assist in the evaluation of teams during the selection of championship participants, were also adjusted to reflect the new regional alignment.

*Conference is now in a different region as part of the one-year adjustments approved Feb. 5 by the Division II Management Council and Presidents Council.

Additionally, the Management Council approved a recommendation to eliminate the minimum number of contests required for selection for this year’s Division II Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships (three contests with 10 participants) and instead require one qualifying mark.

The rationale to reduce the minimum selection criteria centered on how COVID-19 has restricted Division II schools’ access to indoor tracks. The qualifying marks established for the indoor championships must still be met.

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