NCAA
From TeeVeePedia, the Internet TV Encyclopedia.
The NCAA, or National College Athletics Act, was passed by Congress after World War II to regulate collegiate sports on television.
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Passage of the NCAA
Before the NCAA took effect, college teams played mainly for fun, excitement and the chance to grab a beer after the game was over. Ideas such as "Teamwork", "Fair Play" and "Sportsmanship" were ruining what was gradually becoming a lucrative enterprise for the major television networks. The NCAA was passed in order to refocus the priorities of major colleges and universities.
Details of the NCAA
The NCAA was intentionally made complex and ponderous by its original authors, in hopes that lawyers could get courts to interpret it in any way they saw fit. As years went by, the original NCAA was amended many times to increase its effectiveness. As a result, even most law school graduates have no clue what the NCAA actually regulates.
Effects of the NCAA
Over time, several "informal" rules have been developed to determine which schools are in violation of the NCAA. These mainly boil down to 3 basic rules:
- The schools that have always been on television, will continue to be on television.
- Schools must be willing to sacrifice anything in their quest for victory.
- The advertisers have final say in any important decisions regarding sports and athletes.
Other NCAA "official rules" are made up as needed by university presidents and other interested parties.
Enforcement
NCAA rules are strictly enforced by the major TV networks and by ESPN, with lots of help from their sponsors.
