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Show il Signpost Tuesday, May 12, 1987 SIDEJINES. Dave Allison Sports Editor Commission wrongs I-AA Weber State football coach Mike Price had better enjoy spring football practice while he can because if the NCAA Presidents Commission has its way, it may be his team's last. Proposals by the Presidents Commission may eliminate spring football practice and also reduce the number of scholarships but only among Division I-AA programs (which WSC falls under in the sport of football). These objectives were made in early April but the verdict of such proposals won't be handed down until the NCAA Convention in Dallas, on June 29-30. Colleges and universities are subjugated to cutting budgets which is the main reason for the Commission's proposals for Division I-AA programs. The only problem is that Division I-AA programs have been singled out, while the same cuts have not been asked of Division I-A programs. The Commission would like to see Division I-A spring practice shortened rather than eliminated. Teams in I-A and I-AA are currently equal in practice time with 20 sessions over 36 days without any limitations on contact drills. The Commission wants I-A teams to go to 20 sessions over 30 days and a limitation of 15 sessions for contact drills. Which sure beats elimination of spring practice entirely.Scholarships for I-AA football teams are sought to be trimmed from 70 down to 65 overall and from 30 to 25 per year. At present no such demands are made of I-A programs which carry a total of 95 scholarships and 30 per year. On the surface, this may not seem like an earth shattering circumstance. Restraining expenses is a necessity these days and everyone, athletic departments and academic departments alike, should work to solve respective budget crunches. However, It seems that I-AA schools might bare the brunt of widespread NCAA financial problems, which is hardly fair. The NCAA Presidents Commission shouldn't hold a select division the target of such obviously biased cutbacks. It's not fair to I-AA programs no matter how feasible the Commission's actions may be. The ramifications run deeper than slicing away a few dollars from the athletic budget. If such proposals from the Presidents Commission should pass in the the Dallas convention this June, a gap would develop in the levels of competition between Division I-AA schools and Division I-A schools. Spring drills help the coaches see what areas need to be worked harder at, allows more time to run through and experiment with plays, and is an indicator of the kind of talent at each position helping prepare a team for the upcoming season. If spring practice is done away with on a I-AA level and not on a I-A level, the I-AA teams will not be able to compete with the better prepared I-A teams. Division I-AA teams have made big strides in competition with I-A teams and are competitive opponents. Weber State plays the PCAA's I-A Long Beach State this year and will have their hands full as it is, but may not be something in favor of WSC's future. Who wants to see a blowout because of I-A advantages such as more scholarships and more preparation time. WSC won't want to schedule a blow out and neither will Long Beach blowouts are not interesting and is likely to happen if the Presidents Commission proposals are passed. Money would be lost for both divisions with the lack of fan interest and the overall competitiveness of college football. Lady Cats share MWAC crown Blaine Bringhurst Assistant Sports Editor Weber State recorded it's third straight Mountain West Athletic Conference team title last weekend, but will enter the record books with an asterisk. Weber State was declared co-champion along with Idaho State. Both teams' finished the tournament with 49 points. Co-champions were declared even though Weber State defeated Idaho State earlier in the regular season. Head to head competition is the tiebreaker in most conferences, however there is no tiebreaker in MWAC play. Although he was pleased with the third staright championship, Lady Cat coach Keith Cox was upset with the co-championship. "We are the best team, I don't know how else to prove it," Cox said. And prove it they did.-The Lady Cats were able to vie for the championship in every singles match and two of three doubles matches. Although they were not able to win a championship in the doubles, they came away with the champioship in five of the six singles matches. Wendy Compton of WSC was able to beat Laura Slade of Idaho State to claim the number two singles championship. The loss was only the second of Slades's career, the other loss also came at the hands of Compton only a week ago. It took Compton three sets and a tie breaker to outlast her foe 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(3) . "It was the best match of the tournament, it had me crawling up the walls," Cox said. Weber's Anna Gunnarson was able to defend her ti- (see CHAMPIONS on page 13) First Security would like to finance your stay in an institution "V - . ' Ml II II II II I! I, --gE5a ' ' ' VW Mf 1 I , . f I Don't go crazy trying to find money for school, seek professional help at First Security Bank. Student loans First Security can ease y ur mind with a Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) or a Supplemental Loan for StudentsParent Loan for Undergraduate Students (SLSPLUS). Whether you want the low-interest GSL or the SLSPLUS loan, and if you qualify we can probably loan you all you'll need for y.iur college education. Free checking To put your mind even more at ease, First Security offers free student checking, too. Get free checks and a free First Security Cash Card for instant access to your account through HandiBank There's no monthly fee. You can even write ten free checks a month. Apply today Get the help you need .it any First Security office. 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