Change

Even in this day of instantaneous global communication, there are still reminders that change can take time. As I walked thru the Dallas -Ft. Worth airport last week on my way to Atlanta for the NCAA Convention, I noticed there were several large signs encouraging me to “be a Tiger.” I would guess that Accenture is working to remove their wall-size portrait of Tiger Woods challenging me to take a risk and to go on, be a Tiger. I doubt if my boss or fiancé would approve of me following Tiger’s lead at this stage of his career or this stage of my life.

Then on the plane-there was Jay Leno on the cover of American Way. The title of the story in the publication on the late night comedian? The secret of my success. Things can change in a hurry, for all us regardless of our station in life. As Sinatra once sang, “Riding high in April, shot down in May.”

And there was change at the convention. The business session, where the Division III membership meets to vote on the proposals submitted by various groups, lacked the controversy that we have seen in the past. All nine proposals were accepted by a large margin, including a proposal to allow football to have walk-thru’s during their acclimation period. The business session was brief and lasted less than 2 hours. I have been to conventions where we spent nearly two hours just debating the merits of one proposal.

We also reviewed the first draft of the Division III Strategic Positioning Platform, which is a document that the NCAA hopes will help inform the general public what Division III has to offer. Several years ago when NCAA Division II was looking to help brand their identity the NCAA approved the slogan of “I choose Division II.” The tag line for Division III is Discover, Develop, Dedicate. Expect to see the NCAA promote Division III in the coming months as they make the commitment to publicize what the division has to offer to student-athletes and their families.
Cowboy Up,
John Neese