going north for football and basketball

I'm not sure how soon the impact of allowing Canadian teams into US NCAA conferences will take place. But living in ND, I'm sure DAC and other conferences could really benefit. One question is what does Canada think about the American-ification of more sports?

By Steve Wieberg, USA TODAY

NASHVILLE — The NCAA is about to follow pro baseball and basketball across the Canadian border.

Schools in Division II are expected Monday to formally open their doors — and the NCAA's — to Canadian members, expanding the association's boundaries beyond the USA for the first time.

The division would be the first to take advantage of clearance granted by the NCAA's top-level Executive Committee a year ago. Monday's vote would set up a pilot program that could attract its first Canadian application, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, as early as June.

UBC, a school of 35,000 undergraduates that now competes in the NAIA in baseball and six more of its 28 varsity sports, could become a full-time NCAA member after three years. Athletics director Bob Philip attended the NCAA's annual convention here, meeting over the weekend with representatives of four prospective conferences.

Four other Canadian schools have expressed interest in NCAA affiliation.

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UBC is seeking a break from Canadian scholarship restrictions that permit schools to cover only athletes' tuition. The NCAA allows room, board, books and tuition. "There should be an alternative for Canadian student-athletes to play sports and get an education and not have to go to the U.S. to get some financial assistance," Philip said.

The move requires a change in rules that limit NCAA membership to institutions "in the United States, its territories or possessions."

Scholarship protection

The NCAA is moving closer to new scholarship safeguards for pregnant college athletes. Its Division I Management Council endorsed a measure Sunday that would bar schools from cutting or canceling financial aid to athletes "because of any injury, illness or medical condition" regardless of whether the injury or condition affects their ability to compete.

Scholarships are awarded on a year-to-year basis, and protection would be limited to the year in which an athlete is receiving the aid. Schools would retain latitude to reduce or rescind the scholarships in subsequent years.

The new rule would extend to pregnant athletes — whose treatment by schools has been at issue for the past year — mental illness and eating disorders. Final approval is expected today from the Division I Board of Directors.