HBU wants 3-year path to Division I Lawsuit against NCAA seeks cut in probation period y BRANDON C. WILLIAMS Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Houston Baptist University filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Friday, seeking to reduce its probation period to become a Division I program from seven years to three. The suit accuses the NCAA of violating its constitution by requiring the school to wait an additional four years before becoming a full member of Division I. HBU rejoined the NCAA last March after a 17-year stint as an NAIA program. "This decision causes more harm to HBU that goes beyond the financial aspects of its athletic program," said Dallas-based attorney Tom Thomas, co-counsel in the school's lawsuit. "I don't think the program could survive if forced to wait another six years." The NCAA informed HBU last April that its constitution was "editorially revised" by its staff to change the probation period from three to seven years shortly before the school put in its application to become a provisional member. The lawsuit, filed in Harris County District Court, seeks a temporary and permanent injunction that bars the NCAA from enforcing the seven-year probation period. "You can't make a change to your constitution by simply using a pencil and scratching out the rules," Thomas said. Shortly after rejoining the NCAA, HBU made a major effort to upgrade its athletic program in an attempt to reach full Division I membership. The school stated in its lawsuit that "the NCAA's refusal to follow its own constitution is a violation of HBU's due process rights." HBU also is seeking attorney fees involved in its lawsuit. "As of now, we cannot comment on the issue because we have yet to see the lawsuit," NCAA media and public relations assistant Chuck Wynne said late Friday afternoon. HBU officials would not comment on the issue. HBU's lawsuit contends that "such an amendment would have to be voted on by the full membership and passed by a two-thirds vote." "I think this is a money thing," Thomas said. "Once you're a Division I member, you become eligible to compete in the postseason, where you can make money. The bottom line is that the members don't want to share." Thomas believes the issue could be settled within a few months. Go Huskies!
The sports program is on the up and up guys. They are building New facilities and getting everything set and ready to go. They are already the second best mens college bball team in Houston...
My university recently made the move from DII to DI and they fought the same fight. They didn't try to sue the NCAA, but they fought pretty hard and still got denied. Don't see this going anywhere. Why would you try to join an association, knowing the procedures ahead of time, and then try to sue them for making you follow those procedures?
Right school. Wrong alum. Funny story, I was talking to an old time professor when I was still in undergrad, he said if you talk to any long time prof they will tell you about the "Scottie Pippen Curriculum," which included 6 hours of Drivers Ed in one semester.
Does the article say when HBU applied for D-I? All that says is that the NCAA informed them in April that they changed the rules before they applied. Not that HBU was aware of the change. Of course, they should be aware of the change regardless.
I spoke with someone close to the AD's Staff, and what HBU is saying is that their application was approved and was submitted in March and the NCAA changes their process in April. They are trying to make HBU submit to the change in policy after they were already admitted. Regardless of if HBU knew what was happening or not, they got in before the deadline and I dont think it should be back dated.
I think what everyone is missing here is that HBU was a NCAA D1 team in the 80's and early 90's. According to the old set of rules if you were previously an NCAA school the waiting period was 3 years to get back in. New schools had to do 7. In April of 07 they changed it to that all schools regardless of past membership was 7. Thats HBU's argument and thats the issue here. As im sure you can guess its hard to recruit good players if they never have a hope of playing in the "dance" It would be much easier to tell an incoming freshman that by your redshift sophomore year, you could be playing in the tournament.
My sister plays softball at HBU and she absolutley hates the fact that she is put under this probationary period for her junior and senior years. She doesn't have anything to play for in the postseason, and she gets strange drug tests. She cannot drink Red Bull, because it would cause her to fail the drug test. They are a really good team and are whooping up on their competition.
It is unfortunate for the current student-athletes, but it is a necessary stage of the transition to NCAA D1. I have heard that HBU is in the process of buying back the land that extends to the 59 freeway. If you are familiar with the area, HBU owns the land from Fondren to Beechnut on 59, and is bordered by Fondren and Beechnut streets to the southeast. I believe they are taking back much of that land with the exception of the Memorial Hermann complex, and that plans for an athletic gym/complex are in the works for that area (great freeway frontage).
Probably should have planned for that before selling off the corner of Fondren and 59. I was always curious why they wanted to be hidden.
The land was never sold to them. All that property is leased out to the current tenants. HBU still owns the property and are non renewing all the leases. The ball is rolling to build the stadium.
Yes, that is correct. HBU owns the land but was leasing it out. Now, they are taking back the land and expanding the campus.
