01/25/2001 11:17 AM Senate RLS

           SJR  5-NCAA BASKETBALL PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  LOREN LEMAN,  sponsor of  SJR 5, recommended  the  proposed                                                            
CSSJR 5(RLS), which is  a compilation of work done by Senator Wilken                                                            
and himself.   Originally, they worked independently  along the same                                                            
track to support the University  of Alaska in opposing NCAA proposal                                                            
2000-1006.   He  explained  that several  years ago  the  University                                                            
worked  hard to get  a compromise  in the NCAA  rule, which  exempts                                                            
certain  tournaments from  the 28-game  limit  on basketball  games.                                                            
The  exempted  tournaments  are the  Top  of  the World  Classic  in                                                            
Fairbanks and the Shootout  in Anchorage.  Two of those games do not                                                            
count  toward  the limit,  one  does.   The  exemption  provides  an                                                            
additional incentive  for top Division 1 teams to  come to Alaska to                                                            
play.   The compromise also  provided that  no school can play  more                                                            
than once  in four  years to  give many  teams a  chance to play  in                                                            
these tournaments.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN  said that the tournaments have been  very successful.                                                            
The teams that  participate say that Alaska's tournaments  are among                                                            
the best in the  United States.  They provide a chance  for Alaska's                                                            
student athletes  to compete with  some of the best athletes  in the                                                            
country,  which is  a drawing  card  for the  University's  athletic                                                            
programs.   The  tournaments  also provide  a financial  benefit  to                                                            
Alaska.  He  noted that this resolution  is on a fast track  because                                                            
the  public  testimony  period  for  the  NCAA  proposal  closes  on                                                            
Tuesday.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  PHILLIPS  moved to  adopt  CSSJR 5(RLS).    There being  no                                                            
objection, CHAIR PEARCE noted the motion carried.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THERRIAULT  moved  to  calendar  SJR  5.   There  being  no                                                            
objection, CHAIR PEARCE announced the motion carried.