Division I membership prepares to vote. With the 2007 NCAA Convention scheduled to begin next week, the Division I membership is gearing up for a highly anticipated vote. Earlier this year, the Division I Board of Directors adopted Proposal No. 05-54, which permits student-athletes who have received their undergraduate degree to transfer to another institution for graduate work and be immediately eligible for competition. There has been resistance to the legislation and the Division I membership has enacted an override that will allow each institution to have a say in whether the proposal remains in place or is overturned. The main fear of the proposal???s detractors is that this legislation could cause a free agent market for student-athletes who have graduated early. After one year, it doesn???t seem to be much of an issue, however, as only 25 student-athletes took advantage of the legislation and left their original schools.

It???s all about nuts. I am currently in New York City, and was playing with the idea of running a four-mile road race sponsored by Emerald Nuts on New Year???s Eve. The race is at midnight in Central Park and seems to be one of the healthiest ways to spend the evening. I had stopped thinking about the race for a while, but last night???s Emerald Bowl game between Florida State and UCLA has got me thinking about it again. Maybe I???m nuts, but it sounds like fun to me. On the gridiron, Florida State took care of business and beat UCLA, 44-27. Bobby Bowden avoided a losing season for the first time in 30 years as Drew Weatherford threw for 325 yards and Lorenzo Booker ran for two scores to lead Florida State. Both teams finish the season 7-6.

On this date in 1905, the second football reform conference is held and 62 football-playing institutions attend. Captain Palmer Pierce of the U.S. Military Academy leads delegates in formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States, as well as a football rules committee for its members.