COLORADO SPRINGS -- During its April 27 meeting, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved the recommendations from the NCAA Management Council to amend the criteria that a member institution and/or member conference must satisfy in order to receive automatic qualification into an NCAA Division I championship.
As a result of this action, the Mountain West Conference will be eligible for automatic qualification consideration in all sports beginning in the 2000-2001 season. The respective NCAA sport committees will determine which conferences (including the Mountain West) will be granted automatic qualification status to NCAA Championships in each sport."We are pleased with the results of the NCAA Board of Directors meeting and are glad to have this matter behind us," said Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson. "To date, our at-large success for team sports competing in NCAA postseason competition has been very impressive, and now, eligibility for automatic bids in 2000-2001 will only enhance the regular-season competition among Mountain West Conference institutions."