Florida A&M Forwards Application for Division I-A Football to NCAA
Rattlers expect to hear news on application by August 1
June 9, 2003
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M announced Monday that the
university had formally submitted its' application to the NCAA for Division 1-A
status for football.
The application, which was overnighted on Friday for a Monday arrival in
Indianapolis, Ind., will be considered when the NCAA Classification Committee
meets in July.
Florida A&M expects an answer by August 1 on the application, which if
approved, would clear the way for the Rattlers to begin Division 1-A play in
football in 2004.
In a related move, the university also officially notified the
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference of its’ intention to pursue Division 1-A status via
certified letter on Friday.
The application to the NCAA renders the Rattlers ineligible for the 2003
Division 1-AA playoffs. The MEAC is expected to follow suit by declaring FAMU
ineligible for its’ 2003 football title.
Meanwhile, the status of its’ other 14 championship-eligible sports
–basketball (men and women), cross country, indoor and outdoor track (men and
women), bowling (women), tennis (men and women), baseball, softball (women) and
volleyball (women) – will likely be decided later this summer by the MEAC
Council of Presidents.
