[ralph]

The Associated Press is an important organization that publishes a style manual for the print media. From magazines to books, newspapers and other publications the AP style manual is widely used. Many of these publications are waiting for the AP to say that it is proper to use the new NCAA nomenclature for NCAA Division I football. So now is a good time for us fans of college football to let them know that we appreciate correct nomenclature for our sport.

Whether you like the names or not, they are what they are and the AP should reflect that in their manual.

Please take a second and send them this email.

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email address: info@ap.org

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Correct Usage of NCAA Nomenclature

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) uses divisions to classify all of it's members (colleges and universities). These divisions are important because they provide instant recognition for the school's teams and the people who follow the school's sports.

In 1972 the NCAA grouped all of it's members into three divisions; Division I, II and III. It chose to use roman numerals rather than arabic for the division labels. It has extensive rules to determine in which division a school's athletic department belongs.

In 1978 the NCAA further split Division I in the sport of football into three subdivisions, I-A, I-AA and I-AAA. The schools remained Division I and they used the subdivision labels only in the sport of football. The NCAA has extensive rules to determine in which subdivision a school's football athletic department belongs.

In 2006 the NCAA changed the labels of their Division I subdivisions. I-AAA was dropped completely, and these new labels for I-A and I-AA were formally adopted:

Old label = New label
I-A = FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
I-AA = FCS (Football Championship Subdivision)

Correct usage of NCAA nomenclature is very important to the institutions and the millions of students, faculty, alumni and general fans of collegiate sports. In NCAA Division I football they instantly reflect whether a school's football team plays for a postseason Bowl (32 NCAA certified Bowl games) or for an NCAA Championship (football is one of 88 NCAA Championships).

I ask that you use the correct nomenclature in light of these recent changes. FBS and FCS are correct. I-A and I-AA are incorrect.

Thank you.

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[Fumblerooskies]

IT IS STILL...

I-AA no matter how the No Clue At All organization thinks.

[Schfourteenteen]

Dude youre a "I-AA Ambassador"..........

"FBS FBS FBS"

[bigsmooth]

I-AA 4 life!!!!

[ATrain]

Smoothie and Fumbles, I keep telling ya'll:
Assimilated resistance is futile.

Its FBS and FCS now...don't make me get the on ya'll

[Hold My Own]

Do you ever think the NCAA does things (like this) just to simply see if they can?

I heard Craig Kilborn (sp?) say he used to make up words on sportscenter to see if anyone would actually say them...sure enough he's watching a local sports show and they said it during the highlights...



it's either that or some marketing idiot thinks he can make more money if the term was as degrading as I-A or I-AA....it'll always be that in my book and no matter how hard you try the average fan will never never never make the change

[LUconn]

and boom goes the dynamite.

[PAmedic]

YOU'RE ALL COMPLETELY WRONG AND RALPH IS RIGHT

SEE, I TOLD YOU SO...

LOSERS