SFU and UBC get green light to join NCAA

by Rob Peters | January 16, 2008 at 01:53 pm

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NCAA has given Canadian schools the green lights and alrights, now it's up to the schools to apply. The process will likely take a while.

VANCOUVER -- Delegates at the NCAA annual convention in Nashville opened the door for possible Canadian schools membership on Monday. But it will be some time before the University of B.C. and Simon Fraser University decide whether to seek membership in the U.S. college network.

Reacting to news that NCAA Division II delegates overwhelmingly approved a pilot program allowing Canadian schools to apply for membership as soon as June 1, UBC athletics director Bob Philip said: "This is just the start of a process that needs to be thoroughly discussed on our campus."

Philip's thoughts were echoed by Diane St-Denis, SFU's acting athletics director.

The pilot program could eventually lead to Canadian schools competing in some NCAA Division I sports. Several details still must be worked out, but the concept is designed to allow Canadian schools to enter into the pilot program and explore membership.