The NCAA Division I Board of Directors took the first step Saturday toward trying to simplify and deregulate the organization's often complex and sometimes unenforceable rules. It also publicly acknowledged the natural competitive advantages that some schools have over others, such as BCS champion Alabama compared to smaller Division I schools, while still in the context of the NCAA's commitment to fair competition. On the final day of the NCAA convention, the board approved 25 of 26 proposals in what is considered the most sweeping deregulation of the organization's rulebook at a single time. NCAA president Mark Emmert called it a singular accomplishment to make changes that "set a completely new tone" for the rules. He said they will give schools more responsibility and flexibility and "focus the rules on those things that are real threats to integrity of sport rather than things that are mostly annoying." Among the intriguing changes to take effect Aug. 1 will be the elimination of the amount of phone calls and other private communication, such as text messages and through social media, that coaches can have with recruits. "There was virtually no debate on it. Everyone agreed that those rules need to be changed," Emmert said. "That was probably the least controversial issue in this whole process." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...ify-rules-including-contacting-recruits-issue
