Urging the National Collegiate Atheltic Association (NCAA) to reconsider its decision on WNDU-TV's application to telecast the five Notre Dame football games

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RESOLUTION NO. C? ,Q_dQ A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, URGING THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA) TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION ON WNDU -TV'S APPLICATION TO TELECAST THE FIVE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, recognizes that it rarely becomes involved in voicing its' position on activities which are not directly related to municipal affairs; and WHEREAS, the Council believes that last week's decision by the NCAA to deny WNDU -TV's application to telecast 5 out of 9 of the Notre Dame games, namely Michigan, Michigan State, Army, Navy, and Arizona, warrants an exception, especially in light of the huge outpouring of public sentiment against the decision; and WHEREAS, WNDU has been telecasting the games on a regular basis for the past 25 years, and has allowed shut -ins, alumni, and friends who are unable to obtain tickets to go to the games, to enjoy viewing Notre Dame football on television; and WHEREAS, the ruling is based on a rule enacted in 1952 which was originally intended to limit the impact of televised games on college football game attendance; and WHEREAS, the telecasting of Notre Dame games will not have an adverse impact on attendance at games being played within the area served by WNDU -TV; and WHEREAS, the Common Council believes that the broadcasts of these games are for the benefit of the general public, and that irreparable harm will result by depriving the public of this type of entertainment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: SECTION I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, on behalf of its concerned and interested citizens, hereby requests the National Collegiate Athletic Association to reconsider the application submitted by WNDU -TV to telecast five of nine Notre Dame football games. SECTION II. The Council believes that the 25 years of entertainment provided by such telecasting of Notre Dame football has provided genuine benefits to the general public. SECTION III. The Council further believes that the general public should not be denied the right to view such games on television by a rule adopted in 1952 which fails to weigh the positive benefits derived by such telecasting. SECTION IV. The Common Council directs the City Clerk to send copies of this Resolution to the National Collegiate Athletic Association headquarters in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and to other interested public officials in the interest of urging the NCAA to reconsider its decision. SECTION V. This Resolution shal be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the C on C ncil a d 7 Lly the Mayor. I Me e of the Common Council MIS" i s- FRED Ell C-1" IS Gev6'b� NOT APPROVED ADOPTW 9-1V-- g-0 7V\ ire-tie Gammon CITY co , souv 011D, iM