Cowen said that yesterday's agreement brought unity to the 117 members of Division I-A football.

This is certainly not the case in collegiate leagues such as Division I-A football or men's and women's basketball.

"We have estimated it would cost the university $5.5 million to upgrade our varsity athletics to include Division I-A football."

The rule later was applied to assistant coaches in other sports, as well, except Division I-A football.

Bobby is not the only member of his family to have coached Division I-A football.

At the time, he was the second-youngest coach in all of Division I-A football, at age 38.

This season, 49 percent of the 9,063 Division I-A football players are black.

Last week in this space was a listing of the best cumulative records over the years among all schools now playing Division I-A football.

There is a real chance he'll fail to qualify academically to play Division I-A football.

The only good thing about Division I-A football is that players and coaches can talk about "what if" without ever having to find out.