WASHINGTON, D.C.---More than 20 NCAA Division I coaches, athletics administrators, and college presidents today are talking to various members of Congress about the importance of proposed legislation that would extend a ban on legal sports wagering on college athletics to all states.

The group is discussing the proposed legislation and its impact on intercollegiate athletics during individual meetings throughout the day on Capitol Hill.

"After hearing from our coaches, who are closest to this issue, we hope that members of Congress will see that legal sports wagering impacts the integrity of the athlete and the game," said Cedric Dempsey, NCAA president. "These coaches have come here today to demonstrate how important the legislation - as it was introduced - is to the intercollegiate athletics community. We're very concerned about the far-reaching effects of legal sports wagering on college sports."

Joining Dempsey and Daniel Boggan, NCAA senior vice-president, today are: Gary Barnett, football coach, University of Colorado, Boulder; Bob Bender, basketball coach, University of Washington; John Calipari, basketball coach, University of Memphis; Barry Collier, basketball coach, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Billy Donovan, basketball coach, University of Florida; Lefty Driesell, basketball coach, Georgia State University; Jerry Dunn, basketball coach, Pennsylvania State University; Cliff Ellis, basketball coach, Auburn University; Larry Eustachy, basketball coach, Iowa State University; Fran Fraschilla, basketball coach, University of New Mexico; Andy Geiger, athletics director, Ohio State University; Bill Guthridge, former men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Lou Holtz, football coach, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Floyd Keith, executive director, Black Coaches Association; William "Brit" Kirwan, president, Ohio State University; Roy Kramer, commissioner, Southeastern Conference; Reverend Edward "Monk" Malloy, president, University of Notre Dame; Glen Mason, football coach, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Muffet McGraw, basketball coach, University of Notre Dame; Lorenzo Romar, basketball coach, Saint Louis University; Bo Schembechler, retired football coach, University of Michigan; R.C. Slocum, football coach, Texas A&M University, College Station; and Ron Turner, football coach, University of Illinois, Champaign.

The group is calling for passage of The Amateur Sports Integrity Act (S. 718) and the Student Athlete Protection Act (H.R. 1110). S. 718 was introduced by Senator John McCain, R-Arizona; Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas; and Senator John Edwards, D-North Carolina. The legislation would remove the grandfather clause from the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

"After some of the members of Congress hear the personal experiences of our coaches, presidents, athletics directors, and conference officials, we hope they will better understand the seriousness of this issue and its potential impact on college campuses and athletics programs," said Dempsey.

A House version of the bill, H.R. 1110, known as the Student Athlete Protection Act, was introduced March 20 by Representatives Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina; Tim Roemer, D-Indiana; Tom Osborne, R-Nebraska; Ron Kind, D-Wisconsin; and 42 cosponsors. It has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

QUOTES FROM PRESS CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Coach Lou Holtz, football coach, University of South Carolina, Columbia: "The idea of sports wagering has created problems for our young people. This problem creates pressure on young people. People have come up to me and said, 'Coach, you had a great year, you went 10-2.' I said, 'I didn't go 10-2,' but they said, 'yes, you did against the point spread.' "

"I've been cheered after a loss because I beat the spread."

"If Congress appointed a commission (National Gambling Impact Study Commission) and the commission said get rid of sports wagering, why aren't we doing it?"

"We can give you a lot of reasons why there shouldn't be gambling on college sports. Give me a reason why we should allow gambling on college sports."

Coach Jerry Dunn, basketball coach, Pennsylvania State University: "Today, I am selfish. I'm selfish about supporting this bill."

"We must continue to be adamant about educating our student-athletes. We must be adamant about educating our student body. We are the first line of defense, our campus administrators are our second line of defense, our third line of defense is our legislators."

"It's disturbing to see my players reading USA Today and have my players say, 'Coach, we're three-point underdogs or we're six-point underdogs.' No college is exempt."

"If we allow continued betting on college athletics, it takes away from the innocence of the game. Help us maintain the integrity of college games."

Reverend Edward "Monk" Malloy, president, University of Notre Dame: "There is no reason not to pass this legislation. It's the right thing to do. It serves the well-being of our student-athletes and our student body as well."

"We need to get rid of the log jam and get the legislation to the floor. It protects the integrity of something that is such an integral part of American life."