July 21, 2003

Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden has been named chairperson of the NCAA Football Certification Sub-Committee of Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet. Alden served on the committee last season for the first time.

The sub-committee's primary responsibility is to oversee the certification of post-season bowl games for Division I-A football. The committee works with current bowl games to ensure the games are meeting certain requirements, and is also involved in the certification, or non-certification, of new bowl games.

"Certainly the sub-committee is fortunate to have someone of Mike's caliber," said NCAA Director of Membership Services Dave Schnase. "Mike is a veteran in athletics who knows the issues involved, and is someone who is very well-respected by his peers," he said.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to chair this committee that oversees such a prominent aspect of college football," said Alden, who will be in his sixth year at Mizzou when the 2003-04 season gets underway this fall. "There is a wonderful relationship between bowl games and college football, and I look forward to helping that to continue," he said.