NCAA proposes unlimited meal plans for Division I athletes

theGRIO REPORT - NCAA officials announced Tuesday that its official Legislative Council had approved a new model which would grant student athletes 'unlimited meals and snacks'...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

NCAA officials announced Tuesday that its official Legislative Council had approved a new model which would grant student athletes “unlimited meals and snacks.”

The new meal plan had reportedly been in the works for years, according to attorney and Forbes contributor Alicia Jessop.

In the days leading up to his team’s Final Four and eventual NCAA title run, UConn point guard Shabazz Napier told reporters there were some nights during the basketball season he went to bed “starving.”

Napier was certainly not the first Div. I athlete to talk about not having enough money to eat, but the senior leader’s comments became national news. Napier’s experience was another example of how the NCAA undervalues its student-athletes, critics wrote.

Below are excerpts from the full announcement, which was posted on NCAA’s official site:

Division 1 student-athletes can receive unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation, the Legislative Council decided Tuesday. The rule, which applies to walk-ons as well as scholarship student athletes, is an effort to meet the nutritional needs of all student-athletes.

No action is considered final until the Division I Board of Directors meet April 24.

TheGrio | UConn senior Shabazz Napier delivers strong message to the NCAA (VIDEO)

If the proposal clears the Board of Directors meeting, it will take effect August 1 along with several other proposals.

Napier is projected as a mid to late first round pick in this summer’s NBA draft. He is set to graduate in May.

Follow theGrio.com’s Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj

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