INDIANAPOLIS -- When the NCAA Management Council meets next week to discuss new Division I-A standards, Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst will be monitoring the discussions closely.

That's because the proposal, which includes a stipulation that all schools draw an average attendance of 15,000 to its home football games, could endanger the Division I-A status of many of Chryst's conference schools.

"That's something that's been out there a while, but it's still early in the process," Chryst said. "As this package here is being developed, I see the standards broadening as an encouraging sign for us."

The council, which is to meet in Indianapolis on Monday and Tuesday, is expected to send the proposal to its full membership for comment. No final decision is expected until at least next spring.

The proposal would change current standards by eliminating a conference exemption that allows leagues with at least six schools to maintain Division I-A status if half of the league members meet either of the two requirements -- averaging 17,000 fans over a four-year period or having a stadium that seats at least 30,000.

The changes would require schools to award 90 percent of the 85-scholarship limit in football and 200 scholarships in all sports totaling at least $4 million, sponsor a minimum of 16 varsity sports -- eight of which are women's sports -- play host to at least five Division I-A football games and average at least 15,000 in attendance.

The changes would put almost half of the MAC's 13 teams in jeopardy of retaining their status.

Council chairman Charles Harris, commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, could not be reached for comment.

But Chryst views some of the broader standards as a good sign for his schools.

"The MAC has historically sponsored a lot of sports," he said. "We sponsor 23 championships now and we scholarship a lot of kids. That's what encouraging."

The problem for the MAC always has been football.

Six of the 13 conference schools averaged fewer than 15,000 in attendance last season and a seventh, Northern Illinois, averaged 15,757. Of the 10 schools averaging fewer than 15,000 this season, five are MAC schools -- including Northern Illinois at 14,752. Four others are averaging fewer than 19,000.

Still, Chryst said, there are signs of progress. Marshall has been one of the nation's most successful football programs since joining the MAC and Toledo is ranked No. 25 this week. Chryst hopes that will benefit his schools.

"What we've tried to do is try to improve ourselves in the marketplace," Chryst said. "We've got another team in the Top 25, we've got a second bowl game for the first time in our history and in the top end of the league, attendance is better than it's ever been. Our aim isn't to water down the standards, our aim is to get better."

Football is just one item on the council's agenda.

The council is expected to discuss several changes in basketball, including the 5/8 rule, which allows a school to award no more than five scholarships in one year and no more than eight in any two-year period, and limiting the summer recruiting period to 20 consecutive days instead of two 10-day periods.

"Those are all up for the second time, and everything has to go to the management council twice," NCAA spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said. "If they get approval it will go to the Board of Directors."

In addition, the council is expected to table proposed changes on amateurism rules until its spring meeting.