# 1996 NCAA Division I baseball season

The 1996 NCAA Division I baseball season, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began in the spring of 1996. The season progressed through the regular season and concluded with the 1996 College World Series. The College World Series, held for the fiftieth time in 1996, consisted of one team from each of eight regional competitions and was held in Omaha, Nebraska, at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium as a double-elimination tournament. LSU claimed the championship for the third time.

## Realignment

* The Metro Conference dissolved, with its members moving primarily to Conference USA.
* Notre Dame departed the Midwestern Collegiate Conference for the Big East Conference, while Xavier and La Salle moved to the Atlantic 10 Conference.
* Fordham and Virginia Tech also joined the Atlantic 10, from the Patriot League and the Metro Conference, respectively.
* VCU joined the Colonial Athletic Association from the Metro Conference.
* Stephen F. Austin dissolved their baseball program. It would not resume until the 2006 season.

### Format changes

* The Trans America Athletic Conference divided into three divisions of four teams each, the Eastern, Southern, and Western.
* The Big East divided into two divisions, named National and American.
* The Southland Conference divided into two divisions of four teams each, named Louisiana and Texas.

## Conference winners

This is a partial list of conference champions from the 1996 season. The NCAA sponsored regional competitions to determine the College World Series participants. Each of the eight regionals consisted of six teams competing in double-elimination tournaments, with the winners advancing to Omaha. In order to provide all conference champions with an automatic bid, 12 conference champions participated in a play-in round. The six winners joined the other 18 conference champions with automatic bids, 24 teams earned at-large selections.
| Conference | Regular season winner | Conference Tournament | Tournament Venue • City | Tournament Winner |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | Florida State | 1996 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament | Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC | Virginia |
| Big East Conference | American - West Virginia National - Villanova | 1996 Big East Conference baseball tournament | Muzzy Field • Bristol, CT | West Virginia |
| Big Eight Conference | Missouri | 1996 Big Eight Conference baseball tournament | All Sports Stadium • Oklahoma City, OK | Oklahoma State |
| Big Ten Conference | Penn State | 1996 Big Ten Conference baseball tournament | Beaver Field • State College, PA | Indiana |
| Big West Conference | Long Beach State | 1996 Big West Conference baseball tournament | Titan Field • Fullerton, CA | UNLV |
| Colonial Athletic Association | Old Dominion/Richmond | 1996 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament | Grainger Stadium • Kinston, NC | Old Dominion |
| Conference USA | South Florida | 1996 Conference USA baseball tournament | Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS | Tulane |
| Ivy League | Gehrig - Princeton Rolfe - Harvard | 1996 Ivy League Baseball Championship Series | Bill Clarke Field • Princeton, NJ | Princeton |
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | Northern - Siena Southern - Iona | 1996 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball tournament | Heritage Park • Colonie, NY | Siena |
| Mid-American Conference | Kent State | 1996 Mid-American Conference baseball tournament | Gene Michael Field • Kent, OH | Akron |
| Midwestern Collegiate Conference | Butler | 1996 Midwestern Collegiate Conference baseball tournament | Indianapolis, IN | Northern Illinois |
| Mid-Continent Conference | Troy State | 1996 Mid-Continent Conference baseball tournament | Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL | Northeastern Illinois |
| North Atlantic Conference | Delaware | 1996 North Atlantic Conference baseball tournament | Mahoney Diamond • Orono, ME | Delaware |
| Northeast Conference | Rider/Monmouth | 1996 Northeast Conference baseball tournament | Ewing Township, NJ | Rider |
| Pacific-10 Conference | North - Washington South - Southern California | no tournament | no tournament | no tournament |
| Patriot League | Bucknell | 1996 Patriot League baseball tournament | Bucknell Field • Lewisburg, PA | Bucknell |
| Southeastern Conference | Eastern - Florida Western - Alabama | 1996 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL | Alabama |
| Southern Conference | Georgia Southern | 1996 Southern Conference baseball tournament | College Park • Charleston, SC | Georgia Southern |
| Southland Conference | Louisiana - Northeast Louisiana Texas - Southwest Texas State | 1996 Southland Conference baseball tournament | Fair Grounds Field • Shreveport, LA | Sam Houston State |
| Southwest Conference | Texas | 1996 Southwest Conference baseball tournament | Dan Law Field • Lubbock, TX | Rice |
| Trans America Athletic Conference | Eastern - Georgia State Southern - Stetson Western - Jacksonville State | 1996 Trans America Athletic Conference baseball tournament | Conrad Park • DeLand, FL | UCF |
| West Coast Conference | Santa Clara | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament |

## Conference standings

The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:
1996 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball standings :
| 1996 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 6 Florida State ‍†‍‍$^y$ 19–5 .79252–17 .754 No. 4 Clemson ‍‍‍$^y$ 17–7 .70851–17 .750 No. 18 Georgia Tech ‍‍‍$^y$ 13–11 .54240–24 .625 No. 28 NC State ‍‍‍$^y$ 13–11 .54242–19 .689 No. 19 Virginia ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 11–13 .45844–21 .677 North Carolina ‍‍‍ 11–13 .45833–25 .569 Duke ‍‍‍ 9–14 .39139–18 .684 Wake Forest ‍‍‍ 7–16 .30426–32 .448 Maryland ‍‍‍ 7–17 .29224–27 .471 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Big East Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT American Division West Virginia $^x$‍‍‡‍$^y$ 15–10–0 .60033–25–0 .569 Providence $^x$‍‍‍ 15–10–0 .60032–17–1 .650 St. John's ‍‍‍ 14–10–0 .58326–18–0 .591 Connecticut ‍‍‍ 13–12–0 .52024–23–0 .511 Pittsburgh ‍‍‍ 9–13–0 .40924–20–2 .543 Boston College ‍‍‍ 6–18–0 .25015–27–0 .357 National Division Villanova $^x$‍‍‍ 16–5–0 .76225–20–0 .556 Rutgers ‍‍‍ 15–7–1 .67432–21–1 .602 Notre Dame ‍‍‍$^y$ 13–7–0 .65044–18–0 .710 Georgetown ‍‍‍ 6–18–0 .25018–34–0 .346 Seton Hall ‍‍‍ 5–17–1 .23918–27–1 .402 x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Big Eight Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 29 Missouri ‍†‍‍$^y$ 20–8 .71439–19 .672 No. 8 Oklahoma State ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 17–9 .65445–21 .682 Oklahoma ‍‍‍ 14–12 .53832–25 .561 Iowa State ‍‍‍ 12–14 .46223–31 .426 Kansas State ‍‍‍ 11–16 .40728–26 .519 Kansas ‍‍‍ 11–17 .39326–30 .464 Nebraska ‍‍‍ 8–17 .32027–27 .500 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |
| 1996 Big Ten Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Penn State ‍†‍‍ 19–8 .70432–24 .571 Indiana ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 18–8 .69243–18 .705 Illinois ‍‍‍ 17–10 .63037–22 .627 Michigan ‍‍‍ 17–11 .60724–30 .444 Minnesota ‍‍‍ 15–12 .55630–26 .536 Ohio State ‍‍‍ 15–13 .53636–20 .643 Iowa ‍‍‍ 13–13 .50025–22 .532 Northwestern ‍‍‍ 10–18 .35726–29 .473 Purdue ‍‍‍ 8–19 .29622–32 .407 Michigan State ‍‍‍ 4–24 .14314–41 .255 x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Big West Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Long Beach State ‍†‍‍ 15–6 .71434–26 .567 No. 26 UNLV ‍‍‡‍ 14–7 .66743–17 .717 UC Santa Barbara ‍‍‍ 14–7 .66732–20 .615 No. 13 Cal State Fullerton ‍‍‍ 13–8 .61942–16 .724 Nevada ‍‍‍ 8–13 .38128–18 .609 New Mexico State ‍‍‍ 8–13 .38125–27 .481 San Jose State ‍‍‍ 7–14 .33328–28 .500 Pacific ‍‍‍ 5–16 .23824–25 .490 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the 1996 NCAA Division I baseball tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Colonial Athletic Association baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Old Dominion ‍†‍‡‍$^y$ 13–7 .65039–17 .696 Richmond ‍†‍‍ 13–7 .65027–25 .519 VCU ‍‍‍ 11–7 .61134–22 .607 George Mason ‍‍‍ 12–9 .57125–29 .463 East Carolina ‍‍‍ 10–11 .47622–24 .478 James Madison ‍‍‍ 9–11 .45034–25 .576 UNC Wilmington ‍‍‍ 9–11 .45028–30 .483 William & Mary ‍‍‍ 2–16 .11123–25 .479 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |
| 1996 Conference USA baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT South Florida ‍†‍‍$^y$ 20–4 .83347–19 .712 Tulane ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 18–6 .75043–20 .683 Southern Miss ‍‍‍ 14–10 .58332–28 .533 UAB ‍‍‍ 13–11 .54233–25 .569 Charlotte ‍‍‍ 11–13 .45829–30 .492 Memphis ‍‍‍ 9–11 .45026–28 .481 Saint Louis ‍‍‍ 9–12 .42925–24 .510 Louisville ‍‍‍ 6–15 .28618–36 .333 Cincinnati ‍‍‍ 1–19 .0505–34 .128 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 NCAA Division I baseball independents standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 2 Miami (FL) ‍‍‍$^y$ – –50–14 .781 Oral Roberts ‍‍‍ – –32–24 .571 Hawaii–Hilo ‍‍‍ – –14–31 .311 Wofford ‍‍‍ – –8–35 .186 Colgate ‍‍‍ – –3–20 .130 Southern Utah ‍‍‍ – –– – y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Ivy League baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Lou Gehrig Princeton $^x$‍‍‡‍$^y$ 13–7 .65026–21 .553 Penn ‍‍‍ 13–7 .65025–17 .595 Cornell ‍‍‍ 8–12 .40017–27 .386 Columbia ‍‍‍ 7–13 .35013–29 .310 Red Rolfe Harvard $^x$‍‍‍ 14–6 .70023–17 .575 Yale ‍‍‍ 11–9 .55024–18 .571 Dartmouth ‍‍‍ 8–12 .40012–25 .324 Brown ‍‍‍ 6–14 .30012–25 .324 x – Division champion ‡ – Championship Series champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |
| 1996 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Northern Siena $^x$‍‍‡‍$^y$ 14–4 .77828–20 .583 Le Moyne ‍‍‍ 10–8 .55617–19 .472 Niagara ‍‍‍ 7–11 .38914–20 .412 Canisius ‍‍‍ 5–13 .27813–22 .371 Southern Iona $^x$‍‍‍ 11–7 .61126–21 .553 Saint Peter's ‍‍‍ 10–7 .58818–24 .429 Fairfield ‍‍‍ 10–8 .55620–19 .513 Manhattan ‍‍‍ 4–13 .2359–30 .231 x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Mid-American Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT Kent State ‍†‍‍ 21–7–0 .75030–20–0 .600 Ohio ‍‍‍ 21–11–0 .65634–23–0 .596 Toledo ‍‍‍ 18–14–0 .56327–27–0 .500 Akron ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 18–14–0 .56337–23–0 .617 Ball State ‍‍‍ 16–14–0 .53332–20–1 .613 Central Michigan ‍‍‍ 16–14–0 .53331–20–0 .608 Eastern Michigan ‍‍‍ 16–16–0 .50026–29–0 .473 Bowling Green ‍‍‍ 14–17–0 .45228–22–0 .560 Western Michigan ‍‍‍ 10–21–0 .32317–34–0 .333 Miami ‍‍‍ 5–27–0 .15612–40–0 .231 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Mid-Continent Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT East Troy State $^x$‍‍‍ 16–2–0 .88941–13–0 .759 Pace ‍‍‍ 10–10–0 .50020–28–0 .417 Youngstown State ‍‍‍ 10–10–0 .50020–25–0 .444 NYIT ‍‍‍ 8–12–0 .40020–25–0 .444 C.W. Post ‍‍‍ 7–11–0 .38915–24–1 .388 Central Connecticut ‍‍‍ 7–13–0 .35017–25–1 .407 West Eastern Illinois $^x$‍‍‍ 15–3–0 .83324–22–0 .522 Northeastern Illinois ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 12–12–0 .50031–29–0 .517 Valparaiso ‍‍‍ 9–11–0 .45018–29–0 .383 Western Illinois ‍‍‍ 9–13–0 .40914–27–0 .341 Chicago State ‍‍‍ 7–13–0 .35020–28–1 .418 ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |
| 1996 Northeast Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT Rider ‍†‍‡‍ 15–6–0 .71428–22–0 .560 Monmouth ‍†‍‍ 15–6–0 .71425–22–0 .532 St. Francis ‍‍‍ 12–8–0 .60021–20–1 .512 Long Island ‍‍‍ 12–9–0 .57121–19–0 .525 Fairleigh Dickinson ‍‍‍ 9–12–0 .42916–23–0 .410 Wagner ‍‍‍ 8–12–0 .40014–24–0 .368 Marist ‍‍‍ 8–13–0 .38116–24–1 .402 Mount St. Mary's ‍‍‍ 4–17–0 .1906–24–1 .210 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Patriot League baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT Bucknell ‍†‍‡‍$^y$ 14–6–0 .70024–23–0 .511 Lehigh ‍‍‍ 12–8–0 .60018–20–1 .474 Navy ‍‍‍ 11–9–0 .55024–28–0 .462 Army ‍‍‍ 9–11–0 .45020–21–0 .488 Lafayette ‍‍‍ 9–11–0 .45012–28–0 .300 Holy Cross ‍‍‍ 5–15–0 .2507–26–0 .212 ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Southeastern Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Eastern Division No. 3 Florida $^x$‍†‍‍ 20–10 .66750–18 .735 No. 12 Tennessee ‍‍‍ 18–12 .60043–20 .683 Kentucky ‍‍‍ 15–14 .51735–24 .593 Vanderbilt ‍‍‍ 14–16 .46729–25 .537 South Carolina ‍‍‍ 13–17 .43325–28 .472 Georgia ‍‍‍ 8–21 .27624–30 .444 Western Division No. 5 Alabama $^x$‍†‍‡‍ 20–10 .66750–19 .725 No. 1 LSU $^x$‍†‍‍ 20–10 .66752–15 .776 No. 27 Mississippi State ‍‍‍ 17–13 .56738–24 .613 Arkansas ‍‍‍ 15–15 .50039–20 .661 Auburn ‍‍‍ 12–18 .40032–24 .571 Ole Miss ‍‍‍ 7–23 .23324–30 .444 x – Division champion † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |
| 1996 Southern Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 14 Georgia Southern $^{†‡y}$ ‍‍‍ 17–3 .85046–14 .767 Western Carolina ‍‍‍ 17–7 .70832–24 .571 Furman ‍‍‍ 15–9 .62526–29 .473 The Citadel ‍‍‍ 13–10 .56533–26 .559 Appalachian State ‍‍‍ 12–10 .54527–19 .587 East Tennessee State ‍‍‍ 11–12 .47826–24 .520 VMI ‍‍‍ 7–16 .30417–29 .370 Davidson ‍‍‍ 6–18 .25016–33 .327 Marshall ‍‍‍ 4–17 .1907–35 .167 † – Conference champion ‡ – SoCon Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Southland Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Louisiana Northeast Louisiana $^x$‍‍‍ 21–9 .70041–19 .683 Northwestern State ‍‍‍ 14–16 .46734–27 .557 Nicholls State ‍‍‍ 11–19 .36717–36 .321 McNeese State ‍‍‍ 10–20 .33323–31 .426 Texas Southwest Texas State $^x$‍‍‍ 19–11 .63327–32 .458 Texas–San Antonio ‍‍‍ 17–13 .56726–26 .500 Sam Houston State ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 15–15 .50031–29 .517 Texas–Arlington ‍‍‍ 13–17 .43323–35 .397 x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball | 1996 Southwest Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 16 Texas ‍†‍‍$^y$ 17–7 .70839–24 .619 No. 17 Texas Tech ‍‍‍$^y$ 15–9 .62549–15 .766 Texas A&M ‍‍‍ 12–12 .50037–21 .638 Baylor ‍‍‍ 11–13 .45832–27 .542 Texas Christian ‍‍‍ 11–13 .45834–33 .507 Houston ‍‍‍ 9–15 .37529–28 .509 No. 25 Rice ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 9–15 .37542–23 .646 † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |
| 1996 Trans America Athletic Conference baseball standings vteConf.Overall TeamW L PCTW L PCT South No. 22 Stetson $^x$‍†‍‍$^y$ 12–6 .66742–23 .646 UCF ‍‍‡‍$^y$ 9–9 .50043–22 .662 Florida Atlantic ‍‍‍ 9–9 .50039–23 .629 FIU ‍‍‍ 6–12 .33335–24 .593 East Georgia State $^x$‍†‍‍ 12–6 .66721–32 .396 Campbell ‍‍‍ 9–9 .50023–33 .411 College of Charleston ‍‍‍ 8–10 .44428–23 .549 Mercer ‍‍‍ 7–11 .38925–30 .455 West Jacksonville State $^x$‍†‍‍ 12–6 .66733–18 .647 Southeastern Louisiana ‍‍‍ 11–7 .61134–24 .586 Centenary ‍‍‍ 7–11 .38923–34 .404 Samford ‍‍‍ 6–12 .33322–34 .393 x – Division champion † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1996 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball |

## College World Series

The 1996 season marked the fiftieth NCAA baseball tournament, which culminated with the eight team College World Series. The College World Series was held in Omaha, Nebraska. The eight teams played a double-elimination format, with LSU claiming their third championship with a 9–8 win over Miami (FL) in the final.

### Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | | | Second round | Second round | Second round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Alabama | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | 1 | Alabama | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 15 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Clemson | 3 | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 15 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | 7 | | | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 14 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | 5 | Miami (FL) | 14 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | Bracket One | 4 | Clemson | 5 | — | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Clemson | 5 | — | | | | |
| 4 | Clemson | 8$^{10}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Clemson | 8$^{10}$ | | | 1 | Alabama | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Clemson | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Miami (FL) | 8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | LSU | 9 |
| 2 | Florida | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | LSU | 9 |
| 7 | Florida State | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Florida State | 2 | | | 2 | Florida | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Wichita State | 8 | | | 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | LSU | 9 | | | | | | 6 | LSU | 2 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | 6 | LSU | 2 | — | | | | | |
| Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | Bracket Two | 2 | Florida | 1 | — | | | | | |
| 7 | Florida State | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Florida | 1 | — | | | | |
| 3 | Wichita State | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Wichita State | 4 | | | 2 | Florida | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Florida State | 3 | | | | | | | | | |