Why Are Universities Involved

[Rickat]

How things have changed. Universities now sponsor professional football and basketball teams. These are funded by big money donors contributing to the athletic departments for administrative salaries and facilities and to NIL for players salaries.

This begs the question. Except for providing the name for the team what need is there for the academic institution's involvement?

Not a criticism just an honest observation.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Money and prestige

 

[The Grand Poohbah]

I’d say because of the evolution of major college sports universities have the infrastructure and generations of fan loyalty. Also, most athletes, even at power 5 schools are not going pro or making enough to sustain their entire life. The education part is still important.

 

[H00SIER-Cat]

You're absolutely right.

I guess we can only watch intramural or club sports if we want amateur sports and school spirit back.

 

[Bill - Shy Cat]

Most local sports athletes who don’t make it are awarded admin jobs in local school systems.

 

[USMC Cat]

How things have changed. Universities now sponsor professional football and basketball teams. These are funded by big money donors contributing to the athletic departments for administrative salaries and facilities and to NIL for players salaries.

This begs the question. Except for providing the name for the team what need is there for the academic institution's involvement?

Not a criticism just an honest observation.

Simply because they haven't been excluded yet, and because they have the facilities.

But it is inevitable. There's really no reason to have the NCAA be involved.

The schools provide a somewhat stable fanbase because people will cheer for the school they graduated from or the one that's affordable and closest to their hometown.

It will essentially be a developmental league, but with built in ticket sales and de facto fan bases included.

But the NCAA as a whole is finished. The schools may as well just go do their own thing - make up their own rules, have their own postseason format, etc.

Create a new governing body and break away. It will happen sooner than we think.

 

[DreadLox]

How things have changed. Universities now sponsor professional football and basketball teams. These are funded by big money donors contributing to the athletic departments for administrative salaries and facilities and to NIL for players salaries.

This begs the question. Except for providing the name for the team what need is there for the academic institution's involvement?

Not a criticism just an honest observation.

At this point, it's inertia and the "sunk cost" problem. All the huge expense of buildings and staff that have been committed to. Imagine the country-wide fire sale of arenas and stadiums were colleges to divest themselves of athletics. Do you imagine, for example, that the Crafts -- apparently UK's #1 boosters -- would want to actually own and operate UK's athletics facilities? (Team Name: Kentucky Crafts!) Would FedEx -- apparently ready to spend $25 million on NIL -- buy and operate Memphis's facilities and hire its staff? Unthinkable, but the current structure is unsustainable. Is there entertainment or sport in a Memphis team with $10 million professionals playing some little school whose kids make their college costs and some spending money? Amateur athletics is dead, and I don't mourn its passing, but the current arrangement is insane.

 

[blubo]

You're absolutely right.

I guess we can only watch intramural or club sports if we want amateur sports and school spirit back.

better hurry

 

[Dore95]

Simply because they haven't been excluded yet, and because they have the facilities.

But it is inevitable. There's really no reason to have the NCAA be involved.

The schools provide a somewhat stable fanbase because people will cheer for the school they graduated from or the one that's affordable and closest to their hometown.

It will essentially be a developmental league, but with built in ticket sales and de facto fan bases included.

But the NCAA as a whole is finished. The schools may as well just go do their own thing - make up their own rules, have their own postseason format, etc.

Create a new governing body and break away. It will happen sooner than we think.

IMO, the NCAA is needed more than ever. Or maybe another regulatory body but the NCAA has the experience regulating college athletics. The current free market system is a disaster and unless rules are enforced it will wreck the sport for good.

 

[Rickat]

I’d say because of the evolution of major college sports universities have the infrastructure and generations of fan loyalty. Also, most athletes, even at power 5 schools are not going pro or making enough to sustain their entire life. The education part is still important.

I'm concerned that NIL has replaced education as motivation for 18-19 year-olds. What are the academic eligibility standards now and who enforces them?

 

[Imafan4evr_]

They’re involved because they realized they’re now in an arms race with absolutely no oversight whatsoever. They used to have to hide behind middle-men, profitable handshakes, favorable vehicle leases, etc. Universities and players are making full use of the very loose rules laid out before them.

 

[sportspm]

They might as well make it more like professional and sign players to 4 year contracts. Probably would help slow down the portal craziness

 

[Balzac]

How things have changed. Universities now sponsor professional football and basketball teams. These are funded by big money donors contributing to the athletic departments for administrative salaries and facilities and to NIL for players salaries.

This begs the question. Except for providing the name for the team what need is there for the academic institution's involvement?

Not a criticism just an honest observation.

This is exactly what needs to be asked. Faculty Senates should be all over this and asking the right people the right questions

 

[G-PIP]

Simply because they haven't been excluded yet, and because they have the facilities.

But it is inevitable. There's really no reason to have the NCAA be involved.

The schools provide a somewhat stable fanbase because people will cheer for the school they graduated from or the one that's affordable and closest to their hometown.

It will essentially be a developmental league, but with built in ticket sales and de facto fan bases included.

But the NCAA as a whole is finished. The schools may as well just go do their own thing - make up their own rules, have their own postseason format, etc.

Create a new governing body and break away. It will happen sooner than we think.

Maybe the best solution is to just create teams (corporate entities like the NBA teams) who are affiliated with the colleges. Get Congress to create an anti-trust exception (like they did for major league baseball) and set up rules similar to what they have always been – e.g., academic requirements, 5 years to play 4, transfer rules, etc. – but have the economic aspect added and a variable salary cap (or however they choose to handle that). Is this at all similar to how club sports work in Europe?