http://www.knightcommission.org/ Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics - Reports, white papers and news releases as well as scholarly resources. en Knight Commission Copyright 2008 2008-11-08T00:23:01-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/football_coach_buyouts_raise_concerns_in_tough_economic_times/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/football_coach_buyouts_raise_concerns_in_tough_economic_times/#When:01:23:01Z The USA Today reported on the implications of the recent combined $11.85 million buyout of four football coaches at major NCAA member institutions, particularly during the current national economic situation.  The recent firing of Phillip Fulmer cost the University of Tennessee-Knoxville $6 million, plus an additional $1.935 million if Fulmer’s assistants are also terminated.  The other buyouts include $3.5 million for Clemson University coach Tommy Bowden; $1 million for University of Washington coach Tyrone Willingham; and, $1.2 million for Kansas State University coach Ron Prince, in addition to a prorated, $150,000 longevity bonus.  Bowden, Prince, and Fulmer all are in the first year of new contracts.  The paper noted that the buyouts at Tennessee and Clemson will be paid out of athletic department reserve funds; which may be necessary considering the state of Tennessee cut $17 million from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville budget and a potential for $25 milllion in cuts at Clemson University. William “Brit” Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland and co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, stated: “When times are flush, I guess maybe people look the other way when they see these kinds of numbers. But I think it’s going to be increasingly difficult for boards to explain ? in these tough economic times.” Students, Media, Educators 2008-11-08T01:23:01-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/knight_commission_criticizes_commercialization_of_college_athletes_in_fanta/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/knight_commission_criticizes_commercialization_of_college_athletes_in_fanta/#When:03:25:00Z Commission will study economics of college sports in year-long program WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics met on October 27 to discuss the emerging conflict between new forms of media and long-standing NCAA rules designed to protect athletes from commercial exploitation. The Commission also announced it would pursue a year-long series of meetings and research on the economics of college sports, with a particular focus on why expenses are rising faster than revenues at virtually all Division I athletics programs. ?College athletes in fantasy games and video games may seem trivial to some, but these and other forms of new media pose new challenges to the long-held distinction between commercial activity featuring teams and that which focuses on individual athletes,? said R. Gerald Turner, co-chairman of the Commission and president of Southern Methodist University. ?We continue to believe that universities need to treat athletes fairly and equitably, and for third parties to use them in commercial products and advertisements violates that principle.? Sessions are currently available as audio clips in .mp3 format and as a podcast subscription. Students, Media, Educators, News Releases 2008-10-27T03:25:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/knight_commission_to_meet_oct_27_to_discuss_publicity_rights_fantasy_games/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/knight_commission_to_meet_oct_27_to_discuss_publicity_rights_fantasy_games/#When:20:30:00Z The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics will meet October 27 in Washington, D. C. to discuss discuss commercialism in sports and athletes? rights in the 21st Century; how the new media landscape and emerging developments such as college fantasy football and basketball games impact traditional amateurism principles; and, college sports finances. Longstanding NCAA amateurism principles prohibit the commercial use of college players? names, images and likenesses.  However, these principles are challenged by emerging online media and a desire to enhance revenue by allowing the use of athletes? names and images by commercial partners.  The current debate over whether names and statistics of college athletes should be allowed to be used in commercial fantasy football and basketball games without the institutions? or athletes? consent is one issue to be discussed in the broader examination of college athletes and their publicity rights. Two Knight Commission panels will explore the legal, business and policy issues with the nation?s most knowledgeable experts on these issues. The Knight Commission also will receive a report on the financial health of Division I athletics programs.  In particular, the Commission and experts will discuss the increasing reliance of Division I institutions on institutional subsidies to balance their budgets, particularly as deficits on athletic spending continue to grow.  Since it reconvened in November 2003, the Commission has advocated for new processes to improve the accuracy of athletics financial data and greater transparency for these data.  The Commission will hear from financial experts and an athletics director on how new NCAA financial reporting processes have improved the accuracy and comparability of data and whether the new system provides the desired transparency and accountability.  These sessions are the first in a year-long series of planned discussions on the economics and finance of college sports that will culminate in a major report on the realities facing universities and athletics programs in late 2009. Students, Media, Educators, News Releases 2008-10-01T20:30:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/ncaa_penalties_and_self_monitoring_practices_called_into_question/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/ncaa_penalties_and_self_monitoring_practices_called_into_question/#When:12:07:00Z The Indianapolis Star published an article on September 16 which highlights a discussion at the Knight Commission?s June meeting about the purpose and outcomes of self-monitoring practices by NCAA institutions.  With a September 17 deadline for Indiana University to respond to NCAA charges of its “failure to monitor” its men’s basketball program, reporter Mike Alesia asks whether or not institutions should receive credit for reporting their own NCAA rules violations.  The article notes that the NCAA does not have the manpower to watch every institution, and thus relies upon self-policing as an obligation of membership.  “But the reality, in my mind, in my world, is that not everyone self-reports,” said attorney Michael Glazier in June at a meeting of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. “And more times than not, those who do not self-report do not get caught.” Glazier is representing Indiana University former men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. An audio recording and links to several news articles about the June meeting is available here. The article notes that an NCAA subcommittee is currently examining two specific questions about NCAA infractions: 1) Should schools get explicit credit for turning themselves in, as IU did? and, 2) should punishments be tougher, and focus more on coaches or boosters who get programs into trouble, rather than the programs themselves? Students, Media, Educators 2008-09-17T12:07:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/tackling_college_football_fantasy_leagues/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/tackling_college_football_fantasy_leagues/#When:17:05:00Z Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics co-chairs William E. Kirwan and R. Gerald Turner authored an opinion piece, below, published in the Los Angeles Times on August 30, 2008. This weekend, Terrapins, Trojans, Mustangs and more take to the gridiron, kicking off the college football season. This week also marks the start of a new era in college football, one in which fantasy leagues run by commercial entities exploit college players as their virtual game pieces. These online fantasy leagues, which use the real names and statistics of collegiate athletes, raise a crucial question for higher education leaders: Is it amateurism in college sports that has become a fantasy? The National Collegiate Athletic Assn.—the organization of colleges, universities and conferences that governs sports programs—has long upheld the principle of amateurism. NCAA bylaws establish that students participating in college sports “should be protected from exploitation by professional and commercial enterprises.” Clearly, these fantasy contests violate that tenet. Students, Media, Educators, News Releases 2008-09-01T17:05:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/new_america_foundations_the_higher_ed_watch_blog_calls_for_college_sports_r/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/new_america_foundations_the_higher_ed_watch_blog_calls_for_college_sports_r/#When:00:53:00Z Echoing many of the prior recommendations made by the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, New America Foundation?s Higher Ed Watch blogger Lindsey Luebchow called for the NCAA, and possibly Congress, to provide more transparency and more detailed information about athletic spending. Since the Knight Commission reconvened in 2003, it has consistently called for improvements to the accuracy and transparency of athletics financial data.  Luebchow emphasizes problems with data submitted by institutions under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act ? a problem the Commission wrote to the Department of Education about in 2005 (link here to attached letter).  Luebchow also calls for changes in revenue distribution so that a larger share of NCAA revenue is based on need instead of winning performances in the NCAA basketball tournament.  In its 2001 report, the Commission recommended that the NCAA?s revenue distribution plan be revised to consider values such as improving academic performance, enhancing athletes? collegiate experiences, and achieving gender equity.  Luebchow?s final recommendation is to provide four-year athletics scholarships instead of one-year renewable grants.  Luebshow?s full commentary can be accessed here. Students, Media, Educators 2008-08-29T00:53:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/a_tribute_to_former_knight_commission_chairman_thomas_k_hearn/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/a_tribute_to_former_knight_commission_chairman_thomas_k_hearn/#When:13:13:00Z We are deeply saddened by the news that our friend and colleague Thomas K. Hearn passed away Monday at his home in Winston-Salem.  Dr. Hearn was a founding member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and served as the Commission?s chairman in 2005 and 2006. Recognized as one of the nation?s top university presidents during his 22-year tenure leading Wake Forest University, Dr. Hearn?s consistent, strong voice on the core values that should guide college sports was instrumental to the Knight Commission?s work.  A tribute to Tom Hearn is posted on the Wake Forest University Web site— http://www.wfu.edu/wowf/2008/20080818.hearn.html Students, Media, Educators 2008-08-19T13:13:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/ncaa_wont_challenge_fantasy_football_will_keep_status_quo_on_beer_ads/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/ncaa_wont_challenge_fantasy_football_will_keep_status_quo_on_beer_ads/#When:13:52:00Z Despite calls to take a strong stand against the use of athletes? names in an online fantasy football game in violation of NCAA rules, the NCAA announced that it does not believe it can challenge the actions due to its interpretation of a judicial ruling involving fantasy leagues and Major League Baseball players. The NCAA also decided at its August 7 meeting of its Executive Committee that it would continue to allow television networks to sell 60 seconds of commercial time for each hour they’re on the air. Ads can only be sold for beverages containing 6 percent or less of alcohol - almost exclusively beer - during the NCAA’s national championships.  The NCAA requires all beer ads in stadiums or arenas to be covered during its championships, does not permit the sale of beer, wine or liquor during the games and has advised its member institutions to follow the same code. Students, Media, Educators 2008-08-14T13:52:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/cbs_sports_to_include_athlete_names_in_fantasy_college_football/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/cbs_sports_to_include_athlete_names_in_fantasy_college_football/#When:21:05:00Z In articles published July 31 in USA Today and the Chronicle of Higher Education, Knight Commission Executive Director Amy Perko called on the NCAA to take action to protect college athletes from being exploited by a fantasy league using their names without permission and for commercial purposes.  The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Perko ?believes the NCAA should do more to stop the college fantasy game.? ?The NCAA exists to protect the integrity of its rules and to protect student-athletes from being exploited,? Ms. Perko told the Chronicle.  ?It (the NCAA) has a responsibility to make sure that its rules are followed for the benefit of the individual athletes.? An article published August 4 in USA Today discusses the position of individual schools and athletes considering their options to prevent CBS from continuing with its fantasy game. Perko’s comments relate to news from the NCAA that it will work with CBS Sports to protect the amateur status of college athletes after CBS Sports? decision to base its college football fantasy game on actual Division I Football Bowl Subdivision athletes.  CBS Sports announced on July 28 that it would offer participants playing its online College Football Fantasy Game the opportunity to draft real student-athletes as opposed to position players (for example, Michigan State QBs, Boston College RBs) that do not disclose student-athlete names.  Participants in the fantasy league will not be charged an entry fee or be eligible for any prize associated with the game.  And, according to the Wall Street Journal, CBS is planning to implement this for college basketball later this year. Students, Media, Educators 2008-07-29T21:05:00-05:00 http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/recruiting_expenses_increase_significantly_for_major_college_sport_programs/ http://www.knightcommission.org/students/item/recruiting_expenses_increase_significantly_for_major_college_sport_programs/#When:00:27:00Z The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that nearly half of NCAA Division I athletics departments doubled their recruiting budgets from 1997 to 2001.  Additionally, ?the 65 biggest spenders shelled out a total of more than $61 million in 2007, an 86-percent increase from 10 years before.? The Chronicle?s analysis is based on financial data reported to the U.S. Department of Education, which does not include salaries for recruiting coordinators or other staff devoted solely to recruiting, and is unreliable for comparisons over time or bwtween institutions.  Students, Media, Educators 2008-07-29T00:27:00-05:00