2aDays partnered with the Drake Group to host a webinar on the disintegration of the NCAA, during which panelists discussed various issues for institutions, college athletes, coaches, and more. 

The webinar is moderated by ​​Dr. B. David Ridpath, Ed.D., an Associate Professor of Sports Business in Ohio University's College of Business. Dr. Ridpath has several years of practical experience in the sports industry and teaches classes with a focus on Governance, Ethics, Leadership and Intercollegiate Athletics.

Rebecca Lutz (Host) is a second-year graduate student at Florida Atlantic University pursuing an MBA in Sports Management. She completed her BA in Psychology at The George Washington University.

Panelists

Marquita Armstead – Long time college athletics administrator and the newly appointed Executive Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator for the University of Nebraska.

Jasmine Ellis – in her first year as Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services after joining the University of Akron Athletics staff in January of 2022.

Oliver Luck – NCAA's first-ever executive vice president for regulatory affairs. 

Julie Sommer – Seattle-based attorney and Drake Group Board of Directors Member. Former All-American Swimmer and National Champion Swimmer at the University of Texas.

Dr. Andy Zimbalist –  Drake Group Board of Directors Member, accomplished sports economist, and the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College.

This panel of experts addressed issues regarding the new normal of NCAA governance and the future of college sports in America. In addition, they discussed the possibilities and potential of this new economic and governance structure. Will it be capable of solving critical issues of academic integrity? Athlete health? Safety and well-being? Gender inequities? Controlling sky rocketing expenditures and salaries? And of course, NIL and recruiting chaos. Jasmine Ellis summed it up best when she said “Every solution to a problem is not a solution to the issue.” Watch the whole webinar to find out why.

Related: Constitutional Convention Central: What Changes Do Stakeholders Want to See in College Sports?

The panelists address the following issues and questions: 

• The 100+ year model of the NCAA is on its last legs
• Reimagine the NCAA
• Institutions voted to move away from a national governance model of college sports and begin the transition of rule-making and enforcement by each competitive division
• Understanding the new governance structure
• The athletes rights movement
• New NCAA Constitution
• Increasing costs for rerouting resources to support the NIL
• NIL rights
• Impact on community and college athletes
• Higher education model 
• Title IX
• Taboo of transferring
• The information now available to college student-athletes
• Sports betting
• What about the financial structure of college athletics will likely result in the reduction of support for non-revenue producing olympic sports?
• Should congress consider the model that other countries follow of supporting national teams through national financing?
• What are the practical next steps?
• What could be next for college sports in America? 
• How are college athletes impacted? 
• How are schools using their resources and allocating them the right way?

Watch the video for the panelists' take on these topics, and stay tuned for follow-up questions the panelists are answering from audience members.

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* Originally published on March 1, 2022, by Lilia Farach