Texas A&M’s move to SEC evidence of NCAA’s lost mission
NCAA's Mark Emmert talks a good game, but mission of college athletics continues to implode.
A few days after NCAA president Mark Emmert reached for his talking points and attempted to assure the masses (suckers) that university presidents were “focused on what really counts, and that’s sustaining the collegiate model,” we must ask two questions:
What is that model and when did it mutate? Because all wonderful sound bites about integrity, academic standards and returning to the mission of college athletics notwithstanding, somebody just ran to the ATM again.
Texas A&M reportedly intends to leave the possibly crumbling Big 12 for the ivory towers of the SEC, with an announcement coming as soon as Monday, after banks open.
It’s understandable why A&M would want to escape Texas’ shadow in the Big 12 and come to the SEC, where member schools split a record $220 million in a revenue-sharing plan this fiscal year. I’m not quite as sure why the SEC wants A&M, because other than getting its toes into the state of Texas — assuming College Station counts — this is like a high-end mall expanding to add a Walgreens.
The bigger issue, however, is the continuing conflicting messages being disseminated by the hypocritical suits that run college athletics. They say it’s about academics, but they sign off on 12-game regular seasons, late-night kickoffs and “special edition” school-night games because, well, the checks cash. They say they’re about the big picture, but really they’re about only the picture that they’re in.
Tradition is gone. Perspective is gone. Any sense of tradition, doing what’s right or maintaining some semblance of the fabric of what has made college athletics so great and unique has been obliterated by the potential of the next TV deal.
There is no common good in college football, any more than there is in boxing. There are only independent contractors — college presidents, athletic directors, conference commissioners, bowl pooh-bahs — scrambling to fill their own pockets. Squint, and they all look like Don King.
University of California-Riverside chancellor Tim White, one of the NCAA’s chosen mouthpieces at last week’s presidents’ “retreat” in Indianapolis, referenced “the ecosystem of university life.”
It kind of makes sense. They’re just redefining “going green.”
White touched on “integrity” and “academic reform” and concluded, “We want to make sure that the entire ship is doing well, that the students are not being taken advantage of inappropriately, recognizing they’re student-athletes, not athlete-students.”
And then he jumped onto his unicorn and rode away through a field of towering yellow and purple flowers toward a rainbow.
Texas A&M’s move would be a significant domino to fall. That’s ironic considering the Aggies won their lone national championship in football in 1939 and have two bowl wins in the past 20 years (those in the Alamo and Galleryfurniture.com Bowls). Florida State, Clemson, Missouri, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech all are swirling in the SEC expansion rumor mill.
We’re on a path toward an Orwellian landscape. Three college football superstates: Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia (with Notre Dame as an independent).
College administrators say they embrace the ideal of the student-athlete. If that were true, they wouldn’t base every decision on the potential for a new indoor practice facility.
The gap between the ruling class and the commoners is wider than ever. How does it go over in the rest of the Big 12 when Texas and ESPN partner to form the Longhorn Network?
The NCAA dumps on kids for selling a jersey or an autograph or taking cash from an agent. But they won’t give the quarterback a share of his jersey sales in the campus bookstore?
Presidents talk tough about raising academic standards for bowl and NCAA tournament teams. To borrow from Penn State president Graham Spanier, “We are unanimous that we need to bring a higher level of integrity to the conduct of intercollegiate athletics.” But every move they make screams, “We’re here for the money! Which way to the next Fiesta Bowl golf junket?”
The SEC has refrained from commenting on expansion plans. But they see what expansion did for the Big Ten’s and Pac-12’s TV deals. They’ll welcome anybody that can help fill the coffers. It’s not about nurturing, improving and improving college athletics. It’s an arms race. The collegiate model isn’t being sustained. It has been detonated.
By Jeff Schultz
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478 comments Add your comment
Nole in ATL
August 13th, 2011
7:36 pm
Browncoat, the “existing pool of money” is going to get much bigger with more mouths to feed. Contracts will be re-negotiated with gusto. Growth is good ($$$$) for everyone currently in the conference. You are going to grow..the question is with who? Are you going to drive to Maryland? I think not. Tallahassee or Clemson? More likely.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:37 pm
LakeDawg, you have no idea what you are talking about. There is no special business major for them. Here is the link to the College of Management if you are interested: http://mgt.gatech.edu/programs/under/index.html . In fact, this is a demanding program, available to anyone.
GIVE ME A BREAK
August 13th, 2011
7:37 pm
What does A&M have to do with the SEC? It opens up Texas for recruiting and also opens up Georgia for them.Pulling in local teams makes more sense. Leave them in Texas to compete with their neighbors.
The Braves, they...
August 13th, 2011
7:38 pm
The glass is half empty.
Al E Gator
August 13th, 2011
7:38 pm
OkI’mAnAggie: you are right. Jeff Shultz is wrong.
As a grad of both UF and ATM and having lived on campus of both universities and having attended multiple games and venues in both the SEC and Big 12. This is a great opportunity for A&M and for the SEC, A&M raises the average in both the academic and athletic department prowess.
Mr Schultz can argue that the SEC should not expand… but he made a poor choice to disparage A&M when they are superior to the majority of SEC schools in all the facets you mention.
What is great about the SEC is the game-day culture in places like Oxford, Knoxsville, and Baton Rouge. I think the Aggies will truly enjoy the SEC environment.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:38 pm
Lakedawg UGA football still has not hit bottom yet, and you better hope that you don’t meet up with TAMU. They will demolish you! In fact you need to face reality UGA football is just another middle of the pack team.
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:40 pm
LakeDawg,
Not looking for an academic debate, but I promise you it is. GT is allowed maybe two special admits a year for football. GT has higher standards for admittance like Vandy, Duke, Va. Tech and many others that most SEC schools would run from. Why do you think so many SEC coaches balked at the idea of Slive raising the madatory GPA to 2.5 from 2.0? The Business management degree some UGA fans make fun of that most football players take is highly regarded in the business world and not easy by most schools “easy” major. There are no easy classes to bump ones GPA like most schools have. As far as the graduation rate for GT football players being low. Well on paper it looks bad, but if you compare it with the student body at large it falls close in because well GT is hard.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 13th, 2011
7:40 pm
Does Tech’s athletic program make a profit each year. I am just wondering, not putting down Tech. If this is indeed all about money, I would think the SEC would go after the big money makers, no matter what conference they are in now. If there are too many more super conferences, they may soon have to change the BCS bowl games rules, as there will not be enough conferences to cover the automatic bowl bids.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:41 pm
Nole in Atl, of course the pool of money will grow if you expand to more markets. The SEC can reach more markets and seek more in TV contracts. I have nothing against FSU, it’s just that adding them to the SEC adds little to the conference.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:45 pm
Profit? Hell I don’t know, but I’m living large on my savings now due to a great career that Tech made possible for me.
1eyedJack
August 13th, 2011
7:45 pm
“Squint, and they all look like Don King.” That would be mushrooms, dude.
The reference to the White guy riding the unicorn was cute too. Mightn’t your commander-in-chief offer his, that is, if he’s tired of riding it?
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:46 pm
RedandBlackDAWG,
No, GT on average breaks even. That I believe would change if GT was allowed back in the SEC. NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, BC and UVA do not travel well and as a UGA fan you know the UGA to GT fan ratio.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:48 pm
Yes, you have your “great” football team but that in no way helps you get an upper tier job. But hey, not to worry you team isn’t that great anymore is it?
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:49 pm
SPECIAL BUSINESS MAJOR???? You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. There are no “special” majors of any kind at Tech. ALL freshmen have to take calculus, whether they ever use it again or not. And Tech’s APR for the football team was fine, although any improvement is always good; the poor APR was for the basketball team.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:51 pm
Hey watch it! Barry was an UGA grad before he became “The One” who will be one and done next year.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:52 pm
FYI, here is the curriculum for that special “easy” management ptogram, hahaha. http://mgt.gatech.edu/programs/under/files/bsba_credit_sheet.pdf
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:53 pm
RedandBlack, Tech doesn’t do as well as they once did, but we are in fine shape financially, from what I hear. The Gailey and Hewitt contracts hurt Tech, but most of those buyouts came from external sources. In fact, quite a bit of Tech’s “investments” in the future lately have come from large donations, for example the rebuilt basketball arena and practice facility and the indoor practice facility for football.
ARdawg
August 13th, 2011
7:53 pm
Shultz!
Excellent perspective and an excellent column. I wish more of you columnist would call out the pink elephant in the room
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:54 pm
Pearls before swing means trying to argu with a fool or in this case an UGA fan. Its a waste of time. Hey I heard that any UGA fans defecating in the Tail gating section this year will be punished.
Saywhut
August 13th, 2011
7:55 pm
Hey “Saban:” Did Alabama go undefeated last year? Did they beat Auburn? The ONLY reason there is a University of Alabama is the kids who cannot get into Georgia need a place to go to “kolledge.” A good friend of mine from Atlanta has son who goes to Alabama– and is on the Dean’s List. He was not accepted at Georgia.
coach e
August 13th, 2011
7:55 pm
Jeff
So true. I gave up my season tickets. I can’t take it anymore. (or contribute to it) and players have no representation.
coach e
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:57 pm
Browncoat: That’s great! That is more academics that a full four year BA degree at UGA.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:58 pm
Tech Fan, actually the UGA posters on this blog have been a cut above (a BIG cut above) the ones who post their drivel on the Tech blogs. I would say this has been a pretty decent conversation for the most part…….so far.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:59 pm
Saywhut: Man what are you smoking? And AU$$ last year was a pro team. And you know that is right!
Vain Jangling
August 13th, 2011
8:00 pm
Well Schultz, this is one of your very best pieces. However, I have only one complaint. By comparing college presidents, athletic directors, and conference commissioners to Don King, I believe you are being altogether unfair to Mr. King.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
8:03 pm
Why A&M?, unfortunately you are right about them being a cut above.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:03 pm
Why A&M?: You are correct. I regret any rudness toward the Country Gentlemen from the fair city of Athens
1eyedJack
August 13th, 2011
8:04 pm
I would rather squint and see Don Kings than Mike Tysons.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:05 pm
Tech Fan, all 2 or 3 of them, huh? LOL
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:06 pm
To me it is not the true UGA grads & fans. It is the rednecks that need to grab onto the UGA football team to have something positive in their life.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:08 pm
right Tech Fan, and most of them probably have never even been to a game in Athens, or anywhere else.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:09 pm
Well I do have several of them as friends who right after they beat us are really nasty for a day or two. But it is all in good fun. They however, are nowhere to be found when we win.
DawgFan
August 13th, 2011
8:09 pm
First, Schultz you are wrong! Garnering A&M; FSU and two other schools guarantees the SEC will always be the top dog. Even if the PAC 12 becomes 16 with Texas, Oklahoma, and two others…Even if the Big 10 (12) garners 4 others including Notre Dame…the SEC will remain top Dawg. Sometimes we have to take our UGA glasses off (both you and I) and look at the big picture. It is bad for UGA which I guess is why you took your stance since a larger SEC makes it ever tougher for us to win the Championship. Tough, we have to get over it and go out and find us a coaching staff that can get us there. The recruits that come here are good enough to get us there regardless of the size of the conference. It is the coaching staff that is lacking.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:09 pm
LOL @ Tech Fan
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:12 pm
Tech Fan, I would venture to guess that most of the TRUE long-time Georgia fans would actually like to see Tech back in the SEC. And I think most long-time Tech fans would like that too. As much as I bad-mouth the SEC at times, it IS the best conference, and being a member again would change the whole athletics atmosphere at Tech.
Mid Town
August 13th, 2011
8:13 pm
I believe for the first time maybe in my life, I agree with Jeff Schultz.
That is more depressing to me than A&M coming to SEC.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:13 pm
I’ve been watching Tech football since 1974. I’ve been to sanford when we won and they fans were ok just disappointed. But lately since they win most of the time you don;t want to be between the hedges when we win like in 2008.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:16 pm
Tech Fan, after one of O’Leary’s wins in Athens, I got spit on. The guy who spit on me was obviously no graduate of Georgia, or probably anywhere else; he was one of the rednecks who make UGA look so bad to fans of other schools.
Milledgeville Dawg
August 13th, 2011
8:16 pm
I am not for the SEC changing. Let all the other conferences do there swapping and lets keep the conference the way it has been since it was formed. The SEC needs to set an example with all of this. Does tradition not mean anything these days?
DawgFan
August 13th, 2011
8:16 pm
Tech will not be offered back into SEC that ship sailed long ago. So enjoy your new ACC Tech folks. LOL
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:18 pm
I miss the Auburn game and I like going to rocky top on the river to see UT. But the SEC and Tech are moving in different directions now and UGA won’t lets us in for fear our recruiting would make us more competive. I believe that Tech is committed to the ACC.
Mid Town
August 13th, 2011
8:20 pm
Again for you dreamers that want to compare regular students on this site,
this site is for ATHLETES not students. As soon as you start talking about one school is better
than another and my neighbor has a son on honor roll, etc. STOP this is not about regular
students. According to the NCAA reports 75% of all Div. I football and basketball players are
special admits.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:21 pm
Dawgfan: New ACC? We have been in the ACC for about 33 years. You know, right before you last Nat. Champ. I’ll enjoy you latest attemp to win that again! 31 years and counting!
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
8:21 pm
Dawgfan, I don’t think Tech has any problems with the ACC, LOL.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:22 pm
DawgFan, I know you are correct, but can you give me an honest, UNBIASED opinion as to why not?
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:25 pm
Mid Town, that is what’s wrong with college football today? The athletes SHOULD be students first. Sooner or later the fact that they are not is going to come back and bite everybody in the a**s and ultimately destroy college football as we know it today. If they are not going to be students first, then let them go straight to the pros…..those that can, that is.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:25 pm
Mid Town: Who has been feeding you that shlt? Tech has no more that a couple of specials a year. UGA/Tech talk is always included here? Get witrh it!
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
8:28 pm
Somebody earlier mentioned going to see a game at Furman. Small college football, where there is no pressure or expectations for going pro is a lot more like what all of college football used to be, and it’s really a helluva lot of fun.
BillfromDacusville
August 13th, 2011
8:29 pm
I think Furman would be a good fit in the SEC, then Vanderbilt could win 2 games some years when they beat South Carolina and Furman–
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
8:32 pm
It is the domino effect. SEC snags a team then that conference snags a replacement team and so on. It is mostly defensive in nature. I think there will be four 16 team conferences and a handful of independants and it will shake out over the next three years. The Sec will cherry pick the big 12 and ACC, the Pac 10 will also pickover the big 12. The ACC will raid the big east and the big 10 will grabe the best of the rest. The playoffs will follow soon thereafter.