The Muddled Future of Mid-Major Athletics

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2014-12-05

Type of Work

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

George R. La Noue, comment on The Muddled Future of Mid-Major Athletics, The Chronicle of Higher Education, comment posted December 5, 2014, https://world.edu/muddled-future-mid-major-athletics/

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Abstract

While media attention is overwhelmingly focused on big-time intercollegiate athletics, a crisis is developing for most of the 351 Division I institutions that cannot afford to play at that level. From the perspective of the cable networks, Division I is a world of gigantic stadiums and basketball arenas, with coaches’ salaries and egos to match. For most Division I members, however, the realities in that world look very different, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association has just taken steps to accentuate the differences. This year the NCAA changed its governing structure to give more influence and autonomy to 67 universities in the Power Five football conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern, and Pacific-12, plus Notre Dame).