Education Law

Are Athletic Associations Forgetting About Learning?

The UK basketball issue seems resolved, thankfully for us. But, the incident has certainly caused me to question the role of the NCAA. Of course, I'm guessing folks in Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Southern California, just to name a few high profile programs, are also wondering about such things. The Reggie Bush Heisman issue, the Conference realignment this summer, or any of the other seemingly weekly national news events surrounding the NCAA keep it at the forefront of the national consciousness. 

My main question with the NCAA is, can a billion dollar entity keep students first and money second (at best)? 

Wait, you didn't know about the money? The 6 billion dollar CBS deal? That March Madness generates more revenue than the NFL playoffs, Superbowl included? 

Did you know your state high school athletic association is likely a multi-million dollar enterprise itself? There is so much money that now high school athletic associations are instituting revenue-sharing plans to redistribute the left-over money. 

Why is all this money showing up in the ledgers of non-profits? How much money does it take to assure a level-playing field for the educational benefit of students? Surely less than a 1/2 a billion a year. And, if so, then why does the NCAA continue to receive tax-exempt status? 

Anyone that reads the blog knows my historical unease with, let's say, educationally-sponsored athletics. That winning frequently overtakes learning on the priority list highly concerns me not because winning is bad, but that it should not be public schools that compete in this fashion. We should be looking to maximize learning, not the scoreboard nor the bottom line, so do we use these athletic associations as proxies to do avoid the sticky issues of educational institutions putting learning down the priority list?

So, my question today, and I'm interested in all responses (I've always said I can be convinced otherwise on this), is whether at the college and/or high school athletic association level winning (as defined in $$$) has overtaken student welfare (as defined by learning) as the priority? Let me know. 

Full post as published by Edjurist on September 25, 2010 (boomark / email).