Sensible College Sports

NCAA and collegiate sports at all levels makes sense. The leadership, fitness, life skills, respect, work ethic, and competitive spirit emanate from all amateur sports. As a physician I note advancements through sport in needed adult adaptations in all personal, social, and uphill situations. Sports instructs us in dealing with a difficult marriage, an office spat, dealing with a transgender issue, child medical or behavior issue, or a troubled athlete as a coach or parent. The college athlete has been challenged, and has the solving skill set mentally and physically through training, organizational skills, and just plain hard work. NCAA athletes compete at non-scholarship levels (D3 tennis) or lucrative high-pressure positions (D1 QB SEC Conference). Critics contend this is apples and oranges; or is it? Many athletes compete their hearts out for 3rd place at an NAIA volleyball tourney; and consider their hard work a success as a walk-on and teammate. Friends for life, college social interaction, job placements, and engagements of all sorts emanate from sports (from coaching positions to marriages). Like-minded sportsters enjoy the comradery and competition from collegiate sports. The rules, regulations, and needed growth of an early adult are evident from a frosh to a graduating senior. 

I have not heard one word regarding education through all the NCAA football and basketball playoffs for any divisions. The education was formerly a strong part of the college athlete. Educational opportunities remain and are expected in specific schools. Less than 3% of D1 footballers and 1% of hoopsters make American professional leagues. What has happened? Thousands of collegians transferring for money, playing time, and inability to deal with adversity (2nd string). Many collegiate student athletes transfer on multiple occasions; and the academic structure is a nightmare. Since most college athletes will not make a living playing sports beyond their career, transferring generally is a poor decision for their academic careers (transfer credits and majors unaccepted or lagging).  
 

College athletics in any sanctioned organization (there are a few others like NAIA, California leagues, and college club sports) brings character traits like no other platform. Some critics contend that less competitive conferences with less skilled athletes matter less modernly. Critics state these lower division players are just young adults working out through a competitive game with a few spectators (Moms and Dads). It is far more than that statement. The college coaches and administrators are mentors in needed life skills. Everyone faces adult decisions which are monumental for themselves and surrounding family (moving, accepting job transfer, leaving an uncomfortable work or home situation or providing a remedy, social media challenges (unfriending), avoiding poor health habits, or attending church). Athletics teaches us strength and the guts to make correct decisions. Deceased Lou Holtz stated that college athletics is a microcosm of life. Few would disagree. College athletics provides a known platform for adult fitness in many other sports or gym activities. Eating and exercising correctly without drugs is a needed platform for adult success (financially, emotionally, physically, and through your family). 

Youth modernly are misguided by cultural misdirects aimed at destroying the goodness within all of us. Modern potent and addictive THC used commonly as an adjunct pleasure has been associated with disease far beyond tobacco (cancers, cardiopulmonary disease, mental IQ diminution (20 points IQ decline), clinical negative alteration of pain receptors, and medical ailments of all sorts (chronic nausea, abdominal and musculoskeletal pain, and mental health damages). Despite the medical literature opposing the drug, people use THC as an addictive pleasure. Studies show few college athletes use PEDs, THC, alcohol beyond moderation, and unhealthy diets. Musical lyrics stating I want to kill my mother or commonly used 4-letter words within the context of a rock or pop song is acceptable modernly – why? College coaches are not fans of unhealthy platforms – can anyone envision a college coach advocating a gang rape song? College coaches become dads and moms to many athletes, develop responsible formative characteristics within the student athlete, and just plainly make young adults’ better persons. Grades amongst most college athletes have higher GPAs than the rest of the student body. Do not isolate a solo star halfback who attends half his classes as exemplifying collegiate athletics.

 
Where does all this lead with the commotion over NIL and portals. The 2025 California District Court settlement with the NCAA in 2025 set the stage for semi-professionalism in collegiate sports. The system through competitive inequity caused by portals, lenient rules, NILs, and booster money has collectively strangled money-making collegiate sports. The need to responsibly remove this system of inequality (OSU gets all the stud footballers) is obvious. The answer is brutal but obvious to me. Specific sports make money (D1 hoops and pigskin). Many other college sports have zero or few spectators (fencing, tennis, water polo, or D3 baseball (more at a Little League game). The fitness, life skills, and character builders are all there though nobody is in the stands. Thus, the evolution, commercialization, and development of D1 American sport through hoops and pigskin is evident. Presently there are NCAA guards against spending over $20 million on AD budgets for athletes (they spread the money how each AD fits). Portals remain open such that you can attend Spring football and be on another team that Fall (make sense?). Appropriation civil law has tentacles and legal groups attaching fringe relationships to likeness, name, and images (haircuts/public pictures/signatures/stats/jersey numbers). Open ended liability remains for the vast public who may style, use, or tangentially relate to a 3rd string corner on a 500 team. 

The insaneness continues through recruiting. Forbidden anything in years past is now the so called “Wild Wild West” or anything goes. There is no construct or clean abiding civil law amongst amateur athletes in representation or rules, regulations, or restrictions. The NCAA attempting to enforce tik-tack rules for recruits would face Sherman anti-trust legislation with government and years of ruinous litigation. Everyone is scared; yet the tactics to lure 4A and 5A High School stars to your school is blossoming. Girls, money, trips, meals, tutors, special roommates and dorms, and guarantee handoffs abound. Upfront and deferred payments, promises, media, and a valid solid chance at the NFL or NBA are pseudo-guarantees. The arms race is for the 400 lb. nose tackle or the 4.2 wideout. Alabama cannot have all these guys. What is the answer?

The NFL Players Union will soon bond with the NFL College Players – though only 2% of D1 football guys will make NFL teams. Negotiation at the highest order will occur – far beyond a 17 y/o high School student’s acumen – at least now. Wall Street through media and advertising controls ultimately the final NCAA money making product (March Madness and rivalries/playoff D1 NCAA pigskin). Thus, Wall Street should pay and direct what it has done through its media networks (Peacock/Fox/CBS/etc.). The supreme NFL and NBA should tackle these dominant college sports for now – high powered college money making sports should embellish all their rules and run it as a mini-professional farm league. Everyone still has their alma mater cheer and beer gametime. A draft begins the year – you are either in the farm A league or a California or NAIA type B league. Players opt-in for the draft. Players may be swapped and moved by themselves every two years, Salary caps, rookie (frosh) contracts, and sponsorship deals are controlled by the College Players Union and the NFL Farm League administrators (negotiated) as they are now – similar rules in college and pro pared down a notch. The draft is for opting in 3A – 5A players. Opting – out as part of the system allows yourself to choose a team with no remuneration other than an optional paid for by the University at their discretion college degree. Congress may need to set the rules for anti-trust exemptions. 
 

The average money-making sport costs each college > $300,000 per athlete. This is a great deal for both parties. The media and sport culture keeps pecking away at how “screwed” the college athlete is comparably – really? Nobody gave me or my dorm buddies $300,000 plus. The balance and culture of ultimate initial laid down goals of college sports has outlived modern realities and expectations. Keep the college sport of fencing as it is; but change money making sports into farm leagues for successful sports domains (NBA and NFL). Mimic the successful evolution of Wall Street successful sports organizations if you want these college sportsters (who are talked about and on media daily) to succeed. This will maximize the money-making college athlete’s potential, bring parity into the sport (Northwestern now has a chance at a Big 10 Title), and quiet the media hawks who constantly contend that the college superstars are in bread lines. Take the next inevitable steps for competitive equity!