PLATFORM : Bad Sports Ruling

The report acknowledges that glaringly self-evident evils and excesses, beyond cheating and rules violations, are built into the intercollegiate sports system. Its major recommendation for reform is that (college) presidents be given and take responsibility for supervising college sports programs.

A president acting alone can accomplish little. If, in the name of the college’s mission and goals, a president proposes reductions in recruiting budgets, no missed classes or freshman ineligibility, people will scream, quite accurately, “competitive disadvantage.”

Colleges have different missions, histories, sizes. They are public and private. Financing sources and budgeting procedures vary.

The commission wants every NCAA school to adopt this principle: “The educational values, practices, and mission of this institution determine the standards by which we conduct our intercollegiate athletics program.” If adopted seriously, I wonder how many schools will realize that institutional integrity requires them to leave the NCAA.