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The Existential Crisis of Amateur College Athletics

Eliminating amateur sports would be a violation of the very reason college athletics exist


OCTOBER 1, 2024 | written by STEVE ULRICH

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TOP STORY
1. The Existential Crisis of Amateur College Athletics

by Joe Moglia, Sports Business Journal

“College sports are in crisis.

The NCAA is mired in legal troubles. Money floods into Power Four revenue sports, such as football and basketball, virtually unchecked. The playing field is increasingly tilted against small schools and non-revenue sports.

While the focus has been on whether a small number of Division I athletes get paid (only around 23% are earning any NIL dollars whatsoever, according to Student-Athlete Insights founder Bill Carter), many higher education administrators — not to mention the NCAA — have completely lost sight of the other 77%. If we account for the roughly 83,000 NAIA athletes, the problem is even more acute.”

» Situational Awareness. “The NCAA was created to protect amateurism, but instead it destroyed it while failing to devise an effective model to support professional student athletes. The proposed settlement in House v. NCAA could force many institutions, including Coastal Carolina University and my alma mater, Fordham University, to choose between professional college athletics and amateurism.”

» Why It Matters. “Eliminating amateur sports would be a violation of the very reason college athletics exist: to shape and support future leaders. Sports teach incredible skills — from teamwork to leadership, to strategy to grit and determination. Students learn those skills whether they’re competing in the March Madness tournament or are trying to become the best shot-putter.”

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