Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker officially replaces Mark Emmert as NCAA president on Wednesday, and during a roughly 30-minute interview with USA TODAY Sports earlier this week, what Baker didn’t say was just as remarkable as what he said.
Amid what he described as a listening tour of college sports stakeholders that has already been underway and will continue through its first 100 days, Baker did not dismiss the concept out of hand according to which college athletes would become employees of their school. Nor has he bought into the idea that the only way the association can clarify its most pressing underlying problems is through the passage of new federal laws.
These notions are articles of faith for Emmert and many other college sports leaders as Emmert’s more than 12-year career with the NCAA comes to a close. His departure also ends an era when the association was permanently led by either a former university president or a former university athletic administrator.
In addition to his political experience, Baker comes from a background in business, healthcare and government administration. He played basketball for Harvard, his wife was a gymnast for Northwestern and his sons played Division III football.
He inherits an association facing pressure from several sides regarding the environment in which college athletes work to make money off their name, image and likeness. Since Supreme Court decision in Alston antitrust case and the NCAA further dramatic relaxation of its rules in July 2021athletes engaged in endorsement and other commercial activities ranging from social media to autograph signings to obtaining money from multi-million dollar collectives that backers of Specific schools have developed ostensibly with the aim of entering into void agreements for their respective schools. ‘ athletes.
It also faces legal and regulatory challenges that create the opportunity for athletes to become employees of their schools.
In his opening remarks to his interview, Baker said, “Part of what made this work interesting was that we’re in an unusual place here. I mean, there’s a lot going on in the world of college sports. There’s a ton of change. I certainly believe that change is necessary and necessary in the future.
He then addressed five important issues he faced at the start of his term.
College athletes as employees
When asked if he was opposed to the idea of college athletes becoming employees of their schools, Baker responded:
“I guess it depends a little on what the setting looks like and how it’s organized. I certainly think things need to change, but I get very concerned when I constantly hear from athletes that they want to be student-athletes, and that’s what I’ve heard from most of them. ‘between them.
So it’s a far cry from endorsing the concept, but discussing the issue alongside his views on what appropriate remuneration is for athletes, he said: “I think the issue of additional benefits is certainly one of the conversations, and that’s part of what I would like. describe it as change (in college sports). In fact, many student-athletes have told me that they would rather be a student-athlete than be an employee for a variety of reasons. I think that will actually be a big part of the dialogue going forward.
“But from my perspective, the goal here should be to figure out how to deal with this problem in a way that actually addresses some of the concerns people have about very successful, financially efficient programs, recognizing that there are literally hundreds of programs. thousands of student-athletes who don’t play in those programs and for whom the idea of being employed is really not appealing. And I think people need to keep that in mind.
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NIL solution in Washington, yes – but also at the NCAA itself
The NCAA’s recent emphasis on seeking federal legislation stems, in part, from the various laws passed by states regarding athletes’ NIL activities, and, in part, from interest in obtaining protection against prosecutions such as the Alston case, which followed a similar case. filed on behalf of former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon and was followed by another similar suit on behalf of Arizona State swimmer Grant House and former Oregon women’s basketball player Sedona Prince.
But with a politically divided Congress seemingly deadlocked on everything, the question arises as to when NCAA members should act to try to standardize the NIL environment.
While working toward a federal solution, Baker said, “I think the NCAA should probably have a conversation with its membership simultaneously. … Whether it’s a conversation with Washington or a conversation with the membership, I think we need to work on both tracks.”
Acknowledging that the NCAA and its members fear facing legal action if they act on their own regarding NIL’s activities, he said: “Well, I think the goal has been to do something without that we are pursued. But I believe when you talk about trying to protect student-athletes and their families and create what I would describe as an accountable and transparent marketplace, I have to believe that there is a way to do that that works legally. We will see.”
Pressed on when the NCAA should abandon the prospect of congressional action, Baker responded: “You want a meeting? I mean, that’s a tough question to answer. …I think your question about when is enough is a good one. But I can’t answer that question today.
Present the NIL issue as a “consumer protection” issue
Baker’s success as a Republican governor of a generally Democratic state was one of the reasons the NCAA Board of Governors hired him. Political aptitude is considered one of his greatest strengths. In his opening speech, he sought to give new impetus to action related to the NIL environment.
He said he had early conversations with athletic directors, athletes, university presidents, conference commissioners and others, and: “The thing that was on almost everyone’s mind was NIL, unsurprisingly , and above all the fact that there is somehow no transparency at all about this.
In other words, in the minds of many college sports executives, there is little specific, verified information about payment amounts, what athletes are obligated to do for those payments, and the activities of agents – although many schools collect and attempt to police the NCAA. Compliance with rules Void activities declared by athletes.
“Whether it’s a federal solution or something that the NCAA and its member organizations do together,” Baker said, “I just think … it’s going to be really important that there is a sort of something that resembles what I would call consumer protection for student-athletes and their families.
DIFFERENT VIEW:How Oklahoma and Ohio State Address Name, Image and Likeness
Two difficult audiences to work with
While Baker faces difficulties in his dealings with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, he may have equally difficult discussions ahead with commissioners from the Atlantic Coast Conferences, Big Ten, Big 12, the Pac-12 and the Southeast. Power Five schools have their own problems, compared to those facing the rest of the NCAA members, and their conferences’ revenues and influence over the future of college sports now rival those of the NCAA.
When asked which he considered to be the more difficult group to work with: Congress or the Power Five commissioners, Baker responded:
“You know, one of the important things in my professional career is that I’ve spent a lot of time with people who don’t agree with me on everything or who don’t agree with each other Above all. And… I know and I’ve talked to a bunch of people in Congress about some of these things. And I know that and I’ve talked to a number of members of the Power Five conferences about this stuff as well. And, generally speaking, if you ask questions and spend more time listening, less time talking, you learn where your opportunities for common ground come from. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and generally speaking, you can usually find some – and that’s going to be my goal.
Basketball tournament expansion
The Division I Board of Governors in January approved a wide-ranging set of recommendations regarding the future of major college sports. One was to allow the expansion of championship events, including basketball tournaments now featuring 68 teams.
Baker said there will be discussions this summer about whether to do that in basketball. “But I don’t go into it with a preconceived idea. I just know that the tournament as it exists now is great.
OVER 68:NCAA Basketball Tournament Likely Getting Bigger
