The constant evolution of collegiate athletics has left many, including me, wonderstruck and uncertain about its future direction. When a budding professional recently approached me for guidance on venturing into the realm of sports-oriented businesses, I was momentarily at a loss for words. The swift pace of change in college sports suggests that its entire landscape may be on the verge of a significant revolution over the next few years, or even months. One can only speculate about the eventual resolution on remunerative policies for college athletes.
Title IX might be influential in shaping the future, but will athletes partaking in non-revenue sports be granted a share in the football income? Usually, my thought process revolves around visualizing the worst possible outcomes. If these scenarios play out, I remain equipped and mentally prepared, instead of being caught off guard. The absence of such outcomes, naturally, fills me with great delight.
The grimmest outlook for college sports, in my perspective, is the potential downsizing of programs and consequent job cuts, which would invariably thrust college athletic directors into a realm of challenging decisions and undesirable compromises. Let’s suppose that I were in the shoes of Danny White, the Athletic Director at Tennessee. Which sporting disciplines would I retain, eliminate, or additionally incorporate to ensure a fair distribution of opportunities for both genders, all while maximizing revenue prospects?
Undoubtedly, I’d strive to safeguard Tennessee football at any cost. I would let go of every administrator within the establishment before I’d think of undermining football. This particular discipline plays a pivotal role in financially uplifting SEC athletic departments and captivating the largest spectator audience quite effortlessly.
In the context of my hypothetical athletic department restructuring, both men and women’s basketball would hold a permanent spot. The same assurance would apply to baseball and softball. All these disciplines hold significant historical relevance and potential for Tennessee, with a notable capability to draw in spectators.
However, sports like track and field and cross country would face the brunt of my structural revamp. Their inability to garner a massive spectator interest renders them unfit for my revised athletic department. Let me be clear – this decision bears no personal inclination; instead, it roots from a purely business-driven perspective.
Even though a few of my most cherished sporting memories revolve around the world’s premier track and field athletes, it seems impracticable to sustain these programs at the collegiate level. Similarly, I would hesitate to integrate golf teams into the plan, let alone a women’s rowing team.
In place of these sports, I would bring in women’s disciplines with potential for a larger fan following, consequently escalating ticket sales. One such addition that I have in mind is women’s gymnastics. Already a crowd-puller at other SEC institutions, it has aided athletes like Livvy Dunn of LSU in amassing substantial wealth.
Additionally, I find the untapped potential of lacrosse quite fascinating. I have had some exposure to the sport and believe that the SEC fanbase might warmly welcome it. On top of that, it has an interesting link to football, furthering its appeal.
Many consider Jim Brown as one of the greatest football players of all time. But Brown’s impressive sportsmanship extends beyond just football – he was an All-American lacrosse player at Syracuse. Given his stature, adding men’s and women’s lacrosse teams in the SEC might garner significant fan attention.
However, the fiscal sensibility of the current era would make such an addition untenable. So, I would only propose the addition of a women’s lacrosse team in an attempt to balance scholarship distribution and revenue generation opportunities for both genders.
In my redesigned athletic department, football scholarships would predominantly occupy the male scholarship quota. Women, on the other hand, would have their pick from sports like soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and lacrosse. That’s my vision for an optimal blending of sports – equitable and revenue-generating.
Admittedly, there might be more efficient alternatives to these suggestions. A seasoned Athletic Director like White probably harbors wiser solutions. Or, maybe even you, the reader, hold the secret to the future of college athletics.