[Spiny_Norman]

An alternative read of “forward thinking” is actually an embrace of true amateurism.  It would mean maximizing athlete well-being and academics rather than money.  So, it might mean fewer games (a return to 11, for example), a move away from playoffs or other hyped games made primarily for a television audience, fewer bowl games, and a “worse” television contract in exchange for games at times more conducive for the players (for example, no Saturday night games in Pullman, no weekday games, etc.). Unfortunately, we are in a weird hybrid system where the money has caused schools to sacrifice the athletes’ academics and well-being in exchange for money that is not making its way to the athletes, and that’s why the system seems unfair.  So, you could consider paying athletes... or you could consider going backwards and moving away from the profesionalizatiom of college athletics.

BC

BC, your alternative reading sounds a lot like DIII to me, at least for football and basketball.

Are we talking mainly about football and men's basketball in this discussion? Personally, I don't have a problem at all with how the D1 system works for all other sports. I am really only uncomfortable with the arms race/big money/corruption/exploitation in football and men's hoops. I do understand that the revenue they generate allow the other sports to exist. But just by themselves, I don't see undue influence of money on golf, tennis, swimming, wrestling, volleyball, baseball, women's hoops (yet), etc.

[Spiny_Norman]

An alternative read of “forward thinking” is actually an embrace of true amateurism.  It would mean maximizing athlete well-being and academics rather than money.  So, it might mean fewer games (a return to 11, for example), a move away from playoffs or other hyped games made primarily for a television audience, fewer bowl games, and a “worse” television contract in exchange for games at times more conducive for the players (for example, no Saturday night games in Pullman, no weekday games, etc.). Unfortunately, we are in a weird hybrid system where the money has caused schools to sacrifice the athletes’ academics and well-being in exchange for money that is not making its way to the athletes, and that’s why the system seems unfair.  So, you could consider paying athletes... or you could consider going backwards and moving away from the profesionalizatiom of college athletics.

BC

BC, your alternative reading sounds a lot like DIII to me, at least for football and basketball.

Are we talking mainly about football and men's basketball in this discussion? Personally, I don't have a problem at all with how the D1 system works for all other sports. I am really only uncomfortable with the arms race/big money/corruption/exploitation in football and men's hoops. I do understand that the revenue they generate allow the other sports to exist. But just by themselves, I don't see undue influence of money on golf, tennis, swimming, wrestling, volleyball, baseball, women's hoops (yet), etc.