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College Presidents Face Unprecedented Challenges Amid Athletics And Campus Turmoil

“I'm not sure that I would be comfortable being a president today"

Author

Steve Ulrich
August 12, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

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AUGUST 12, 2024 | written by STEVE ULRICH

The news that you need to know about DIII non-scholarship college athletics and those who love it.
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🎠 Back in the Saddle Again. Back from a rainy vacation in NC and ready to go.

TOP STORY
1. College Presidents Face Unprecedented Challenges Amid Athletics And Campus Turmoil

by Karen Weaver, Forbes Money

“Higher Education leaders have consistently touted athletics as key to a university’s brand. Media mentions overwhelmingly skew towards touting the successes of the athletics program; alumni and student conversations often center around how a team is doing; and creating awareness in a crowded landscape of competitors for a shrinking pool of high school graduates. It’s been a simple target to point to when it comes to creating some measurables for institutional success.

But last year, some colleges attracted a different kind of attention, putting leaders under the white-hot spotlight as protests on antisemitism, free speech and LGBTQ+ rights rocked many campuses.

“I'm not sure that I would be comfortable being a president today,” said Ted Mitchell, the former president of Occidental College and current president of the American Council on Education (ACE).”

» Driving The News. “When it comes to intercollegiate athletics, college presidents in all NCAA Divisions are fielding more questions, have fewer answers and face more uncertainty this coming year than before.”

» Why It Matters. “This reckoning that college athletics is facing now may end up forcing the issue of rightsizing the athletics program at many schools. The campus budgetary pressures are real, and athletics spending will not slow down. It’s important to start those conversations now.”

» What They’re Saying. “The president in 2024 is someone who needs to be able to work with a large number of people in different groups, and, in many cases, navigate a pretty politically complex environment that has targeted higher ed,” said Dr. Kevin McClure, an associate professor of higher education at the University of North Carolina.”

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RULES

2. PROP Approves Track, Baseball Rules

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel met last week and approved new rules for track and field and baseball.

🏃 Track and Field. “Approved new rules on the shoes that competitors can wear and a modification to rules on lane violations. The shoe rule brings the NCAA in line with World Athletics rules regarding the shoes that can be worn in cross country and indoor and outdoor track competition.”

⚾️ Baseball. “A player on the field or coaches in the third base or first base boxes can initiate one-way communication to relay signals to offensive or defensive players. While one-way communication devices will be allowed, any other electronic devices (such as tablets) being used during a game will result in the individual violator of the rule and the head coach being ejected from the game. ”

FOOTBALL

3. Preseason All-Americans

“Perhaps someone is at a new position. Perhaps someone is back after putting their name in the transfer portal. Someone might even be at a new school. We go through evey roster and put out dozens of requests for info to make sure we get everyone who is returning and nobody who isn't. Check out the top returning players in Division III football on the 2024 D3football.com Preseason All-America team.”

First Team
QB-Zac Boyes, Cortland
RB-Giovanni Weeks, Wheaton IL; Joe Sacco, North Central IL
WR-Trey Madsen, North Central IL; Devon Frenchko, Alma
TE-Ntense Obono, Carleton
C-Matt Wrather, John Carroll
OG-Matt Kickel, Aurora; Thomas Perry, Middlebury
OT-Jeske Maples, North Central IL; Ben Lilly, Mount Union

DE-Rossy Moore, Mount Union; Martin Egbo, North Central IL
DT-Dawson Dietz, Washington & Jefferson; Chance Knight, Marietta
LB-Robert Coury, Carnegie Mellon; Ben Bladel, Grove City; BJ Adamchik, North Central IL
CB-Key Cunningham, Heidelberg; Wesley Abraham, Wesleyan
S-Parker Rochford, Wartburg; Matt Jung, Bethel

K-Michael Stack, UW-La Crosse
P-Andrew Toler, Rose-Hulman
KR-Dameon Gomes, Hardin-Simmons

NEWS

4. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

🗞️ News. Asbury (Ky.) University and Warren Wilson (N.C.) College are the newest members of DIII after completing the provisional membership process. DIII now comprises 425 schools.

🗞️ News. “Financially struggling Keystone College met a key deadline to provide detailed information to its accreditor and still plans for a fall 2024 semester and to bring aboard an unidentified investment partner for longer-term survival, the college announced Thursday.”

👩‍⚖️ Legal. “While attorneys for the NCAA, power conferences and athletes represented by the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations are confident U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken will approve their historic, multibillion dollar settlement, crew athletes and others now stand in their way.”

TRANSACTIONS
5. Comings and Goings

1 THING

6. Theme-Park Exodus

“Faced with still-high inflation, many consumers are opting out of theme parks — in some cases, for trips abroad.

💵 Why It Matters: "Doing Disney" is now so pricey that cruises or even a European vacation look attractive.

The average cost of a vacation to Florida's Walt Disney World— for a family of four, over four days — has gone up nearly $1,000 since 2019, "no matter which hotel you stay at.”

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