SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
THE EVOLUTION OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY WRITTEN BY DR. RANDY WHETSTONE, JR.
I magine being a senior star football player at a powerhouse Division I School. You’re in the game of your life, seeking a National Championship victory. It’s 2nd and Goal at the five-yard line. The coach has called your number to run the ball instead of passing. Your objective? Score a touchdown with :03 seconds left on the clock. The commentators debate what the coaches’ call may be. Millions are watching around the world. Fans are in a frenzy in the stands. There’s the snap! Boom!!!
wellness are both significant for today’s student-athlete. Can you imagine having a tough game and having death threats in your DM’s? Cowherd, a former University of Louisville football student-athlete and 23-year professional in athletic administration has studied and witnessed the evolution of college athletics. Dating back to the early 1900s, when college football was birthed
changed the game. Funding began to go towards coach’s contracts. Stadiums were springing up all over the nation. Schools undertook building stand-a- lone, 100,000 seat stadiums, and they were filled. Money was changing the industry forever… better facilities, charter flights, better nutrition, larger coaching staffs became standards.” As a result, universities and athletic departments across the nation have caught up with the times. The money flow has finally reached the players who star in the NCAA’s competitive main attractions: the student-athlete. Student-athletes could now monetize the rights to their name, image, and likeness (NIL) in 2021. “It is an amazing opportunity for these young student-athletes and their families. But at the same time, it brings even greater responsibility managing their academic and athletic pursuits, not to mention the business of collegiate sport. Researching is extremely important for the modern student-athlete and their families. Cowherd suggests holding off and not signing any agreements until you’ve read every stipulation of the fine print in the NIL space. “Like when we used to play dominoes in college, we used to say, ‘all money isn’t good money’. So, taking a deal early on might impact your ability to attain generational wealth for your future family.” The importance of mentorship, support systems, and healthy social experiences are all imperative to the success of all modern student-athletes.
through intramural competition, some were injured and some died in those first games due to the Flying Wedge.
The infamous Mark Sanchez butt fumble is replicated. The opposition scoops up the fumble. The seconds dwindle to zero. The ball is lost. The championship lost. And now your self-esteem is lost. With the
Regulation was needed, and the
NCAA was formed. Once we got to the 1960s-1980s, men and women’s basketball, baseball and football were the revenue generators, while other sports followed a club model. By the 2000s, several
advancement of technology
people around the world have direct
non-revenue sport programs began to offer partial and full scholarships in accordance with Title IX and significantly grew women’s sports programs. The viewership drove the modern revenue model that we see today changing the collegiate athletics landscape forever. “Television production and radio media rights came along and totally
access to you in your direct messages (DMs), creating unbearable pressure. While you’re accustomed to checking social media after your wins and top performances you dread seeing the latest notifications. Derek Cowherd, Associate Athletics Director for DEI with Louisville Athletics says that mental health and
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