Former Northwestern Univ. QB Kain Colter's allegations that the program "places athletics over academics" were countered by school officials on Thursday, who urged the National Labor Relations Board to "deny a bid by the school's football players to form the first college athletes' union in U.S. history," according to Michael Tarm of the AP. Witnesses for the school challenged the College Athletes Players Association attorneys' assertions that NU football is "highly profitable." The witnesses denied that classroom performance "is given far less weight than on-the-field success." NU Deputy AD/Student-Athlete Welfare Janna Blais said, "The basis of everything we do is ... academics. It is absolutely in our fabric" (AP, 2/20). Blais said that she "has 'serious concerns' that if the football players are able to form a union, it could force the university to offer equitable benefits to female athletes." She said, "Title IX law mandates you equitably provide services, resources and programs to both genders. ... We will need to provide opportunities and benefits to our female student athletes in an equitable fashion." Blais also "ticked off several examples Thursday of football players who have taken classes that conflicted with their practice schedule" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/21). The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES notes it has not been suggested by either side during the hearing that NU is "a renegade, nasty, even uncaring institution." Blais said, "We do not treat our athletes as 'assets'" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/21). ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg wrote, "Colter is a sharp, eloquent and compelling spokesman. But is he enough? It doesn't appear so." NLRB Hearing Officer Joyce Hofstra said, "The record is weak on the players' side. ... We've only had one player on the stand. We have heard nothing on the relationship between the player and the coach. I'm hoping at some point that we have that" (ESPN.com, 2/20).
PURPLE LOYALTY: Former NU QB Dan Persa defended his alma mater, saying, "Everything at Northwestern was handled in a first-class way. To see it being dragged through the mud, I was pretty upset. There was some unjust criticism, especially for a place that does it so right." Jaguars WR and NU alum Jeremy Ebert said, "Northwestern was attacked and portrayed in the wrong way" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/21). ESPN.com's Lester Munson wrote NU's effort in defending itself is "massive, expensive and possibly dangerous." If the school "is working so hard to defeat the players," it would seem possible that the players are "a more serious threat than anyone thought when they filed their petition." NU "may be protesting a bit too much and giving the players credibility that they would not otherwise enjoy." As the school "has mounted its huge effort to defeat the players, the players' quest has become less quixotic and more plausible." This "is becoming interesting" (ESPN.com, 2/20).
