A panel consisting of seven prominent ADs at the '14 IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum yesterday expressed a lot of concern, and a little optimism, over the state and direction of college sports. Duke AD Kevin White said, “I really worry about where we’re heading. We’re becoming so commercialized. I have this fear that college sports will become semi-pro. I think that’s the biggest challenge we have in front of us, to save us from ourselves.” Vanderbilt AD David Williams: “We have to remember we’re part of a system called higher education. I’m worried that we may have taken something that was good and pure, and we may have hurt it. I agree, we’re our own worst enemies.”
Morning sessions at the conference's second and final day will include a second AD panel, plus panels on "College Sports Business Headlines of the Day," "Targeting the Mobile Fan though Proximity Marketing" and "Sponsor Marketing and Enhancing the Game Day Experience." There will also be an inside look at the SEC Network and an interview with Sporting Innovations CEO Robb Heineman.
