Dozens of key college administrators "gather in Indianapolis today to begin three days of meetings that they say could usher in significant changes in college athletics," according to Steve Wieberg of USA TODAY. NCAA President Mark Emmert "has summoned 54 university presidents and chancellors and 13 other school and conference officials to a two-day retreat" ending tomorrow and leading into Thursday's meeting of the NCAA Division I BOD. The administrators will "address issues ranging from rules compliance -- or lack of it -- to sentiment for getting more money to athletes and attacking academic shortcomings in the marquee sports of football and men's basketball." The retreat is "designed to kick-start a round of reforms in the coming year and beyond, though some initial action could be taken as early as the board meeting Thursday." Wieberg notes the "question hanging over the meetings is whether the NCAA will back strong talk in recent months with action." Emmert said, "If we can't convert these conversations into some serious action, then the retreat won't have been a success. ... We need to be able to create some flexibility so we don't just throw up our hands and say, 'Well, we can't do everything because it doesn't work for everybody'" (USA TODAY, 8/9). Emmert: "Decision-making rests with the presidents. Strong, decisive presidential leadership is critical to the future of Division I intercollegiate athletics" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/9).
ON YOUR MARK ... Ahead of the two-day retreat and this week's D-I BOD meeting, Emmert talked to CBSSPORTS.com's Dennis Dodd "about the issues of the day." The following is a portion of the Q&A:
Q: You said that this retreat had nothing to do with the current climate. When and why did you come up with it?
Emmert: I was thinking about this even when I was transitioning into the job. One of my assumptions was, at some point as I came to know the NCAA, I would want to have a broad-based retreat with presidents.
Q: Has the retreat taken on an added significance because of the current climate of wrongdoing?
Emmert: Absolutely. The high-profile cases that we've had have been these huge exclamation points about a number of the issues that we have especially around integrity problems.
Q: What did you think about SEC commissioner Mike Slive's comment last month -- "Intercollegiate athletics has lost the benefit of the doubt?"
Emmert: I've said that a number of times myself. I think it's true. It's true of most big institutions these days. It's hard to say that Congress has much of the benefit of the doubt. I daresay even parts of the media. We're in a moment in time where there is lots of skepticism. With these big cases that have been out there and the publicity that has surrounded them, there is a lot of reason the public and our fans and members of the higher education community have serious concerns. I'm among them.
Q: When can we expect something to emerge from this meeting?
Emmert: Obviously, this group doesn't have any authority other than a group of presidents coming together. But they can state unequivocally what's important and what they think needs to have happen and the speed with which they'd like to see it happen. If we're going to move forward, I want us to move forward aggressively (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/8).
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT: Slive, when asked about the time frame for some proposals, said, "It will be interesting after the retreat how NCAA president Mark Emmert decides what the process will be for moving ahead. I’m not sure. It’s his prerogative as the president of the NCAA to make that determination" (ESPN.com, 8/8). CBSSPORTS.com's Dodd wrote while it remains to be seen "if anything comes" from the retreat, the difference between this meeting and others "is we have talking points" this time. Dodd: "If the NCAA (read: presidents) don't take significant action on those proposals, the commissioners can throw up their hands and say, 'Hey, we tried our best'" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/8).
