Power Five leaders expressed that they didn't think Mark Emmert or the NCAA should take the lead on NILGETTY IMAGES
Leaders from across the Power Five "apparently had doubts about whether the NCAA or its president, Mark Emmert, was up to the challenge of lobbying federal lawmakers on their behalf" on NIL reform, so they "embarked on a strategy in mid-December to circumvent the NCAA's own efforts," according to Hayleigh Colombo of COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST. Emails and internal documents show there was a "real concern about the image and brand of the NCAA in Washington." Conference and school leaders believed that they "should take the lead on the efforts to lobby Congress about the issue, which could drastically change the college sports landscape." A strategy document -- written by Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott for former OSU President Michael Drake to present during a Dec. 10 phone call with the full group -- said that the Power Five "didn't think Emmert or the NCAA 'should be taking the lead.'" The document details the "sensitive nature of relations between the Power Five and the NCAA." It reads, "We as commissioners have had some initial conversations with (Emmert), but really believe it will be the voices of our presidents and commissioners collectively aligned that will be required." It is "unclear whether such a meeting happened." Some of the Power Five's strategy "has come to pass already: The conferences earlier this year hired the same two lobbying firms, Subject Matter and Marshall & Popp, to represent their interests in Washington." Meanwhile, Emmert appears still to be "deeply engaged in lobbying" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/5).
