Notre Dame AD calls Division 1 breakup "Inevitable"

[Liontown]

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told Sports Illustrated that he believes the breakup of college sports at the NCAA Division I level is “inevitable,” and puts a potential target date on that seismic change as the mid-2030s. Swarbrick also said there are “so many” schools trying to leave their current conferences, but they’re handcuffed by existing contracts.

In a wide-ranging interview with SI, the only athletic director who is part of the College Football Playoff Management Committee said the fracture lines within the 130-member FBS could leave two disparate approaches: schools that still operate athletics within a traditional educational structure, and those who tie sports to the university in name only.

“There’s always been sort of a spectrum—and I want to stress that everything along the spectrum is valid; it’s not a criticism,” Swarbrick said. “On one end of the spectrum, you license the school name and run an independent business that’s engaged in sports. The other end of the spectrum, you’re integrated into the university in terms of decision making and requirements, and some follow that.

“I think both can produce great athletic competition. But it’s really hard to get there given the contractual obligations that already exist.”


https://www.si.com/college/2022/04/23/notre-dame-jack-swarbrick-division-1-change

 

[NittPicker]

I can't wait until the mid-2030s. Just do it now and get it over with, media deals be damned.

If he's right in saying some schools will use the university name for branding purposes and have football operate as a business enterprise outside of academics, well, that sounds like a minor league system me.

 

[psu]

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told Sports Illustrated that he believes the breakup of college sports at the NCAA Division I level is “inevitable,” and puts a potential target date on that seismic change as the mid-2030s. Swarbrick also said there are “so many” schools trying to leave their current conferences, but they’re handcuffed by existing contracts.

In a wide-ranging interview with SI, the only athletic director who is part of the College Football Playoff Management Committee said the fracture lines within the 130-member FBS could leave two disparate approaches: schools that still operate athletics within a traditional educational structure, and those who tie sports to the university in name only.

“There’s always been sort of a spectrum—and I want to stress that everything along the spectrum is valid; it’s not a criticism,” Swarbrick said. “On one end of the spectrum, you license the school name and run an independent business that’s engaged in sports. The other end of the spectrum, you’re integrated into the university in terms of decision making and requirements, and some follow that.

“I think both can produce great athletic competition. But it’s really hard to get there given the contractual obligations that already exist.”

https://www.si.com/college/2022/04/23/notre-dame-jack-swarbrick-division-1-change

Well, duh.

 

[Liontown]

Well, duh.

Well thought out reply.

 

[psu]

Well thought out reply.

**** you. Is that well thought enough for you? I am not going to praise a person that says obvious things.

 

[Liontown]

**** you. Is that well thought enough for you? I am not going to praise a person that says obvious things.

oooh, tough guy. Nobody asked you to praise or even respond, moron.

 

[J.E.B]

Why wait??? So just keep signing tv contracts for the next 15 yrs instead of banning together to form these two alliances. Just do it now. Competition will be unbearable during this time and many won’t be able to keep up. Unless that’s the objective to weed out the weak.

 

[northwoods]

**** you. Is that well thought enough for you? I am not going to praise a person that says obvious things.

I've followed most of the thoughts and projections related to the future of college football and found Swarbrick's candor and comments to be anything but "obvious". We all talk about the end of college football as we knew it, but he actually showed us what it might look like. a decade or so down the line, I think you were, shall we say, a bit too harsh in your reply to Liontown who took you to task for assuming that we all are as bright and knowledgeable as you apparently are. Interesting, but I've found that most bright and knowledgeable people can communicate without resorting to "**** you".

 

[91Joe95]

It will be interesting which way psu chooses to go.

 

[TiogaLion]

Ivy model for me. I've said this for two years or more and I'm still supprtive of this model. Amateur rules or play somewhere else. I want to root for COLLEGE Students, not professionals. Always have, always will.

 

[NittPicker]

Ivy model for me. I've said this for two years or more and I'm still supprtive of this model. Amateur rules or play somewhere else. I want to root for COLLEGE Students, not professionals. Always have, always will.

I hope as well that would be the route. I can’t imagine there would be the same alumni support and enthusiasm for what would be a minor league team with the name “Penn State” slapped on it.

 

[TiogaLion]

I hope as well that would be the route. I can’t imagine there would be the same alumni support and enthusiasm for what would be a minor league team with the name “Penn State” slapped on it.

I agree. I think that once enough schools broke from the "pay for play" model, the "semi-pro" teams would become extinct.

 

[GrimReaper]

Ivy model for me. I've said this for two years or more and I'm still supprtive of this model. Amateur rules or play somewhere else. I want to root for COLLEGE Students, not professionals. Always have, always will.

Just curious, but what do you think the "Ivy model" is?

 

[Liontown]

Just curious, but what do you think the "Ivy model" is?

Uh oh TiogaLion, you're in for a lecture from Art.

 

[HarrisburgDave]

Imagine there’s no NIL
It’s easy if you try
No hordes of Athletic Department administrators
No millionaire coaches either

Imagine college athletics
Organized around a love of sports
Ah

Imagine there’s no shifty boosters
No grubby agents
Nothing to cheat or scheme about
And no professionalism, too

Imagine all the fan bases
Enjoying the game as it should be played

You may say I am a nostalgic aging Boomer
But there are many who agree
I hope someday you will see things as we do
And the system will return to its roots

Imagine all the colleges
Being academic institutions first and always

You may say I am a nostalgic aging Boomer
That the world has moved on
I hope someday that greed will not be the focus
And the glory of the game will be restored

 

[pap]

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told Sports Illustrated that he believes the breakup of college sports at the NCAA Division I level is “inevitable,” and puts a potential target date on that seismic change as the mid-2030s. Swarbrick also said there are “so many” schools trying to leave their current conferences, but they’re handcuffed by existing contracts.

In a wide-ranging interview with SI, the only athletic director who is part of the College Football Playoff Management Committee said the fracture lines within the 130-member FBS could leave two disparate approaches: schools that still operate athletics within a traditional educational structure, and those who tie sports to the university in name only.

“There’s always been sort of a spectrum—and I want to stress that everything along the spectrum is valid; it’s not a criticism,” Swarbrick said. “On one end of the spectrum, you license the school name and run an independent business that’s engaged in sports. The other end of the spectrum, you’re integrated into the university in terms of decision making and requirements, and some follow that.

“I think both can produce great athletic competition. But it’s really hard to get there given the contractual obligations that already exist.”

https://www.si.com/college/2022/04/23/notre-dame-jack-swarbrick-division-1-change

Then I did see this in SI.com It is coming just when

 

[TiogaLion]

Just curious, but what do you think the "Ivy model" is?

Serious students, very limited coach/player interaction, no athletic scholarships. What do you think it is? You know, college students playing sports and their classmates cheering them on. Crazy I know. We'd probably have to tear down the steel structure of Beaver Stadium, but so be it.

 

[GrimReaper]

Uh oh TiogaLion, you're in for a lecture from Art.

No lecture., just that there are misconceptions of what the Ivies actually do.

 

[GrimReaper]

Serious students, very limited coach/player interaction, no athletic scholarships. What do you think it is?

That's accurate in a general sense.. One important thing you overlooked is that most wouldn't get in if they weren't football or basketball players and many are channeled to "friendly" majors.

 

[TiogaLion]

That's accurate in a general sense.. One important thing you overlooked is that most wouldn't get in if they weren't football or basketball players and many are channeled to "friendly" majors.

You're mistaken, I didn't overlook anything.

 

[TiogaLion]

Uh oh TiogaLion, you're in for a lecture from Art.

How'd I do?

 

[GrimReaper]

You're mistaken, I didn't overlook anything.

No I'm not.

 

[TiogaLion]

No I'm not.

Seriously, that's it? Those that couldn't get in as a "student" wouldn't be admitted as a student. It's that simple. College isn't for everyone.

 

[GrimReaper]

Seriously, that's it? Those that couldn't get in as a "student" wouldn't be admitted as a student. It's that simple. College isn't for everyone.

Most would not be admitted. Fair number, generally 25-30%, would never be admitted, straight up. For the rest, it's simply a numbers game. We're talking about schools that admit fewer than 10% of applicants, some 4-5%. You can be sure that those tagged by the football and basketball programs are admitted at a much higher rate.

 

[TiogaLion]

@Liontown Arts fatal flaw is that he acts as if he's smarter than everyone he's communicating with instead of attempting to learn something. Therefore, he doesn't learn anything new, and is stuck in whatever conflicted state he last existed.

 

[TiogaLion]

Most would not be admitted. Fair number, generally 25-30%, would never be admitted, straight up. For the rest, it's simply a numbers game. We're talking about schools that admit fewer than 10% of applicants, some 4-5%. You can be sure that those tagged by the football and basketball programs are admitted at a much higher rate.

You're talking in circles and advocating cheating. Those that are prepared for college would get admitted and the others would have to find something else to do for the next piece of time.

 

[MacNit]

I hope as well that would be the route. I can’t imagine there would be the same alumni support and enthusiasm for what would be a minor league team with the name “Penn State” slapped on it.

Level of play will plummet under this scenario. Thanks Emmert!

 

[TiogaLion]

Level of play will plummet under this scenario. Thanks Emmert!

You need to watch the NFL than. College football needs to be about COLLEGE Students playing against COLLEGE Students.

 

[J.E.B]

Unfortunately the entire college model needs to broken up including eduction, athletics, professorships, administration, etc... They are being run like corporations with way too many people and escalating expenses and fees. They are so hungry for money at every corner. Academics seem secondary. Pretty soon they’ll be trading publicly.

 

[AvgUser]

That's accurate in a general sense.. One important thing you overlooked is that most wouldn't get in if they weren't football or basketball players and many are channeled to "friendly" majors.

What’s wrong with friendly majors? Other students seem to be enrolled in them.

 

[AvgUser]

Level of play will plummet under this scenario. Thanks Emmert!

Many of us still go watch the local high school teams. There is still energy and excitement at that level.

 

[GrimReaper]

You're talking in circles and advocating cheating. Those that are prepared for college would get admitted and the others would have to find something else to do for the next piece of time.

It's not cheating. It's the way admissions work at Ivy League and almost all highly selective schools (Amherst soon to be an exception). Somewhere between 40-50% of an admitted class are part of various groups given preferential treatment, and varsity athletes are included in that number. And typically those hew more to the left of the curve when it comes to academic credentials. Given the overall admissions percentages, they're being admitted over many more with superior grades and scores.

 

[Nitt1300]

"College" football no longer exists in what we used to call Division 1. It slipped away when we started to have 100k seat stadiums and national TV contracts, and you can't even see it in the rearview mirror anymore.

 

[Midnighter]

Many of us still go watch the local high school teams. There is still energy and excitement at that level.

Yeah, but not billion dollar TV contracts and $10mm coaching salaries….(yet, I guess).

 

[BUFFALO LION]

That's accurate in a general sense.. One important thing you overlooked is that most wouldn't get in if they weren't football or basketball players and many are channeled to "friendly" majors.

But they still have to meet a certain Academic Index to be admitted.

If they are on the low end of the team’s assigned AI, they have to be balance out by someone at the high end of the team’s assigned AI. With the exception of a few hardship exemptions, even a Band 1 kid (low end) still has to meet a certain academic index criteria.

Swarbrick has all but said he would prefer an Ivy model over a Professional Minor League model. He has also hinted that long term, the Big Ten is where he may end up when everything shakes itself out.

2036 is when he can get out of his ACC commitment. That being said, the way College football is headed right now into a total train wreck, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ACC either restructures, or dissolves completely before that. If the players are at some point deemed to be employees, the GORs will be harder to enforce, and easier to challenge.

 

[GrimReaper]

But they still have to meet a certain Academic Index to be admitted.

If they are on the low end of the team’s assigned AI, they have to be balance out by someone at the high end of the team’s assigned AI. With the exception of a few hardship exemptions, even a Band 1 kid (low end) still has to meet a certain academic index criteria.

Swarbrick has all but said he would prefer an Ivy model over a Professional Minor League model. He has also hinted that long term, the Big Ten is where he may end up when everything shakes itself out.

2036 is when he can get out of his ACC commitment. That being said, the way College football is headed right now into a total train wreck, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ACC either restructures, or dissolves completely before that. If the players are at some point deemed to be employees, the GORs will be harder to enforce, and easier to challenge.

Of course, but that's not my point. Athletes at Ivies are still given preference on admissions and without that preference most don't get in.

Beyond that, any school aspiring to follow the "Ivy model" better be prepared to be as generous with financial aid across the board as the Ivies are. Don't know if Notre Dame is in a position to do that. PSU certainly isn't.

 

[BostonNit]

I can't wait until the mid-2030s. Just do it now and get it over with, media deals be damned.

If he's right in saying some schools will use the university name for branding purposes and have football operate as a business enterprise outside of academics, well, that sounds like a minor league system me.

I read a great book on this in the late 90's. A former Northwestern (if I recall) player suggested doing away with the charade of college athletics and officially affiliating college teams with pro teams. For example, Pitt could be the Steelers minor league team. PSU could be the Eagles minor league team. Rutgers for the Giants, etc.

The NFL teams would cover all the expenses, INCLUDING tuition for the kids, 95% of which will never have a cup of coffee in the NFL. So you still have the notion of student athletes, but without the NCAA heavy handing things. I think he called it the age-grouped-professional league or something like that. It was a great read. I'm gonna try to find my copy and re-read it, as it was very prophetic.

 

[IrishHerb]

Of course, but that's not my point. Athletes at Ivies are still given preference on admissions and without that preference most don't get in.

Beyond that, any school aspiring to follow the "Ivy model" better be prepared to be as generous with financial aid across the board as the Ivies are. Don't know if Notre Dame is in a position to do that. PSU certainly isn't.

At ND, currently 70% or so of the undergraduates are on some form of financial aid. And ND claims they meet 100% of each student's demonstrated need. Its not only tuition, room and board, books, but ND also provides athletic tickets for those students who can't afford to buy them on their own, and proper clothing (winter coats, etc) for those who need them.

I understand Stanford is similar.

 

[GrimReaper]

At ND, currently 70% or so of the undergraduates are on some form of financial aid. And ND claims they meet 100% of each student's demonstrated need. Its not only tuition, room and board, books, but ND also provides athletic tickets for those students who can't afford to buy them on their own, and proper clothing (winter coats, etc) for those who need them.

I understand Stanford is similar.

Stanford is similar to Harvard. Students from families with incomes of less than $75k pay nothing for tuition, room & board (believe they also receive a book allowance, but not sure). From $75K-$150K, the family contribution goes from 0-10%..

Have to be careful when a school says it "meets 100% of demonstrated financial need." The definitions of need varuy from school to school. Most common is from the Federal FAFSA form, but a lot of private schools have their own calculations. Then the question becomes what form the aid takes. At a lot of schools it includes loans. At Harvard it doesn't. Not terribly familiar with ND, but understand that it is very generous with grants (money that doesn't have to be repaid for the uninitiated).

 

[IANit]

Ivy model for me. I've said this for two years or more and I'm still supprtive of this model. Amateur rules or play somewhere else. I want to root for COLLEGE Students, not professionals. Always have, always will.

A while back I thought of a hybrid model where the team is school-related, but you get so many players on the academic track (majority) and so many on the "pro" track, who get paid more, don't have to be enrolled as students, and don't count against a school's graduation rates if that still matters. Could something like that work? They would basically be the 5-stars or highly ranked 4-stars under today's system.