By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
What is Congressman Chabot (R-OH) dealing with tomorrow in his Subcommittee on the Constitution?This.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a voluntary organization comprised of some 1200 member schools from all 50 states. The NCAA has enacted a large number of rules on a wide variety of topics relating to, among other things: eligibility, amateurism, and recruiting. While the NCAA has made some positive changes in the past, the process by which the NCAA enforces these various rules continues to be criticized.That's a good use of the Congressman's time... Sure.
Some alleged problems include...
-- The enforcement process is not impartial. The panels that hear NCAA infractions are made up of representatives from member institutions.
-- The enforcement process is not transparent, i.e., hearings are closed, access to transcripts is limited, and punishments may vary from infraction to infraction without adequate explanation.
-- Student-athletes lack access to the process. Member institutions, and not the student athlete, control a student- athlete's appeal of eligibility decisions; student-athletes are not allowed to speak on their own behalf.
This hearing will...
-- Explore the fairness of the procedures that the NCAA uses to investigate and enforce its rules.
Witnesses: Jeremy Bloom, U.S. Olympic skier and former University of Colorado student-athlete; Gary Roberts, Deputy Dean and Director of the Sports Law Program, Tulane Law School; Jo Potuto, Vice Chair, NCAA Committee on Infractions; and possibly another witness TBA.
