Athletics

Origin and Governance of Men's and Women's College Athletics

College athletics has a very modest beginning. The origin of college athletics dates back to the Gilded Age during 1865–1900. It began as student-controlled sporting opportunities for members of the university student body, and because the sports were not sanctioned by the institution, they did receive financial support. As these activities became popular and profitable enterprises, alumni, faculty, and administrators took control, which created a shift from college athletics being informal, student-controlled activities to formal, university-sanctioned events; this move from informal to formal required additional administrative and governance structure to oversee these events.

A major part of college athletics history is the development of its organizational and governance structures. Therefore, a major transition to denote a shift in college athletics took place in 1905 when President Theodore Roosevelt summoned 13 institutions to the White House to address the need for athletic reform, more specifically, the need for rule changes in the game of football. Thus, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of [Page 70]the United States (IAAUS) was formed by 62 institutions to address additional concerns that emerged since the inception of college athletics. In 1910, the IAAUS changed its name to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and continued to grow beyond its initial origins of being an advising and rule-making association and sought to address several issues that were challenging the very nature of college athletics.

For example, due to the increase in popularity and profit of college athletics, issues regarding academic integrity, professionalization, institutional control, and the safety of players were major concerns that created a need for athletic governance. College athletes at several major schools, at this time, were basically recruited to play sports; thus, the academic integrity and mission of the institution was being challenged. The increased popularity also gave athletic departments unlimited freedom in operating beyond the educational philosophy of the university, which required a need for greater institutional control where all departments associated with the university would ultimately report to the university's president and comply with the educational mission of the institution. Finally, several deaths occurred during football competition due to game rules and equipment.

College athletics faced growing pains due to expansion in membership and an increase in postseason championship games. It was not until after World War II that issues concerning recruiting and financial aid were addressed whereby standards were being established to minimize athletic deviance. However, the NCAA continued to face challenges that required professional governance and a shift from part-time leadership to full-time leadership. In 1951, Walter Byers became executive director and began to chart a new course for the member institutions, in which the NCAA, on behalf of its member institutions, would gain control over live television coverage of football games and postseason bowl games.

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