Like the Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks, the athletics programs at America’s institutions of higher learning can be considered to be precious resources. As we learned from their tireless advocate John Muir, the parks can enrich the life experience of their visitors. Similarly athletic programs can enrich the life experience of college students. Unfortunately, both resources are vulnerable to relentless exploitation, over commercialization, and ruin if not operated and managed with transparency, accountability and oversight appropriate to the task.
