Panelists explore how rights of free speech operate in the context of intercollegiate athletics including speech used abusively by athletes, athletes protesting abuse by coaches, trainers or other university staff, athletes engaging in political protest, coaches’ efforts to control athletes’ use of social media and commercial speech that is invoked in the context of NIL … Read more
Over the last few decades, reported stories of athlete abuse in college athletics have become more frequent and more egregious. Incidents of abuse – including physical, mental, and sexual – have been swept under the carpet, and perpetrators are often able to resign and find employment at other institutions. The media as a whole is … Read more
Following decades of enormous legal fees challenging rules restraining college athlete employment, facing hundreds of concussion-related lawsuits, and then suffering an adverse June 2022 Alston U.S. Supreme Court decision that eviscerated its college athlete eligibility system built on control through use of “amateur status” regulations, the organization appeared to freeze based on fear of future … Read more
Intercollegiate athletics, especially at its highest levels, exploits people of color. Panelists examine the many ways that Black and brown college athletes are used for their talent, denied opportunities to excel in the classroom, and are excluded from leadership positions in college sports administration and coaching. Experts and an activist former college athlete speak on … Read more
In December of 2021, at the age of 85 and after a life well-lived, Christine passed away. Her friends and colleagues will miss her dearly. In respect and with appreciation, The Drake Group acknowledges her many contributions to the sports management profession and the advancement of equal opportunity for and equal treatment of girls and … Read more
The NCAA has been frozen with indecision since the June U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting its “amateur status” rules. Fearful of legal responsibility, the organization is pursuing a constitutional convention restructure that reeks of throwing its conference and institutional members under the litigation bus. College athletics has lost its way because of a failure of governance – … Read more
Drake Group leaders explain how college athletes are being harmed by the current NCAA constructed system of college sports, why the NCAA won’t fix it and how Congress must be involved to find solutions. See the full story
The Drake Group brings together Title IX experts and an NCAA D-I conference commissioner to discuss the new reality of the college athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) marketplace and how it relates to the Title IX promotion, publicity, recruiting and NIL education obligations of educational institutions and the entities they control, including surrogate organizations … Read more
Following each Drake “Critical Issues in Collegiate Athletics” webinar, Drake publishes answers to all the questions that the webinar audience raised that, due to time constraints, panelists were unable to answer. This webinar featured Juniper Eastwood, first NCAA Division I openly transgender athlete competing on a women’s team; Donna deVarona, two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, … Read more
Clinicians and administrators currently working at major universities speak on college athletes mental health issues, differences related to race and gender, personnel needs not being met and other critical issues. Moderator: EMMETT GILL, Chief Visionary Officer for Athletes and Advocates for Social Justice, Member, The Drake Group Board of Directors Panelists: SHAMAREE BROWN, Director, Student-Athlete … Read more