Letter proposes making COO of college football

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2 years ago

November 18, 2022

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1:38 PM ET

Leaders throughout college athletics are considering appointing a chief operating officer of college football who would report to a proposed FBS football governing board, according to a lengthy letter from the LEAD1 Association obtained by ESPN.

The letter was sent this week to every Division I athletic director and eventually members of the NCAA’s Division I Transformation Committee, and the NCAA’s board of directors.

The proposal has been circulated at the highest levels of college football, including the 10 FBS commissioners and College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock, sources said.

The detailed recommendations for the sport’s future governance are the result of months of discussions, which began bubbling this past spring when some of the most prominent voices in college athletics, including Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, advocated for college football to separate from the NCAA entirely.

Any momentum for that shifted in September, when an overwhelming majority of Division I athletic directors at the annual LEAD1 meetings expressed a strong preference to keep FBS football under the NCAA if can be more streamlined and less bureaucratic.

Following the strong consensus in its fall meeting, LEAD1, which represents the 131 athletic directors in the FBS, established a working group comprised of representatives from all 10 FBS conferences.

According to the group’s proposal, the FBS football governing board would primarily be comprised of people with significant football knowledge, and appointed by their conferences. There would also be a representative from the American Football Coaches Association, along with four independent directors, including at least two former student-athletes — a combination of unbiased people and those who have a players’ perspective, which the Knight Commission has separately been pushing for.

The FBS football governing board would “decide all matters related to FBS football” except for rules related to academics, financial aid and health and safety. While the board would oversee things like officiating, rules and possibly scheduling, many agree there are issues that should remain at the level of university presidents, and the NCAA would remain a legal shield.

The liability issues are at the crux of why most athletic leaders want college football to remain under the NCAA. The NCAA currently has a football oversight committee, but six of the 18 members represent the FCS, and many athletic directors lament they have different challenges that should be dealt with separately.

The COO would be a similar position to that of Dan Gavitt, who is the NCAA senior vice president of basketball. FBS football is currently the only collegiate sport that is governed by the NCAA but runs its own national championship, through the CFP. The NCAA deals with issues such as rules, officiating, concussion litigation and enforcement, but doesn’t have a person like Gavitt at the table when significant decisions about the sport are made. This proposed position would also be on the NCAA president’s leadership team/cabinet.

While LEAD1 doesn’t have the authority to implement any of the recommendations, it’s another step toward changing how the sport of college football is governed as the NCAA undergoes sweeping changes to its own organization, and more power shifts to the individual conferences. The proposal also pushes for NFL to provide financial support, arguing “the NFL reaps the benefits of FBS football serving as its farm system without providing any financial support (and other resources) to the NCAA.”

It’s likely to take weeks to gather feedback, and the proposal would ultimately have to be approved by the Division I board of directors. While there could be some pushback to the plan, there could also be some who want to wait until the NCAA names a president to replace Mark Emmert before making such drastic changes to the sport’s structure. It’s also unclear who needs to vote to officially approve it, as there are differing legal opinions, according to sources.

According to the letter, “Failing implementation of these recommendations, our FBS ADs are in favor of examining options for such decision-making outside of the NCAA.”

Sports

Sources: QB Ewers not likely to play vs. Bulldogs

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4 hours ago

September 28, 2024

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Sources: QB Ewers not likely to play vs. Bulldogs

Pete Thamel, ESPNSep 28, 2024, 09:00 AM ET
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Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play against Mississippi State on Saturday, per sources, as the Longhorns staff is expected to sit him out in order for him to be fully healthy for the game against Oklahoma on Oct. 12.

A final decision on Ewers is expected later Saturday, per sources, but the decision is trending toward allowing him to use Texas’ week off following the Mississippi State game to get healthy. Ewers has been considered week-to-week since injuring his oblique against UTSA on Sept. 14.

Ewers finished the week at nearly 70%, as he practiced Tuesday, was limited Wednesday and ended up limited in practice Thursday to allow him to fully heal. Per sources, the Texas coaching staff wanted to give Ewers the extra rest to ensure he’d return at full strength.

The decision means that Texas will against start backup quarterback Arch Manning, who will make his first career start in an SEC game. Manning made his first start against Louisiana Monroe, completing 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Ewers’ oblique injury came in the wake of him displaying one of the season’s best performances at Michigan in Week 2, as he threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout Texas win in Ann Arbor.

Mississippi State enters the game on a three-game losing streak, which includes back-to-back blowout home losses to Toledo and Florida. The Bulldogs are trending toward finishing at the bottom of the SEC, as they have one of the country’s worst defenses. They are No. 111 nationally in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense.

Mississippi State will also be without its starting quarterback, as starter Blake Shapen is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury against Florida. Michael Van Buren, a true freshman, will make his first career start for the Bulldogs.

Sports

Sources: Georgia DL Williams is a game-time call

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4 hours ago

September 28, 2024

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Sources: Georgia DL Williams is a game-time call

Pete Thamel, ESPNSep 28, 2024, 10:31 AM ET
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Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams is a “true game-time decision” for the No. 2 Bulldogs at No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night, according to ESPN sources.

Williams has missed the previous two games with a Grade 2 ankle sprain, which he suffered against Clemson in the opener. He’ll be evaluated in pregame warmups and a decision will be made on his status.

Williams has been limited in practice this week, and it’s expected that if he does play it’ll be at less than 100 percent. He’s also unlikely to play a heavy snap count if he does play, as he’s working his way back.

Williams is a marauding defensive end who is the best player in Georgia’s front seven and is a high-end NFL prospect. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked No. 4 overall player for the 2025 NFL draft.

Williams started the season hot before injuring his ankle against Clemson, as he had two tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures in that game.

They will be an onus on Georgia’s defensive line, especially on the ends, to help slow Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa.

Georgia’s defensive line will benefit from the return of senior Warren Brinson, who is listed as probable after missing the past two games. Sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Hall is questionable for the SEC showdown.

Sports

Sources: Utah’s Rising game-time call vs. Arizona

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4 hours ago

September 28, 2024

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Sources: Utah's Rising game-time call vs. Arizona

Pete Thamel, ESPNSep 28, 2024, 09:00 AM ET
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Utah quarterback Cam Rising, who has been snakebit by injuries the past two years, is again expected to be a game-time decision against Arizona on Saturday night, sources told ESPN.

Rising has missed No. 10 Utah’s past two games after an injury to his throwing hand that he suffered against Baylor on Sept. 7. He missed all of last season after an ACL tear in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season.

Rising’s status will undergo the same evaluation process with the Utah staff as before the Oklahoma State game last week. He’ll throw the ball pregame, and his ability to deliver spin and velocity on the ball will determine whether he’ll play, per sources.

As Rising has struggled to recover and get back on the field, one factor that could weigh into the decision is the chance to get him back fully healthy in two weeks. Utah has a bye before they play at Arizona State on Oct. 11.

Rising has practiced this week but remained limited as the staff has attempted to rest his finger.

Freshman Isaac Wilson has started the past two weeks, leading the Utes to victories over Utah State in Logan and in Stillwater against the Cowboys.

Wilson has shown both moments of promise and interspersed those with moments that have illuminated his youth. He threw for 207 yards on 17-of-29 passing against Oklahoma State. He also threw two interceptions. He threw for three touchdowns and 239 yards against Utah State.