NCAA President Mark Emmert tends to stick his hand in the sand from time to time, if you ask his critics at least. With the topic of autonomy taking on higher and higher importance among conferences lately, the figurehead representing the NCAA wants you to believe the organization is closer together than you may believe. Emmert says the new structure of governance being put together will avoid any potential split to the so-called Division IV.
“The reality is, they’re not that far apart on the various ends of that and I’m pretty confident the whole thing is going to work out and probably be successful,” Emmert said in a report by USA Today. Emmert made the comments at this week’s National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention in Orlando, Florida. For now, Emmert is optimistic that the vote on autonomy will keep everybody happy.
In August the conference commissioners will vote on a proposal that would allow for autonomy to be used by member schools of the power conferences -- the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC. The vote will require a two-thirds majority from the 65 member institutions and there appears to be momentum moving forward that will allow for schools to use more of their respective resources to provide more for student-athletes. Though nothing will be made official for months, Emmert suggests this will help avoid any sort of breaking up of the NCAA structure once reform measures are approved.
“I’m sure that the steering committee will find a sensible compromise,” Emmert said.