Mark Emmert
FILE - Then-Democratic presidential candidate Corey booker speaks during the National Urban League Conference in Indianapolis, in this Thursday, July 25, 2019, file photo. A bill being introduced Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, by four Democratic lawmakers would grant college athletes sweeping rights to compensation, including a share of the revenue generated by their sports, and create a federal commission on college athletics. The College Athletes Bill of Rights is sponsored by U.S. Senators Corey Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). If passed it could wreak havoc with the NCAA's ability to govern intercollegiate athletics, and the association's model for amateurism.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Booker, Democratic lawmakers introduce NCAA reform bill

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 17, 2020 07:21 AM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, NCAA President Mark Emmert testifies during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on intercollegiate athlete compensation on Capitol Hill in Washington. NCAA President Mark Emmert hopes lessons learned through navigating the pandemic will lead college sports leaders to be more open-minded to future reforms and to prioritize opportunities for athletes when it comes time to cut costs. In a 25-minute phone interview Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 with The Associated Press, Emmert said the NCAA and its members schools have shown an uncommon ability to be nimble and responsive in addressing issues of eligibility, scheduling, recruiting, transfers, and conducting championship events.. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
AP Interview: Emmert says NCAA must stay open to reform

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 08, 2020 06:05 PM EST

FILE - Michigan wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (9) celebrates his 25-yard touchdown reception against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., in this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Michigan canceled its annual rivalry game at Ohio State on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, because of the COVID-19 outbreak within the Wolverines football program.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Michigan cancels Ohio State showdown, citing COVID-19 cases

By Larry Lage And Mitch Stacy Dec. 08, 2020 01:40 PM EST

Merritt Norvell, first Black AD at Michigan State, has died

Oct. 21, 2020 06:29 PM EDT
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Merritt Norvell Jr., the first Black athletic director at Michigan State, has died. He was 79. A spokesman at...

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, the national office of the NCAA in Indianapolis is shown. A set of proposals to permit NCAA athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorships deals will go up for vote in January, the last step for the association to change its rules but not the last word on how name, image and likeness compensation will work. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
After NIL, next NCAA challenge is restructuring Division I

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 15, 2020 03:35 PM EDT

University of Nebraska athletes train in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The Big Ten won't play sports this fall because of concerns about COVID-19, becoming the first of college sports' power conferences to yield to the pandemic. The move announced Tuesday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
NCAA cancels fall championships as major football marches on

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 13, 2020 02:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 14, 2012, file photo, a player runs across the NCAA logo during practice in Pittsburgh before an NCAA tournament college basketball game. A court decision the NCAA says will hurt college sports by allowing student-athletes to be paid “vast sums” of money will go into effect. That's after the Supreme Court declined Tuesday to intervene at this point. Justice Elena Kagan denied the NCAA’s request to put a lower court ruling on hold at least temporarily while the NCAA asks the Supreme Court to take up the case. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Senators lay out plan for college athletes bill of rights

By The Associated Press Aug. 13, 2020 10:36 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2017, file photo, Indiana's Cory Thomas (11) kicks the winning goal past Penn State's Dani Marks (18) during overtime in a Big Ten NCAA college soccer match in Bloomington, Ind. The NCAA Board of Directors is allowing each division of the association to decide independently whether it will be able to conduct championship events safely in fall sports such as soccer, volleyball and lower levels of football during the coronavirus pandemic. (Chris Howell/The Herald-Times via AP, File)
Signs ominous and hopeful as college sports hangs in balance

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 05, 2020 12:38 PM EDT

FILE - This Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, shows the Pac-12 logo during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Kent State, in Tempe, Ariz. The Pac-12 has set Sept. 26 as the start of its 10-game conference-only football schedule. The Pac-12 announced three weeks ago it would eliminate nonconference games for its 12 member schools. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)
#WeAreUnited players reach out to California Gov. for help

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 04, 2020 09:47 PM EDT

FILE - This Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, shows the Pac-12 logo during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Kent State, in Tempe, Ariz. The Pac-12 has set Sept. 26 as the start of its 10-game conference-only football schedule. The Pac-12 announced three weeks ago it would eliminate nonconference games for its 12 member schools. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)
Next in summer of player empowerment: Pac-12 players unite

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 03, 2020 01:46 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2018, file photo, the championship logo is seen on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before the NCAA college football playoff championship game between Georgia and Alabama in Atlanta. There are more bowl games scheduled for the coming season than ever before in major college football: 42, not including the College Football Playoff championship. College football leaders are in the process of piecing together plans to attempt to play a regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it is even possible, everyone anticipates there will be disruptions, added expenses and loads of stress just to get through it.(AP Photo/David Goldman)
NCAA heeds Division I's pleas for patience on fall sports

By Doug Feinberg And Ralph D. Russo Jul. 24, 2020 05:54 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Memphis quarterback Brady White, center, celebrates after his team defeated Cincinnati in an NCAA college football game for the American Athletic Conference championship, in Memphis, Tenn. The American Athletic Conference will require all its schools to test football players for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before competition. The announcement Thursday, July 16, 2020, by the American comes ahead of the expected release of recommendations for testing before games from the NCAA. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
NCAA lays out plan for playing but warns of surging pandemic

By Ralph D. Russo Jul. 16, 2020 12:38 PM EDT

In this April 25, 2020 photograph, a small Mississippi state flag is held by a participant during a drive-by "re-open Mississippi" protest past the Governor's Mansion, in the background, in Jackson, Miss. This current flag has in the canton portion of the banner the design of the Civil War-era Confederate battle flag, that has been the center of a long-simmering debate about its removal or replacement. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Following athletes, NCAA takes aim at Confederate flag

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 19, 2020 04:32 PM EDT

This undated photo provided by Georgia Tech alumnus Andy McNeil shows a Georgia Tech home game during the 1918 college football season. The photo was taken by Georgia Tech student Thomas Carter, who would receive a degree in Mechanical Engineering. The 102-year-old photo could provide a snapshot of sports once live games resume: Fans packed in a campus stadium in the midst of a pandemic wearing masks with a smidge of social distance between them on concrete seats. (Thomas Carter via AP)
Lessons from 1918: Old pandemic is a murky guide for sports

By Dan Gelston May. 21, 2020 02:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, John Swofford, commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, announces the cancellation of NCAA college basketball games at the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. The Power Five conferences spent $350,000 on lobbying in the first three months of 2020, more than they had previously spent in any full year, as part of a coordinated effort to influence Congress on legislation affecting the ability of college athletes to earn endorsement money. “In this particular case, the (Power Five) conferences are working together on this so that there’s less confusion, not more, in terms of the messaging to congressional leaders that helps explain NIL (Names, Images and Likenesses) and what the concerns are, and how it might work,” Swofford told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown, File)
AP Exclusive: Power Five spend big on lobbying Congress

By Ben Nuckols May. 19, 2020 11:52 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2019, file photo, Timothy White, chancellor of the California State University system, responds to a question from lawmakers about a state audit alleging the university did not disclose a $1.5 billion surplus while it raised tuition on students during a joint legislative committee hearing in Sacramento, Calif. San Diego State is looking at having football players return to campus no earlier than July 7 and is making plans to play the season as scheduled, athletic director J.D. Wicker said. Wicker said SDSU had been planning for a hybrid model, no matter what, and feels that CSU Chancellor Timothy White's announcement was misconstrued by some people who thought sports would be canceled. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Football still a possibility at big 3 Cal State schools

By Bernie Wilson May. 17, 2020 04:35 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2019, file photo, Washington NCAA college football defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake speaks during a news conference about taking over the head coaching position, in Seattle. Just when it seemed like things were up and rolling, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The ensuring national shutdown hurt coaches across college football as they prepare for next season, but it was particularly difficult on programs with first-year coaches trying to build something from the ground up. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Pac-12 football coaches pitch uniform start to season

By Ralph D. Russo May. 12, 2020 06:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Stanford coach David Shaw watches during the team's NCAA college football game against California in Berkeley, Calif. The Pac-12 has discussed the possibility of moving to an 11-game, all-conference schedule this year amid the unprecedented uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, Southern California's Clay Helton says. Shaw also says he doesn't necessarily agree with NCAA President Mark Emmert's belief that college campuses should be open for college sports to resume. (AP Photo/John Hefti, File)
Pac-12 has discussed all-conference football regular season

By Greg Beacham May. 11, 2020 07:50 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. The NCAA is moving closer to permitting Division I college athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorship deals they can strike on their own. Recommendations for changes to NCAA rules that would permit athletes to earn money for their names, images and likeness are being reviewed by college sports administrators this week before being sent to the association's Board of Governors. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Skeptics loom as NCAA builds guardrails around compensation

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 29, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

In this June 13, 2018 file photo, grounds crew prepare TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., for the NCAA baseball College World Series. The Division I baseball championship, decided in this city of just under a half-million for the past 70 years, is among the many sporting events canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, file)
Preparing for budget crunch, conferences ask NCAA for relief

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 14, 2020 09:59 PM EDT