Title: Concerns Over Track's Future as USTFCCCA CEO Contemplates House-NCAA Settlement Impact
In September, CEO of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, Sam Seemes, made one last plea to Congress. Alongside other collegiate coaches associations in Washington D.C., Seemes voiced concerns about the House vs. NCAA class-action settlement, set to be finalized on April 7. This settlement, expected to grant former athletes back payments and potentially classify collegiate athletes as university employees, had Seemes warning that Olympic sports could be devalued and even eliminated in U.S. universities.
Some programs could even face the chopping block, he said. Addressing the one-sided conversation surrounding the House vs. NCAA settlement and its positive effects on student-athletes, Seemes questioned the consequences for both students and universities if the agreement was enacted.
As the settlement, first obtaining preliminary approval by Judge Claudia Wilken in October 2024, could see just under $2.8 billion paid in retroactive payments to collegiate athletes, the focus shifted to its potential impact on revenue-share systems and athletic budgets. The agreement would allow Division I programs to pay out $22 million annually to Power Four schools by the 2025-2026 academic year.
However, fears arose with its expected consequences. The outline previously featured potential scholarship increases, but the reality seemed far from those optimistic scenarios. For instance, adding new men's track scholarships could result in higher women's scholarships, ultimately affecting overall budgets.
According to LetsRun, each new scholarship might shrink the revenue-sharing cap by up to $2.5 million. Furthermore, an Auburn swimmer admitted that being forced to pay nearly $30,000 for the loss of athletic benefits like healthcare, tutoring, and dining was a possibility in the face of budget constraints.
As a result, program cuts were a real threat, particularly when faced with financial strain, as seen in 2020 when several universities like Minnesota, Clemson, and Central Michigan eliminated track and field teams amidst COVID-related financial struggles.
Pointing to the problems stemming from extreme pressure, Seemes stressed the importance of improving track and field's value in the eyes of the audience to adapt to the changing landscape. By optimizing schedules, pursuing better television partnerships, and hosting high-profile athletic events, the gap between track and field and less-popular sports could be narrowed.
In this ever-changing world of house vs. NCAA, Seemes warned collegiate track and field programs that failure to adapt could lead to clubs being ousted by new sports like flag football or e-gaming. Aware of the challenges but driven by optimism, Seemes called for a shift towards raising track and field's value within the modern market.
[1] Enrichment Data:- The House vs. NCAA settlement may lead to uneven distribution of funds, favoring revenue sports like football and basketball at the expense of Olympic sports.- Title IX conflicts might arise due to the uneven distribution of funds, creating potential lawsuits from female athletes who believe they are being treated unfairly.- Institutional funding prioritization for revenue sports over Olympic sports could deepen the divide between popular sports and less-popular ones.- Reporting requirements for NIL compensation greater than $600 could lead to additional administrative burdens, potentially straining resources devoted to Olympic sports.- Ongoing legal challenges between NCAA rules and state laws regarding athlete compensation could continue, impacting Olympic sports differently than revenue sports.
The USTFCCCA, led by CEO Sam Seemes, joined other collegiate associations in voicing concerns about the House vs. NCAA settlement to Congress, fearing the devaluation of Olympic sports such as track and field in U.S. universities. The NCAA, facing potential budget constraints, may need to consider cutting programs like track and field, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
