STILLWATER – The NCAA has not only lost its’ grip on governing college athletics but now it seems like they have lost their minds too. On Wednesday (Oct. 8), the Division I Administrative Committee on adopted a proposal that would permit student-athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports. The rule change must be approved by all three NCAA divisions.
Divisions II and III are expected to consider the proposal during their respective meetings at the end of October. If approved by all three divisions, the rule change will be effective Nov. 1.
Okay, on further examination student-athletes in many sports and especially in football and men’s basketball are getting nice salaries out of the revenue share mandated by the House vs. NCAA settlement. These young people need education and valuable lessons in money management and investing. Gambling on pro sports is not on the list or shouldn’t be.
Before you put the lable on me of being ultra concervative, a prude, or simply a person that wants to micromanage others lives and kill the fun; I endrose gambling, once worked for a race track, and still gamble myself on horse racing. My contract with Learfield to broadcast on the Cowboy Network precludes me from gambling on any pro sports that the NCAA has competition in.
I just think all of these student-athletes are coming into mid-to-large sums of money and are vulnerable to temptations like gambling on the NFL and NBA. Racking up debts can make these same student-athletes vulnerable to corruption temptation as well.
All I ask is that the adults in the room. The educated and supposed people charged with managing college athletics do something smart and help protect the young people that need it.
The NCAA prohibition against betting on college sports — and sharing information about college competitions with other bettors — remains in place. The change also would not impact rules prohibiting advertising and sponsorships associated with sports betting for NCAA Championships.
The committee, which was directed by the Division I Board of Directors to make the change, emphasized in approving the rule change that the action is not an endorsement of sports betting, particularly for student-athletes.
That’s a nice disclaimer.
