The Drake Group Praises Proposed College Athletes Bill of Rights: But Notes Significant Flaw in Massive Sorely Needed Reform Bill
The Drake Group applauds the legislative effort of U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) who introduced the College Athletes Bill of Rights on December 17, 2020. The bill is comprehensive and far-reaching, providing college athletes with long-overdue protections that should have been the responsibility of the […]
Collegiate Athlete Compensation Rights Act Misses Mark on What is Needed to Protect the Independent Publicity Rights of College Athletes
The Drake Group reviewed the Collegiate Athlete Compensation Rights Act introduced by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R)-Mississippi on December 10, 2020. The stated purpose of Senator Wicker’s bill is to protect the rights of college athletes, to provide for transparency and accountability with respect to college athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements, and to […]
The Drake Group Applauds “Intentional Discrimination” Lawsuit Alleging NCAA Discriminates Against HBCUs
The Drake Group, a national organization of college faculty and others whose mission is to defend educational integrity in higher education from the corrosive aspects of commercialized college sports, applauds the ‘Intentional Discrimination’ class action lawsuit (“Manassa vs the NCAA”) recently filed in the Southern District of Indiana. This lawsuit alleges that the NCAA’s academic […]
Failing to Confront the “Elephants in the Room” – The Drake Group Comments on the Knight Commission Proposal to Transform the NCAA D-I Model
On December 3, 2020, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics issued a formal report, “Transforming the NCAA D-I Model: Recommendation for Change” in which the Knight Commission called for a “reset” of college athletics, urging Presidents and Chancellors to play their rightful leadership role in demanding such reform. Unfortunately, The Drake Group believes the proposed […]
Drake Group Decries NCAA Infractions Decision concerning UMass Women’s Tennis and Former Athlete, Brittany Collens
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Drake Group decries an October 16, 2020, NCAA Committee on Infractions decision penalizing college athletes rather than the athletic program administrators who botched the computation of their scholarship checks. Over a three-year period, UMass athletic department administrators failed to properly compute payments when 12 athletes moved off-campus. Eight athletes continued […]
NCAA and NAIA Give It the “Old College Try” with NIL Proposals, but Do Not Go Far Enough
On November 16, 2020, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) issued its proposed bylaws to be considered at its January 12-15, 2021 Convention. Included therein are the long-awaited new bylaws that would allow NCAA athletes to be compensated for the commercial use of their own Names, Images, and Likenesses (NILs), subject to certain restrictions. If adopted, […]
Webinar #4 – THE TRANSGENDER ATHLETE IN GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S SPORT
The Drake Group brings together a blue-ribbon slate of researchers, lawyers, athletes, gender equity experts and sports administrators to address the topic of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s interscholastic, intercollegiate and open Olympic and club sports. Panelists will explore whether eligibility for participation should be based on an individual’s sex, gender identity or a […]
Webinar #3 – THE SILENT STRUGGLE: Experts Speak on College Athletes’ Mental Health (September 30, 2021)
Clinicians and administrators currently working at major universities speak on college athletes mental health issues, differences related to race and gender, personnel needs not being met and other critical issues. Moderator: EMMETT GILL, Chief Visionary Officer for Athletes and Advocates for Social Justice, Member, The Drake Group Board of Directors Panelists: SHAMAREE BROWN, Director, Student-Athlete […]
Webinar #2 – MILLIONAIRES OR MINIMUM WAGE? College Athletes Speak on Athlete Compensation (August 26, 2021)
Current and former college athletes answer questions on the new name, image, likeness rules allowing athletes to make money while retaining their eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Moderator: Katie Lever, Chief Communications Officer, The Drake Group. Panelists: MAURICE CLARETT, nationally acclaimed author, former Ohio State running back, BRIANNA ELLIS, sophomore point guard, U. of […]
Webinar #1 – The Brave New World of College Athletes Compensation: The Experts Speak (August 19, 2021)
National experts answer questions on the new name, image, likeness rules allowing athletes to make money while retaining their eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Moderator: Katie Lever, Chief Communications Officer, The Drake Group. Panelists: VAL ACKERMAN, Commissioner, Big East Conference, LEN ELMORE, Co-Chair, Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, BLAKE LAWRENCE, Co-Founder and CEO, Opendorse, […]