Uncategorized Archives - The Drake Group, Inc.

The Drake Group Endorses 2024 GAO Report Detailing Title IX Enforcement Failures

In April 2024, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, “College Athletics: Education Should Improve Its Title IX Enforcement Efforts.” The GAO found that 93 percent of all intercollegiate athletic programs were not offering athletics opportunities to females proportional to their percentage in the full-time undergraduate student body. The overall athletic participation rate … Read more

The Drake Group Applauds the “Fair Play for Women Act”

On February 7, 2024, National Girls and Women in Sports Day, U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy (CT-D) and U.S. Representative Alma Adams (NC-12-D) introduced the Fair Play for Women Act in the 118th Congress. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MS-03) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) co-sponsored the legislation. Donna A. … Read more

The Drake Group Offers An Educational Sport Framework for the NCAA Governance Conversation

On December 5, 2023, NCAA President Baker proposed a new Division I tier in which schools would be required to pay at least 50 percent of their male and female athletes a minimum of $30,000 annually and have no limits on how much schools could pay individual athletes for use of their NILs. Pundits suggest … Read more

The Drake Group Letter to U.S. Dept. of Education/Office for Civil Rights — Request for Issuance of Title IX Guidance Addressing Recruiting Practices of NIL Booster Collectives

The Drake Group believes that the current NIL chaos can be relieved by DOE/OCR clearly and precisely warning institutions, their conferences and national governance organizations of their obligations under existing Title IX requirements, explaining how those requirements apply to these new NIL-related activities, and warning that actions by “collectives” will be attributed to the universities when appropriate. The purpose of … Read more

The Drake Group Endorses the FAIR PLAY FOR WOMEN ACT

The Drake Group strongly endorses the Fair Play for Women Act and applauds Representative Adams and Senator Murphy for sponsoring the bill. The Act would strengthen existing statutes that require colleges and universities to publicly report data demonstrating their compliance with the athletics provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and, for … Read more

Drake President Andrew Zimbalist Introduces New Sister Organization

The Drake Group has established a new non-profit organization under the fiscal 501(c)(3) sponsorship of the Players Philanthropy Fund – THE DRAKE GROUP EDUCATION FUND. Andrew Zimbalist, Drake President explained, “Doing so will enable two important things to happen. First, The Drake Group will be better positioned to focus on its priority mission of influencing … Read more

A Tribute to Gerald Gurney

The Drake Group is saddened to report that Dr. Gerald Gurney, who served The Drake Group as its President from 2014 to 2016 and as a member of its Board of Directors for twelve years, passed away on February 23, 2022. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Debra Stuart, and daughter Rachel. In … Read more

EXAMINE CURRENT SPORT BILLS BEFORE CONGRESS

Current Bills Before Congress. Read an overview of the current sport-related bills before Congress. Congressional Intervention. Whenever a new bill is filed or announced as a draft, The Drake Group examines the legislation and, if significant with regard to its possible impact on college sport, issues a press release analyzing the proposed policy. CLICK HERE to see how … Read more

WEBINAR #9 FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS “Lack of Accountability for Athlete Abuse in College Athletics”

Over the last few decades, reported stories of athlete abuse in college athletics have become more frequent and more egregious. Incidents of abuse – including physical, mental, and sexual – have been swept under the carpet, and perpetrators are often able to resign and find employment at other institutions. The media as a whole is … Read more

Webinar #9 – Lack of Accountability for Athlete Abuse in College Athletics

Over the last few decades, reported stories of athlete abuse in college athletics have become more frequent and more egregious. Incidents of abuse – including physical, mental and sexual – have been swept under the carpet, and perpetrators are often able to resign and find employment at other institutions. The media as a whole is … Read more