Brand gives State of NCAA address

Sunday night current NCAA President and former IU President, Myles Brand was formally introduced to the 1,200 members he will preside over as he gave the State of the Association address at the opening business session of the 97th annual NCAA Convention in Anaheim, Calif.\nHis speech focused on his "academics first" agenda, which he first addressed while president of IU. Brand identified reform and advocacy as his "dual guideposts to the future success of intercollegiate athletics."\nComparing his excitement and energy for his new position to that of a newly enrolled student, Brand made it clear that it is about the student-athlete and not the athlete-student.\n"We have a new reform focus for student-athletics," Brand said. "We are making progress, for example, in Division I through the recent passage of strengthened academic standards."\nThrough efforts such as the new academic reform package, which was passed in November 2002, the NCAA is looking to eradicate situations in which students are simply in school to participate in athletics.\nBrand said he would indeed need help and guidance from those who have been involved with the every day workings of college athletics, but he made sure to note that he is not coming into this position with an absent mind. \n"My views are not cut in limestone, as we say in Indiana," Brand said. "They are certainly open to revision and change. There are areas about which I have everything to learn. But I start this effort with an overall perspective and with some clear guiding principles in mind."\nBrand also spoke about the deteriorating situation in college athletics concerning the academic status of numerous athletes. The new reforms he is seeking will only be successful if introduced in the correct manner, he said.\nOne possible solution he mentioned Sunday night that has been brought up in past few months is penalization for poor academics. Whether this be loss of scholarship or the inability to participate in post-season and championship play, these penalties would be affected by both team and individual performance. \nFor as much thought and time that has been placed on the disincentives for poor academic performance, there has not been much discussion on the incentives for good or excellent academic performance.\n"Positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool in encouraging coaches and universities to enhance academic performance and graduation," Brand said. "It is my belief that the final package should include both strong disincentives and strong incentives."\nThese are just ideas for the time being, as Brand noted that any change to the current system would have to go through numerous mark ups and "extensive consultation, data collection and analysis."\nBrand stressed the importance of presidents and chancellors to the success of colleges and universities. He said it is up to them to decide the future of the NCAA, and it is just his job to lead. \nA major contribution to the low academic performance is the schedules of the student-athletes. Brand addressed the lack of time for them to study and have a social life. He said change is needed in order to give athletes all the opportunities that non-athlete students have in terms of academic freedom, including choosing a major. \n"We must not allow their athletic training and competition to overwhelm their educational opportunities," Brand said. "Their commitment to their sport and their regimen for athletics preparedness should permit adequate time for study and a social life."\nReferring to the Hoosiers unpredictable run to the 2002 Final Four, Brand said he was filled with great excitement and pride. \nDuring a time when commercialization is a growing trend in college athletics, sometimes comparable to that of professional sports, Brand said the integrity of the game is still very much alive. \n"Not much can compare to the sense of camaraderie apparent on a Saturday afternoon in a stadium where over 100,000 fans dressed in their school colors cheer their alma mater to victory," Brand said. \nTowards the latter end of his speech, Brand touched on gender in college athletics and Title IX. There are currently 150,000 women competing in intercollegiate athletics. A concern that was brought up by Brand was the need for more creative ways for those, both men and women, wanting to compete in college athletics having a chance to do so. \nHe also noted the lack of African-American head coaches, and offensive and defensive coordinators in Division I football. \n"The current situation is simply unjustifiable," Brand said. "I will work with the key constituency organizations as well as the universities that do the hiring to change current practices."\nAfter making his presidency official Jan. 2, Brand has taken on a position that according to his intended changes has a heavy future awaiting him. He was able to change IU athletics with the firing of former men's basketball coach Bob Knight, and with the goals he spoke about last night, he wants to have that impact on the entire body of college athletics, not just one university. \n"This is an appropriate moment for us to look into the future," Brand said. "The problems for intercollegiate athletics have become glaringly obvious, and the reform movement has begun"