John Wooden: definition of success

One of the more iconic figures in sports is John Wooden.  Known for his NCAA record for consecutive championships in basketball, he began his career in South Bend, IN as an English teacher.  In his speech, Wooden takes us on a journey through his lessons learned and knowledge passed.  Many of us know the public side of Wooden, but we are unsure from where his guidance stems.  He made an effort to subscribe to a definition of success that would help all of his pupils, not just his athletes, attain the highest levels of achievement. 

He is a great storyteller, using quotes from the bible and small anecdotes to drive home his statements.  He keeps the listener engaged with a myriad of related topics. In general, you know Wooden cared for his students because he knows their current professions: 30 something doctors, and many teachers.  By taking a general interest in who his students are, he used this to develop a relationship with them and guide them. 

He appreciates effort from his pupils as well.  He tells a story of two basketball players who he questioned if they should be on his varsity squad.  They couldn't shoot well, but had high percentages in scoring.  They couldn't rebound well, but had great position and rebounding numbers.  It was their effort and work ethic that was a tribute to them and they in turn are a tribute to his coaching prowess.

He notes that he was stickler for time, even guiding young coaches to start practice on time and finish on time.  This shows he honored the time of his staff, his students and family.  He valued good appearance and "being clean," often requiring the basketball team members to wear suits.  No profanity and no criticizing team members.  

He valued character.  "Your reputation is what you are conceived to be, your character is what you really are" carries this ideal.  He notes that it is important both are good, but not necessarily the same.  These are a few of the principles he passes.  He understood is role and what it means to progressive development of students.  

His speech revolves around his definition of success.  He begins by reminding us that we are unique and success is just as different as we are.  He provides the words of his father: "never try to be better than someone else, always learn from others, and never cease trying to be the best you can be and that's under your control." 

This speech is personally significant because often, the more verbal and edgy coaches seem to gain success.  Bob Knight, my favorite coach, was an abrasive coach.  Even with his success, it does not compare to the level attained by Wooden, and eventually cost Knight his job in spite of his success.  In my role in athletics, Wooden will be the ideal man to emulate.  His definition of success: peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction of knowing you did the best of which you are capable.

Overview of the NACDA

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics incorporates 12 different agencies into one.  Agencies such as College Athletic Business Management Association, Collegiate Event and Facility Management Association, and the Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association all provide access to the latest information for many college athletic programs around the nation. 

One of the associations, the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators, recently held an educational forum for professionals with one to five years of experience.  The conference call allowed young professionals to discuss important industry tips on mid-season evaluation and goal setting.

A forum of this nature allows professionals to collaborate on what makes their jobs similar and what makes them different.  The NACMA focuses on providing “educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards ethics, and establishment of the…profession of athletics marketing administrators.”  This event is the first of its kind by the NACMA.

Networking influences the industry because it provides a checks and balances system professionals can use to ensure they are keeping the same standards as their industry counterparts.  Because of the scope of the membership, they access large market schools and provide information to smaller schools that are looking to expand.  In addition to this, they provide job listings that are not available to the common job seeker.  This qualifies visitors to this site as people who intend on careers in college sports. 

The NACDA began in 1965 and has since grown to include more than 6100 members at 1600 institutions in the US, Canada and Mexico.  The membership list ranges from associate directors to conference commissioners and affiliated corporations.  It is important to have an agency such as this because it opens paths to education and individuals that some professionals may otherwise not be able to contact. 

Of particular interest is the internship program.  Sports administration is one of the harder industries to infiltrate and networking or educational opportunities are rare.  The internship program helps to guide young, potential athletic directors with the chance to gain and develop rapport within the industry. 

The association features a mini-association for almost every facet of athletics. There is one for athletic compliance, one for only two-year college athletic directors, a separate one for athletic development, one for minorities, licensing, athletic directors in division II schools and division I-AAA in addition to the ones names earlier.  The various groups provide opportunities for education and access to videos, libraries and information related to their specialization.

Exploitation on college campuses

On September 16, 2011, MSNBC explored the possibility of paying college athletes.  This comes in response to and article by Taylor Branch titled "The Shame of College Sports."

It is common knowledge that school athletics are promotional tools and revenue generators. The article states the U.S. is the only country showcasing big time sports at colleges and universities.  This is an interesting fact, but is not surprising.  The United States prides itself on the success of capitalism and college sports bring in millions of dollars for schools all over the nation. But Branch refers to the "amateurism" and "student-athlete" ideals of the NCAA as shams and legal rhetoric allowing the schools to exploit the talent and fame of their students.  Branch even goes as far as saying amateurism is imposed on the students.

The article gives a great history of college football and the founding of the NCAA.  Since day one, it seems as though the rules were designed to strengthen the favored programs of those in charge.  It is most interesting that the NCAA had no serious enforcement power until 50 years after its induction.  As an advocate for not paying players, reading this article has made me reconsider my stance to an extent.  I understand why the rules exist.  They are designed to maintain integrity in sports and prevent money from influencing how a college player performs.  But the article points out that not only is paying athletes an age old practice, the entity designed to enforce it exists only on paper.  They have no enforcement power and the colleges and presidents involved prefer it this way because it does not stifle the influx of revenue from advertisements, television contracts, merchandise sales and more.  

My stance has always been on the side of the Knight Commission: "Scholarship athletes are already paid in the most meaningful way possible: with a free education." But in the same paragraph, Branch states this is "worse than self-serving" and the argument is convincing.  Considering the fact that most college students do not get paid, let alone a full scholarship, it still makes it hard to understand where the problem is.  Student-athletes have access to services and finances the common college student does not and will not receive.  The demographic really getting the short end of school's revenue is the student who makes the grades and is constantly denied assistance.  

According to The National Center for Education Statistics, 65 percent of undergraduates received financial aid in 2007-08.  The average was 9,100 dollars.  This number includes student athletes.  A study from 1996 found that approximately 14.8 percent of students participate in college sports.  Not the college athlete whose full scholarship covers room and board, meals, and tuition. Granted, exploitation is exploitation.  But a true assessment of fairness may show student athletes are not getting as bad a deal as they think.

The NAAC to host a free presentation on compliance

There have been a lot of compliance issues in the NCAA.  This past academic season, Ohio State, Auburn, Miami and Georgia Tech have all come under serious investigation by the NCAA. The NCAA has strict rules regarding amateurism and agents.  Speaking to an agent is not a violation, but accepting gifts and other benefits, including transportation is impermissible as stated on the NCAA website.

Yahoo reports that Georgia Tech was fined for allegedly hindering an investigation into the eligibility of players who may have received gifts from agents.  The Columbus Dispatch reports that Ohio State had to suspend players to start this season for selling team paraphernalia in exchange for goods and services.  This also happened with the University of Georgia after the team won a conference championship a few years back as reported by USA Today.  And in spite of warnings by at the time head coach Randy Shannon, Miami is now under fire for benefits given to players by a booster who is serving jail time for a ponzi scheme as reported by Sports Illustrated. 

Most of the problems with college athletics can simply be avoided with a compliance office that is aware of what they are doing. To help with learning the rules, the National Association for Athletic Compliance will host a free presentation on September 21 at 4 p.m. on maintaining reasonable standards in a Division 1 program. Participants will learn the who, what, when where and why of maintaining compliance in a Division 1 program. The NCAA has also come under suspicion of not monitoring the schools appropriately.  This presentation can at least help prove the school is changing this trend. Feel free to visit the NACDA website to learn more information: http://www.nacda.com/sports/naacc/spec-rel/082211aaj.html

Biggest money maker of the year: Football Season

Most schools support their athletic programs by the success of the football program.  For many colleges and universities across the nation, the revenue generated during football season will make or break their program.  Most schools do not make a lot of money year round and will often implement a football program.  The potential alone makes the endeavor worth taking.

According to the USA Today, Florida generated almost 21 million dollars in ticket sales alone for the 2008-09 season.  Each school in the NCAA receives an allotment based upon post-season appearances by the school in all sports and by any schools of the same conference.  Florida is a school in the Southeastern Conference.  As a member school, they received 15 million dollars from post-season tournament appearances and NCAA conference distributions.  Their largest revenue produced is contributions, which totaled almost 41 million dollars.  All together these sources brought in 79.9 percent of the money Florida's athletic programs earned in 2008-09.

The projected ticket sales for football leading up to the 2008-09 season were over 17 million dollars.  This means that football tickets alone account for 18 percent of the revenue generated, and possibly more.  Florida won the Bowl Championship Series trophy that season, which means as the season progressed, they possibly surpassed their prediction in sales.  Regardless of this, seven home games were projected to bring in 2.5 million dollars in tickets alone.

This is the story many athletic departments want to tell.  The sad truth is that unless they are selling tickets in the same manner as a school like Florida, the money is coming from other sources like student fees and institutional support.  This does not make nearly as much money for the season as schools like Florida may make by halftime of the season opener.  If you love the school you cheer for, be sure to buy some tickets for the gridiron this season.

The privilege of being a student-athlete

Kirk Cousins was very instrumental in leading the Michigan State Spartans to one of their most successful seasons in years.  According to College Football Data Warehouse, MSU enjoyed an 11-2 record as co-champions of the Big Ten for 2010, their first conference championship since 1990.  With all of the changes taking place in the college football landscape including conference realignments and NCAA violations, the Big Ten conference chose an outstanding young man to speak on behalf of the student athletes at the Big Ten Media Day.

Cousins begins the speech by reflecting his own dreams and ambitions growing up outside of Chicago.  He comments on the opportunities to attend Northwestern games, Purdue football camps and being recruited by Michigan State.  His speech focused on the privilege of being a student athlete.

Being a student athlete brings lots of attention, regardless of the sport played.  Media, alumni, fans, students and the general population will always know what you are doing, especially in the instant information era of today.  He notes the privilege the Big Ten provides him with community service opportunities as well as playing at historic sites.  He humbly accepts the privilege of playing in front of fans who spend “hard-earned money” to watch him play. 

He also cautions that privilege does not lead to entitlement, but to greater responsibility.  He charges players to uphold the standards and namesake of their school, community, and their families as well.  He suggests the players discipline themselves, especially in current times, so that everyone who follows them “have good reason to say he’s one of ours.” This is interesting considering a member of the Big Ten is facing some of the harshest allegations of rules violations.  It is good to know there are student athletes who abide by the rules and are not ashamed to hold their fellow teammates and peers to the same task.  The words in this speech should be on the forefront of all student-athletes as they compete and represent their schools.