OT-ish: FSU to privatize their athletic department
FSU plans to convert their athletic dept into a private organization that is separate from the public university. Article gives the reason as streamlining the relationship with boosters, but possibly also to avoid FOIA requests. Apparently a few of the other big public universities in Florida have already done this. I know there are many people on this board who are connected to our own ath dept, so I'm curious about their take on this w.r.t. how legitimate it is (legally and otherwise) and if it actually necessary/beneficial to the university.
What do you think this is a prelude to? This is a university starting the process of separation, to be their own governing body. To be able to run their high revenue sports as a business, sell jerseys, pay players and give them some ownership of their likeness. It’s to make more money and gain an advantage with players over other schools. Without regulation this will kill college athletics. Whether you are for or against paying players, this form of practice and lack of transparency should be feared by everyone who loves college athletics. Soon there will be two leagues, privatized and public, college-professional and college-amateur. Or maybe they will call it the school league and the “not here to play school” league.
As a private company, just wait until boosters find a way to invest in it.
Boosters buy stock low, fund bagman, stock goes up, and booster sells. Repeat.
All about puffing your chest out AND ROI baby.
Why don't we just ask Steven Ross to call his team "The Miami Dolphins and also the Michigan Wolverines" and be done with it.
Nothing will go wrong from this move. ?
1. How is any of this legal?
2. Isn’t this like saying “We’ve got lots of shit to hide”?