Parting Words: A Q&A with Outgoing NCAA President Cedric Dempsey
Fort Lauderdale, FL (December 18, 2002) - Cedric Dempsey, whose eight-year run as president of the NCAA is ending December 31, recently spoke with CBS SportsLine.com senior writer Dan Wetzel about his tenure as association president. The entire question and answer can be found by clicking this link. CBS SportsLine.com is published by SportsLine.com, Inc (NASDAQ:SPLN), a leading Internet sports media company, which also publishes NFL.com, PGATOUR.com and is a primary sports content provider for America Online. Following are excerpts from the interview (Editors please credit CBS SportsLine.com).
On a football playoff vs. the bowl system: "I think in our attempt to have a national championship on the field, we've eroded the bowl system. So if our goal is to really have a national champion developed on the field, then I could support a playoff…If you operate in the current system of the BCS and the bowl games, I think a playoff makes more sense. I don't think you could ever go past an eight-game playoff. I think it just takes away too much time from student athletes' time."
On the financial benefits of a football playoff: "About (the same as the NCAA basketball tournament). The current process is generating about 50 percent of what the value is. Unfortunately, how those dollars are distributed are suspect in my opinion also."
On the importance of football to the association: "The football area is still a critical part of the association's future. It is ironic that our whole subdivision structure in Division I is based on football, legislatively. In the association we have had minimal involvement in postseason football…That is a concern."
On accomplishments of which he's most proud: "The ones in which I had direct control of…negotiation of contracts…the move of the organization to (Indianapolis)…diversity in our staff…academic reform."
On eliminating cheating: "One of the things you have to do is reduce the rewards (of cheating). I would change the revenue distribution. I would take the basketball revenue out of it. I would put most of the money into program distribution….the major conferences would still get most of the money. To me, it isn't as much a financial shift as a philosophical one. I think we ought to get away from the incentive aspects."
On academic reform: "I think still critical to that is the incentive/disincentive package for competing in postseason competition…Not just graduation rates…I think most people see fallacies and weaknesses in graduation rates. But establishing some kind of academic standard in order to compete in postseason play. We are going to have to put a greater premium on the academic performance of student athletes."
On the restructured NCAA governance model: "I think we have too much weighting involved in the equity conference concept. I think that was a mistake…We have lost the collegiality to the national association…what you see happening is faculty representative don't feel part of the association, ADs (Athletic Directors) don't feel part of the association. And that isn't healthy long-term."
On what he would do differently: "I would be more sensitive to the political process and maybe work the political process better…I come from a philosophical base on a lot of things and I think if I had to do it all over again, I would concentrate on fewer topics but I would work the political process better."
Wetzel's Q & A with Dempsey is the first of a two part series. The second part is a Q & A with incoming NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand. Click here to read the Brand interviewAbout SportsLine.com, Inc. SportsLine.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLN) is at the leading edge of media companies providing Internet sports content, community and e-commerce on a global basis. As the publisher of CBS SportsLine.com and the official Web sites of the NFL and the PGA TOUR, the Company serves as one of the most comprehensive sports information sources available, containing an unmatched breadth and depth of multimedia sports news, information, entertainment and merchandise. SportsLine.com also serves as a primary sports content provider for America Online.
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