Speaking during the Learfield IMG College Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, NCAA president Mark Emmert said the Knight Commission, which recommended last week that FBS football be separated from the NCAA, is “diagnosing some of the right problems, but they’ve got a completely wrong prescription.”
Though there are “plenty of issues to address” around FBS, Emmert believes the separation of FBS into a new entity would be an “ill-advised approach,” according to a report at sportsbusinessdaily.com. In fact, he called it “exactly the wrong thing to do.”
Related: Knight Commission Endorses FBS Split from NCAA
Emmert's comments his week followed a statement released Dec. 3 by the NCAA, which read, "The governance and oversight of college sports are determined by the presidents of the schools who participate. The nearly 1,100 presidents of NCAA schools have consistently sought to create the most effective and fair ways to support student athletes. Presently, the NCAA is discussing the long-term sustainability of intercollegiate athletics. These discussions are focused on promoting the education, health and safety and fair treatment of college athletes. NCAA members within Division I have long sought to include a diverse representation of schools while supporting all student-athletes in similar ways.”
Meanwhile, Emmert addressed the NCAA's decision to move its basketball tournaments to a bubble environment. For the men’s tournament, the “obvious place to do that” is Indianapolis, Emmert said, where the 2021 Final Four was already scheduled to take place. Emmert noted Indianapolis has “a lot of facilities and a lot of logistics that could work.” While they “haven’t made a firm, clear decision” yet, Emmert said one is expected in the coming weeks. He added they still need to “work out all of our health protocols” before finalizing any plans.
For the women’s tournament, San Antonio, where that Final Four was set to take place in 2021, continues to be looked at as a potential site.
