In recent weeks, the Pac 10 conference invited a majority of schools in the Big 12 to join them. Though only two schools eventually left the Big 12 (Colorado to the Pac 10 and Nebraska to the Big 10), it looked as if the college athletics world was on the verge of a seismic change. Kevin White, vice president and director of athletics at Duke, spoke with Keith Lawrence, director of media relations for the Office of News and Communications, about the recent flurry of activity, and how Duke fits into this shifting landscape.
Q: Can you shed some light on what we recently saw with the Pac 10, Big 10 and Big 12?
A: In my view, what we're observing are the realities of a free market system, kind of spiraling out of control within the not-for-profit sub-sector.
There was a book in the 1970s by James Michener, "Sports in America," in which the author prognosticates that 63 or 64 institutions, at some point, may separate themselves from the NCAA to form their own universe. One might say that's what the BCS (Bowl Championship System) has already done. Of course, that was 40 years ago. Makes me wonder just who was he talking with back then.
It is possible that football and basketball may someday create their own consortium outside the NCAA. At one point there were about a dozen major conferences, then there were six (BCS conferences); most recently, we almost condensed to two; maybe someday the landscape will operate under one newly formed consortium.
That's the game we are playing at this point, compression state economics. Some could argue, perhaps should argue, that those commercial realities should not drive the process, but that's the proverbial "oil in the water."
Very quickly, look at other sub-sectors. There used to be more than 1,000 banks in the United States in the early 90s. How many do we have now? Look at the airline industry, telecommunications. The free enterprise system tends to boil things down. Unfortunately, that's the trajectory intercollegiate athletics is traveling. And, yes, I am terribly concerned about this direction because I am a traditionalist and would hate to see any deviation from the current NCAA structure. I'm hopeful the Knight Commission, among others, can help negate this collision course.
Q: Why does it appear that football is driving these changes?
A: When you look at the college athletic TV dollar, 70 cents of every dollar is generated by football and 30 cents is derived by basketball .
The size of the venue has little to do with the economics of the high-profile sports. It comes down to viewership. The massive conference TV contracts are all but influenced by football ratings.
Q: There was talk that a few ACC teams could receive invites from the SEC. How would you assess where the ACC fits into the national landscape?
A: In my opinion, the ACC group is well-situated. All 12 members of the ACC are thrilled to belong to what is universally considered the very best major college conference in America. That's the read I get from everyone within the conference -- that they have deep respect and admiration for the Atlantic Coast Conference, and they would prefer to keep the conference exactly the way it is, per maintaining the membership at 12.
The ACC enjoys a tremendous mix of academics and athletics within the 12 member institutions; and on "game day" we are extremely competitive. To that end, the ACC represents the appropriate balance. Again, it is fair to say that the relationship between academics and athletics, across the ACC, is clearly in an enviable position, when compared to other BCS conferences.
Q: As one of the top programs in college basketball, does Duke ever get feelers from other conferences, and can you imagine a scenario where Duke would not be a part of the ACC?
A: No! Folks within intercollegiate athletics know we're unequivocally married to the ACC. Duke is totally dedicated to the mission of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and that's well understood within the broad conference landscape.
Q: Earlier this month, the Knight Commission came out with recommendations aimed at restoring the balance between academics and athletics. Many of those recommendations involved finances. Can you describe how Duke may be affected by this?
A: Historically speaking, Duke has long been fairly conservative from a financial perspective. The recommendations that were detailed would have minimal material impact on Duke Athletics.
Q: This has obviously been an exciting spring for Duke athletics, with the men's basketball and lacrosse teams winning national championships. How would you assess the overall state of Duke Athletics, and what can we expect to see in the coming years?
A: Duke Athletics is clearly moving in a very positive direction.
Secondly, relative to what we might expect, it's fair to say the main objective is to sustain success in all dimensions while operating in what we can only characterize as the coveted Duke culture, and/or "the Duke way."