Irving, Texas – The Big 12 Conference announced today the lineup for its second national “State of College Athletics” Forum to further examine the issues facing college athletics. The Forum, which will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Oct.
21, continues the discussion that began at the inaugural Forum hosted by the Big 12 in New York City in August.
The October Forum will feature a panel of respected authorities from intercollegiate athletics, university leadership and sports journalism representing a diverse range of opinions and perspectives on the future of college athletics. The panel will address two topics: “Where Does the Money Go – The Business of College Athletics” and “Are Student Athletes Employees?” The 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and writer Jimmy Roberts, who moderated the first Forum, will also moderate the event in Washington, D.C.
“We developed the ‘State of College Athletics’ Forum series as a way to bring together some of the brightest minds in intercollegiate athletics to have open, productive dialogue about the broad range of issues facing college athletics today and beyond,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “Our goal with these Forums is not to assemble a group of people who all share the same points of view. Rather, it is to have experts representing all sides of the debate sit down and have an unfettered discussion about the many complex aspects of this issue. We believe an unrestricted exchange of ideas – made possible by the Big 12 Forums – is the best way to fully understand the issue and determine the way forward.”
Broadcaster and Forum moderator Jimmy Roberts added, “While the conversation at the first Forum was tremendously insightful, it is important to continue the discussion. The issues facing college athletics are not going to disappear, and these events provide a venue to ensure all aspects of the topic are examined closely by some of the most important opinion leaders and policymakers associated with college sports.”
Additional details of the Oct. 21 event include (all times Eastern):
11:45 a.m. Lunch and keynote address by Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby
3:00 p.m. Forum I begins with a 90-minute panel discussion entitled,
“Where Does the Money Go – The Business of College Athletics”
4:30 p.m. Break
4:45 p.m. Forum II continues with an additional 90-minute panel discussion entitled,
“Are Student Athletes Employees?”
6:15 p.m. – Reception available for event attendees and panelists
7:30 p.m. (Note: On-site locations will be provided for one-on-one interviews with panelists)
In addition to Bowlsby and Roberts, other members of the panels will include: USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz; the USOC’s Scott Blackmun; USA Today’s Christine Brennan; TCU Athletic Director Chris Del Conte; ESPN’s Len Elmore; Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis; Former Congressman Tom McMillen; The New York Times’ Joe Nocera; Former Arizona State University Athletic Director Lisa Love; Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel; and University of Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger. Brief biographical information about each panelist confirmed as of Oct. 7 is provided below.
Release from Rob Carolla, Director of Communications