the BigAmateurism monologues

College sports now exist in a vacuum of leadership, self-regulation, and values-based messaging. The NCAA national office is collapsing under the weight of its arrogance and incompetence, while the Power 5—through the Transformation Committee—is beginning to sound more like Mark Emmert and the worn-out NCAA propaganda machine. The regulatory crisis is particularly acute in the Power 5’s attempts to reign in what they perceive as an out-of-control name, image, and likeness market. The NIL “guidance” memo released by the Division I Board of Directors on May 9th is a testament to the impotence of the NCAA and Power 5 as enforcers of college sports’ most sacred values—no pay for play and no recruiting inducements. This episode analyzes the state of college sports regulation, emphasizing infractions and enforcement, including a historical perspective on NCAA regulatory authorities.