NCAA Executive Commitee Unanimously Affirms Confidence in Mark Emmert

The NCAA’s Executive Committee released a statement through Michigan State president Lou Anna K. Simon “unanimously affirming” their confidence in Mark Emmert’s stewardship. The justification is about as vacant and out of touch as the explanations for the NCAA’s recent actions.

"“The NCAA Executive Committee continues to support the association’s broad-based reform agenda. This reform agenda must include meaningful change in the regulatory process beyond the changes in enforcement that have already been enacted. We, as the Executive Committee, on Friday affirmed our expectation that the association move forward with the next phase of its regulatory review. A thorough examination and subsequent improvement of processes, policies, procedures and investigative tools is necessary. Developing a mechanism for monitoring adherence with policies, while also reviewing the interaction between the legal and regulatory staffs, is key to moving forward. In short, we demand the highest level of integrity and accountability not only from our peers but also from the national office. While progress has been made, additional important work remains. Mark Emmert was hired to lead a major transformation of the NCAA. Much has been accomplished without fanfare, such as academic reforms, enhanced fiscal accountability and organizational transparency. The Executive Committee and President Emmert recognize there is much yet to do and that the road to transformational change is often bumpy and occasionally controversial. Therefore, on Friday the Executive Committee unanimously affirmed its confidence in Mark’s leadership as president and its support for his ongoing efforts to implement these essential and historic reforms.”"

So, the Executive Committee “demands the highest level of integrity and accountability…from the national office,” which sounds authoritative. They then blather on about the “road to transformational change” being “often bumpy and occasionally controversial” and decline to hold Emmert accountable for the NCAA’s grave lapse in integrity. Emmert all but forced the NCAA Executive Committee to act by stating the future was in their hands.

Media organizations, such as APSE, have been hammering the NCAA for refusing to meet with them over a variety issues. We guess this is part of the enhanced “organization transparency” the Executive Committee praised? Emmert, fittingly, found this the opportune time to take a vacation.

[Photo via USA Today Sports]