A university athlete advocacy group is urging University of California regents to dam UCLA’s deliberate transfer to the Big Ten convention, citing the toll that the extra journey could have on athletes’ educational efficiency and psychological well being, amongst different elements.
In a letter addressed to the regents and dated Wednesday, National College Players Association govt director Ramogi Huma described the varsity’s proposed transfer to the Big Ten as a “short-sighted cash seize.” He additionally argued that the transfer will disproportionately influence Black athletes.
The board of regents is anticipated to rule on the potential transfer at a gathering subsequent week.
“A UCLA transfer to the Big Ten undermines UC’s academic mission,” Huma wrote within the letter, a duplicate of which was obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
“No matter how a lot cash is generated, UCLA can not spend its method out of elevated journey instances for its athletes that can instantly scale back UCLA athletes’ capacity to maintain up with their teachers and full their diploma.”
Follow each recreation: Latest NCAA College Football Scores and Schedules
UCLA announced in June that it would be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, together with fellow West Coast powerhouse Southern California.
The colleges have mentioned the transfer will convey added stability and nationwide media publicity, although essentially the most substantial advantages can be monetary. According to tax information, the Big Ten distributed $48.9 million to every of its member colleges through the 2021 fiscal yr, whereas the Pac-12 distributed about $19.8 million. The Big Ten has since signed a new media rights deal value a reported common of greater than $1 billion per yr.
While USC is a personal faculty and may swap conferences at its leisure, UCLA should first obtain approval from the UC board of regents, which has been discussing the matter for months. UC basic counsel Charles Robinson confirmed at a gathering this fall that the regents have the authority to dam the transfer.
One important concern amongst board members is that UCLA’s transfer would have a destructive monetary influence on Cal, because the system’s flagship faculty is staying within the Pac-12. Travel is one other, because the Big Ten’s present member colleges are within the Midwest and East Coast.
Huma famous in his letter that, in response to a Pac-12 survey, the typical convention athlete dedicates 50 hours per week to their sport through the season – a determine that might absolutely go up with the addition of cross-country flights to varsities like Maryland or Rutgers.
He additionally reasoned that the elevated journey might disproportionately hinder the tutorial efficiency of Black male athletes, who signify 28% of Black male college students at UCLA. White male athletes make up simply 2% of white male college students on the faculty.
MORE:What makes successful college football coaching hire? Here are the key traits.
BOWL SCHEDULE:The complete list of all 42 college football matchups
COLLEGE FOOTBALL RE-RANK:Ohio State moves into No. 4 spot in NCAA Re-Rank 1-131
“This transfer would additionally scale back the power of UCLA athletes’ members of the family to attend video games,” Huma wrote within the letter. “… It will hit the athletes from low-income properties the toughest as a result of their households will be unable to afford airplane tickets and resort stays to attend video games which might be on the opposite aspect of the nation.”
UCLA leaders say the extra income from a Big Ten transfer would assist the varsity present extra assets for athletes. They have pledged so as to add $10 million to the athletic division funds to cowl further educational and psychological well being assets for athletes, in addition to constitution flights to restrict journey time.
Huma, in the meantime, argues that solely a handful of high staff – such because the athletic director and head soccer coach – would reap a lot of the monetary advantages. A former UCLA soccer participant, he has lengthy been vital of the NCAA and advocated for a revenue-sharing system by which athletes obtain a lower of the tv income that they generate for universities and conferences.
“Not all cash is nice cash,” Huma wrote to the UC board. “The Regents shouldn’t let a handful of individuals promote the soul of the UCLA athletics program for TV {dollars} that can be spent on luxurious packing containers in stadiums and lavish salaries for a couple of.”
Contributing: The Associated Press
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
Discussion about this post