The University of Pittsburgh changed conferences between years 2010 and 2013. The university withdrew its affiliation from the Big East conference and joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The change of conferences implied that the University of Pittsburgh would compete in NCAA sports under ACC (University of Pittsburgh, n.d). Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Steve Pederson who is the institution’s athletics director made an announcement of the conference change in a session where an ACC Commisioner was in attendance (University Times, 2011). The Board of Trustees at Pittsburgh University made the move official on 23 rd September 2011 where explanation behind the Pitt’s conference realignment decision was made by Nordenberg. The move to join the Atlantic Coast Conference by Pitts University was supported by Presidential Council members and Pitt’s trustees who unanimously consented to subscribe to ACC membership. Pittsburgh University as a result would pay an exit fee of $5 million.
One of the reasons that prompted the move from Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference was the academic prestige of ACC affiliate members. The University felt that it would be able to align itself with highly regarded and prestigious athletic and academic institutions across the United States by joining ACC. Additionally, the Pittsburgh history of research collaboration with many of the ACC member institutions motivated the university to make conference realignment decision. Pittsburgh University chancellor also cited the geographic advantage of competing and recruiting in major media markets such as Boston, Atlanta and Washington D.C as another reason that spurred the conference change. Pittsburgh University explained that due to the changing landscape, moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference, would enable the university to exploit and pursue institutional opportunities thereby strengthening the institutions intercollegiate sports ( Smith , 2014). Pitt University felt by staying in Big East Conference it would continue losing revenue, which was the primary reason that prompted the Institution to file a suit against Big East over lost earnings. Joining Atlantic Coast Conference would guarantee that Pitt would get the share of revenue it deserves. Pittsburgh University felt that ACC would provide greater and long term financial security due to the conference stability.
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I disagree with Justice White’ dissent that college sports is not a business. Under the watch of NCAA, college sport has been turned into a money making affair. Colleges are raking in huge amounts of money thereby making the sports system a profit driven enterprise. The NCAA for example receives lucrative income from television ads associated with college tournaments. Television contracts, merchandise sales, corporate sponsorships, ticket sales and television contract associated with college sports have entirely turned the sport system into commercial ventures. Colleges collect billions of dollars annually making it clear that college sports is awash with money (Karen & Washington, 2015). In my view, commercialism has been embedded into college sports thereby making it a money making and spending machine. For example, the motive to join Atlantic Coast Conference by Pittsburgh University for greater and long term financial security was a misplaced money making priority that ought not to have motivated the realignment decision. I hold the opinion that college sports should be guided by the amateurism principle which implies that institution sports should not have a commercial appeal as doing so would amount to a violation of antitrust laws. Commercializing college sports by for example compensating athletes is a mission that is not tethered to education. It would be imperative for colleges to make a distinction between professional sports and college sports.
References
Karen, D., & Washington, R. E. (2015). Sociological perspectives on sport: The games outside the games . Routledge.
Smith , C., (2014). The Most Valuable Conferences In College Sports 2014, https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2014/04/15/the-most-valuable-conferences-in-college-sports-2014/#27d05a4f774c
University Times (2011). Move to ACC conference explained, https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=17985
University of Pittsburgh (n.d). Pitt to Join the ACC, https://www.225.pitt.edu/story/pitt-join-acc
