Lets Talk Power 5 1/3

Just to be clear, if you came here for expert opinion on this subject, you may be disappointed by the time you get half way thru this. 

I'll give my opinion, use some quotes from other sources, and try to leave you a little more knowledgeable by the time we finish.

As you know by now the NCAA Board of  Directors approved "Autonomy" for the 5 biggest conferences within Division 1. This effectively allows for the schools inside these 5 conferences, SEC, ACC, B1G, PAC12, and BIG 12, to govern themselves in some areas, yet remain within the Division 1 framework. 

According to an article on AL.com by Mike Herndon this proposal will allow flexibility only in certain areas.

"Under this new model, Power 5 conferences could propose certain measures for a vote as early as January, including the following reforms:
--  Cost-of-attendance scholarships
--  Extended medical and insurance benefits for student-athletes
--  Guaranteed multi-year scholarships
--  Tougher Academic Progress Rate (APR) guidelines
--  Loosened regulations on contact between student-athletes and agents
--  Decreased time demands on student-athletes
--  Streamlining of other overly restrictive, nit-picky rules governing what may be considered benefits"

These schools within the Power 5 will not be able to change scholarship limits, or rules of the game. 

One item listed above that causes the most concern is the possibility of loosened regulations on  "Contact between an Agent, and a Player". 

Lets look at that from this perspective.  Students that are not athletes are allowed to attend job fairs. This is where they go to meet with and discuss availability of potential jobs in areas that they have concentrated their studies, or even to research certain jobs to maybe refine their curriculum. 

Why can't athletes be able to do the same thing, in the area that they have chosen? Instead of waiting until the end of the season to talk with a review board, why not have a job fair where the student athletes, under strict supervision, are able to meet with several Agents, and professional organizations? 

Each school would have much better control of the environment that their student athletes are exposed to Agents, Accounting Organizations, and Financial Institutions. 

This "Autonomy " could be a really good thing for the student athlete as long as the main focus of this, is for the benefit of the student athlete. 

Talk it up in the comment section, or on the social media circuit. 

WAR EAGLE!