As Congress debates college sports, athletes-turned-senators have a seat at the table
U.S. Senators with backgrounds as former college athletes are playing a pivotal role in the debate over the Protect College Sports Act. The legislation aims to address the financial and regulatory chaos currently impacting Division I athletics.
Why it matters
The involvement of former athletes in legislative reform highlights the shift in college sports from amateurism to a multi-billion dollar commercial industry.
WASHINGTON — With a major college sports reform bill on the brink of a milestone in Congress, some former athletes have a special place in the debate: the handful of U.S. Senators who played college sports themselves.
Sports With $2.7 billion settlement approved, college sports' big money era is officially here Supporters of the Protect College Sports Act , which is poised to pass the Senate on Monday, say the bill is needed to fix what they call an era of chaos in Division I athletics, characterized by ballooning pay for athletes, unlimited transfers between schools, constant lawsuits over eligibility rules and runaway athletic department budgets.
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