Coach Eddie Robinson - 1984 Future of College Athletics NCAA Television Contracts (Part 1)

Shared for historical purposes only. This is from a July 31, 1984 U.S. Congressional hearing of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. There are those who might think that this sun-committee hearing to be about sports, there are others who might think it to be about television. Neither of those views would be accurate. Yes, much of the discussion will be about the broadcasting of college football games, and in fact, it is that communications aspect upon which this subcommittee jurisdiction rests.

This hearing is about a major contribution to the future of this nation's institutions of higher learning. The Supreme Court of the United States on June 27, 1984 broke up a 32 year reign when it ruled that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the NCAA, could no longer serve as sole agent for colleges and universities in the sale of television rights for football games. The subcommittee examined the responses by colleges and universities, universities and by broadcasters at all levels to that Supreme Court decision, an attempt to explore the likely impacts of those responses upon colleges and universities.

Beyond dispute is the financial value of football to the well being of most colleges or universities and many institutions. The football program is a source of revenue distributed through the entire athletic department and to other areas of a university. That revenue oftentimes supports women's sports and other non-revenue producing sports. The income from NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) college football is generated from television and ticket sales. NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) would have less television time. 

Beyond this, the football team and the televising of its games often access to single most important factor and stimulating contributions from the university's friends and alumni.