Lee Reed, associate athletics director
Eastern Michigan University
Athletic Administration

"The role of the student-athlete truly has changed since my time as a student-athlete in the early 1980s, and I have witnessed its evolution. The development of the Life Skills program, along with the work of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, are just two examples of the many ways in which student-athletes today are given the opportunity to develop leadership skills and the life skills necessary to succeed in this global economy. Also, the eligibility triangle, which includes academic support, compliance and certification, has made student-athletes and institutions accountable for satisfactory progress toward degrees in credible major programs.

"You no longer see the gross disservice to student-athletes that you saw 20 years ago, where unprepared or underprepared students were admitted to institutions of higher learning without any of the support services we now take for granted. Student-athletes today have all the resources necessary and take full advantage of the character-building principles gained through athletics competition."

Division I-A football playoff

David Frohnmayer, president
University of Oregon
New York Times

"Football is a great 'what if' game. You have to be willing to go into collegiate sports with the understanding that on any given Saturday almost anything can happen. That's one of the feelings we celebrate in this country. It's not an irrational feeling but a nonrational emotion