Chan Gailey, head football coach
Georgia Institute of Technology
Macon Telegraph

Discussing emergency legislation from the Division I Board of Directors that prohibits the use of private or charter planes to transport prospects to and from official visits:

"If you bring a kid on a private plane, he doesn't understand what it's like to get from Baltimore to (a remote campus). If he flew in on a private plane, then it's a lot different from how he's going to make that trip for four years back and forth."

Frank Beamer, head football coach
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Miami Herald

"It's different bringing them into our place than it is bringing them into Maryland. There, you can fly them into Dulles or National (in Washington, D.C.), and you're done, (but) make it something that's real rather than something that happens on the weekend. I just believe a kid should choose a school because of the school."

Student-athlete behavior

Tony Barnhart, columnist
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Now I've heard all the arguments. I've heard that there is no more bad behavior now by athletes than there ever was. It's just us weasels in the media reporting on it and blowing it out of proportion.

"I've heard that for every college athlete behaving badly, there are dozens going to class and doing things the right way.

"I've heard that too many of these young men grow up without fathers and therefore lack the discipline to avoid antisocial behavior -- especially if they've been drinking.

"I've heard that the elimination of dorms exclusively for athletes has taken away some of the ability to monitor and counsel these student-athletes.

"All of those things may be true. But they are also irrelevant.

"What is relevant is that respected institutions of higher learning are being embarrassed by a small segment of their students. Compassion is a noble thing, but there comes a point where the integrity of the institution must prevail over those who feel that their athletic gifts give them a blank check at the bank of public decorum."

Academic reform

Bob Knight, head men's basketball coach
Texas Tech University
Chicago Tribune

Discussing the disincentives program adopted in Division I last spring that holds institutions accountable for student-athlete academic success:

"I've been a head coach in college basketball now for 39 years and at three different institutions. We've had three kids in that period of time who were seniors who had completed their eligibility who don't have a degree. And two of them have enough hours.

"If I can do it by demanding that kids go to class, any coach in America can do exactly the same thing. And we don't need a (disincentives package) to cover what we ought to be doing as our primary responsibility, and that's seeing that kids get an education."

Television advertising

Kyle Kallander, commissioner
Big South Conference
Chattanooga Times Free Press

Discussing beer commercials during college sports telecasts:

"We have put a lot of money into drug and alcohol education for student-athletes. But then if we turn around and take money from beer companies to support athletics, that's a hypocritical stance. We should put our money where our mouth is and say we are not going to take money from those companies."

College sports on television

Jim Delany, commissioner
Big Ten Conference
USA Today

Discussing the impact of ESPN on college sports:

"From a media and technical perspective, it's hard to identify one other entity that has had a more pervasive effect on college football and basketball than ESPN. I can't say it's been all positive. We have had a hard time managing our celebrity that has been created by ESPN and others. Sometimes our players have grown up too much. But for the most part, the exposure on ESPN has been phenomenal."