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By Randy York
At the risk of stereotyping, I’ve found an
exception to public perception … you know, the idea that says most avid
sports fans are so consumed they never seem to find the time to attend a
lecture, experience an opera, watch a ballet or, horror of horrors,
spend a day at an art museum instead of a football game. Well, here’s my
notable exception that breaks barriers and blazes new trails in Lincoln
… a full-scale lecture with the following title: “The NCAA: Who, What, When, Where, How and Certainly Why”. The person who will deliver that lecture is one of the most powerful women in college athletics, none other than Josephine (Jo) R. Potuto,
a professor of constitutional law at the University of Nebraska and the
Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for the NU Athletic Department.
Even if the title of that Wednesday, March 28
lecture at 3:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Union Auditorium doesn’t grab you,
please understand that Jo is the author of the NCAA Division 1-A FAR
statement on the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) post season. As
president of the NCAA Division 1-A Faculty Athletics Representatives Association, Potuto
heads an organization that’s well aware the FBS conference
commissioners are evaluating the post season with one primary purpose in
mind – to recommend to the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee the
scope and the contours of the FBS moving forward. In other words, before
any decisions are made, you can bet the Faculty Athletic Reps will
weigh in on all possibilities of what really is best for college
football.
Make no mistake. Potuto’s group studies,
plans, researches and represents all the various positions on the FBS
post season and that includes preferences for 1) returning to the bowl
system that predated the Bowl Coalition; 2) returning to the system
under the Bowl Coalition which left the bowl system intact except for
pairing #1 vs. #2 in a national championship bowl game; 3) the BCS
system as currently configured or with modifications that have no
additional detrimental impact on student-athlete well-being (the elimination of automatic qualifier conferences, for example); and 4) the newest idea that continues to get national attention … the possible implementation of a four-team playoff.
“That said, we know of no faculty support for
a playoff that entails more than four teams,” Potuto said. “Whatever
the configuration of the FBS football post season, what must be front
and center for all of us in governance positions in intercollegiate
athletics is the academic, health, and overall well-being of the
student-athletes.”
I will stop right there and make that a
teaser for college football fans – and any other interested parties,
including academicians – to attend this intriguing presentation in the
Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series. I am convinced this is one
lecture that all college football fans would enjoy hearing. Potuto told
me her presentation has been distilled to about 35 minutes, leaving
plenty of time to discuss her group’s research and primary data points
that explain the FAR’s conclusions on what any post-season model must
NOT include. So gear yourself up, use your ears and join the debate. As
interesting as Potuto’s lecture will be, the Q&A could be even more
compelling.
One thing seems fairly certain. Whoever
leaves the Nebraska Union Auditorium in less than two weeks will
understand how much a constitutional law professor can grasp. That, in
turn, will equip those in the audience to be well armed on this popular
subject whenever they might call in to a sports talk show or decide to
join an Internet discussion. Perhaps they can identify themselves in
such conversations as “a voice of reason” because everyone seems to have
an opinion on a college football playoff, but very few back it up with
research.
The N-Sider recommends this lecture,
sponsored by the UNL Research Council, the Office of the Chancellor and
the Office of Research and Economic Development. The fact that it’s a
free public lecture is merely a bonus that will help you get out of your
comfort zone and try something different. Whenever Potuto gets to the
“Certainly Why” part of her NCAA discussion, I’m expecting another bonus
… something perhaps that may surprise us. Whatever the case, it’s
always better to get an educated point of view instead of assuming we
know all the answers. Here’s hoping Potuto simplifies the complicated
and helps Nebraska fans get the inside scoop. See you there!
Send a comment or story idea to ryork@huskers.com
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Voices from Husker Nation
Thanks for your always great stories. Is
there any chance of getting the content in print, audio recording or
video for those of us on the far fringes of the frontier? I wish I could
be there. Jo obviously is one sharp woman. Being a constitutional law
professor, I’d like to get her personal take on our current state of
federal government and how we as citizens can be instrumental in getting
back to following the Constitution. I’m wondering if she would
be a fan of Ron Paul, at least in regard to Constitutional matters. Now
THAT would be another great lecture/debate for another time. Keep those
great articles coming! Brad Loseke, Beaverton, Oregon
Thanks for a great write-up on the upcoming
Jo Potuto lecture. If you have any way to encourage a webcast of this
either live or at a later date, please do so for us. Your articles are
most appreciated by Husker fans here in Texas. Bud Hunnel, Houston, Texas
