WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following prepared remarks at today’s “Promoting the Well-Being and Academic Success of College Athletes” hearing:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing to examine the current state of collegiate athletics, and I appreciate our witnesses for appearing here today. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, including the president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), on how the NCAA and its member institutions are fulfilling the commitments made to our collegiate student-athletes. I am an avid sports fan, and I know that other members of this committee are too. As a basketball player in high school and college, and the proud father of a daughter who competed at the Division I level, I certainly recognize that participation in organized sports not only requires physical and mental strength, but also teaches teamwork and other skills that serve you throughout life. However, the college student-athlete is and should be a student first. Colleges and universities must remember and prioritize their academic obligation to student-athletes.

As the popularity of college sports has grown – particularly the popularity of college football and men’s and women’s basketball – so too has the profitability of many collegiate athletic programs. In the current environment, the stakes have been raised both for the student-athlete who wants to succeed and for the university that has a financial interest in winning games. Increasing revenues for some schools and conferences – due in large part to lucrative contracts for the broadcast rights to football and basketball games – have become more common. Revenues from ticket sales and merchandizing efforts, for some schools, are also significant. And, of course, alumni want to see their teams win – and may be inspired to contribute to winning programs. 

As we’ll hear today, the NCAA is a member-driven organization whose stated mission is “to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount.” However, a major criticism of college sports is that some institutions appear unable to balance the core academic mission of the university and the commercial considerations that often accompany college athletics, particularly in high-profile sports. Many feel the commitment to the “student-athlete” is falling short. Another point of contention involves athletic scholarships, and whether the practice of offering annual, as opposed to multi-year, scholarships unfairly places student-athletes at risk of losing their scholarships as a result of poor-performance or injury. But while multi-year scholarships may benefit student-athletes, they may disadvantage smaller schools who can’t match the resources of larger institutions. 

Clearly, collegiate athletics in America is not without controversy, and we will hear from some of the NCAA’s most vocal critics today. While I am sure that today’s hearing will highlight a host of important issues, I hope we will not lose sight of the positive impact that amateur athletics has made on the lives of countless student-athletes. And we must remember that college athletics is not just about football and basketball. The director of athletics at the University of South Dakota (USD) recently shared the results of the student-athlete exit interviews he conducts annually to evaluate the school’s athletic program from the vantage point of the athletes themselves. He underscored two stories that stood out from this past year’s athletes. The athletic director at USD reiterated how Dustin Gens, a sophomore diver at USD, recovered from open-heart heart surgery to qualify to dive at the NCAA Zone Championships– a feat that would not have been possible without the work of a dedicated training staff, academic support, coaches, team, and family. He also noted the moving story of Hanna Veselik, a sophomore swimmer, who leaned on friends, family, and teammates to help her through the tragic loss of her father, who passed away early in the season. With this support, Hanna was able to return to the pool and achieve lifetime best times in all of her swimming events at the Summit League Championships. As the USD athletic director puts it, “these two are just a sample of what college athletics should mean. If you strip away the money, fancy locker rooms, charter flights, and large budgets, you’re left with student-athletes who often have to overcome personal, social, economic, academic, and athletic adversity . . . all just to compete. But they frequently do it with passion and a determination that makes us all proud.” 

Recognizing that challenges exist, it is my hope that the NCAA, its member institutions, the student-athletes themselves, and other stakeholders will seek solutions that ­­promote the education, health, and well-being of student-athletes and seek to preserve amateurism in collegiate athletics. This is an area where Congress can provide a forum – but the solutions are most likely to come from those most directly involved in the education and development of student-athletes.

Mr. Chairman, thank you again for holding this hearing, and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.