SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference’s Council of Presidents has reaffirmed its commitment to consider any legislation coming from the NCAA’s new governance structure through the prism of the student-athlete experience within the basic missions of the member institutions.

The annual fall meeting of the Council, conducted earlier this week on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., featured a two-hour discussion with Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA. The group heard Dr. Emmert’s thoughts on preserving the collegiate model of intercollegiate athletics while enhancing benefits to student-athletes.

“Our presidents and chancellors talked about facing the new challenges heading our way with the autonomy granted the five conferences,” said Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. “The dialogue with Dr. Emmert was extremely beneficial and our CEOs are committed to working together to navigate these challenges.”

The Council approved the following.

Statement By The Members Of The Southern Conference

For more than nine decades, the Southern Conference has strived to provide the optimum student-athlete experience possible within the framework of its institutional missions. Our members subscribe to the theory that participation in athletic competition is a privilege and a valuable endeavor, provided it does not serve to gradually separate athletes from the campus experience of the general student population.

As the Southern Conference membership considers its options relative to autonomous measures approved by the five conferences, the Council of Presidents endorses actions that support these fundamental principles:

(1)   That a proper balance between academics and athletics competition be promoted;

(2)   That participation in intercollegiate athletics provides valuable learning experiences that complement lessons learned in the classroom and laboratory as we prepare future generations of leaders;

(3)   That we are committed to anticipating and planning for the future needs of our intercollegiate athletic programs in a spirit of cooperation and mutual benefit of the member institutions;

(4)   That we will comply with principles of responsible fiscal management of athletics by, of, and for the Conference and its member institutions.

The Southern Conference reaffirms its belief that the collegiate model provides the most appropriate parameters for intercollegiate athletics. The collegiate model, as the Conference and its member institutions recognize it, allows each institution to deliver a quality student-athlete experience while operating within its means. The Conference thinks the collegiate model permits strong, passionate competition without sacrificing academic missions, blurring the line of professionalism or jeopardizing the financial health of all varsity sports programs.   

With this as their primary filter, the Presidents and Chancellors of the Southern Conference plan to carefully consider each piece of autonomous legislation. More than ever, we remain committed to our vision statement of preparing student-athletes for life’s challenges since 1921.