Power 4 track coaches circulate memo on how to save their sport ahead of House settlement

We've covered plenty how the anticipated House settlement will affect college football, but those changes could pale in comparison to what might happen in other sports, particularly the "non-revenue" ones.

A group of 18 track & field coaches sent an open letter to their colleagues outlining the ways the House settlement could change funding for their sport (including cross country) while also outlining ways their sport must evolve in order to survive. 

"The landscape of collegiate athletics is shifting rapidly, and the future of track and field is at risk," the open letter begins. "Recent NCAA changes -- such as eliminating scholarship limits, implementing roster size caps and introducing revenue sharing -- will have a profound impact on our sport. This is a critical moment, and we can no longer afford to be passive. If programs are eliminated, they won't return."

The memo then paints a picture where the uncertainty around finances in college athletics could lead to cuts in roster spots, scholarships, and entire programs. 

On scholarships: "Without action, opportunities for student-athletes, particularly from underserved communities, could be drastically reduced."

Lower roster limits, the memo says, "may also encourage programs programs to recruit only fully developed athletes internationally, potentially reducing access for U.S. athletes." 

And on budget implications, the memo urges, "(i)f we don't secure necessary funding, scholarships, coaching positions, and facilities could be cut. Revenue sharing also pressures universities to direct additional funding to football and basketball."

The memo then argues that track & field and cross country must make themselves more marketable to television in order to survive. Straight out of a Black Mirror-type dystopia, this sport that has existed since human beings have had legs -- a sport that has existed at the NCAA level for more than 100 years -- must now contort itself to please the magic box in order to continue its existence. "Without wider exposure, track and field will struggle to gain the recognition it deserves and increase its value."

"For every athlete who earns a college scholarship, wins an NCAA championship, or makes an Olympic team, countless others pursue the same goal. Even those who don't reach the ultimate prize gain invaluable life experiences that lead to career success," the letter reads. "Eliminating the Olympic pipeline and NCAA opportunities will disrupt youth and high school track and field, removing incentives for young athletes to pursue a sport that has proven to foster success in life."

It's an interesting conundrum with potentially apocalyptic consequences. The so-called non-revenue sports are part of the tapestry that makes college athletics such a value and unique institution in American culture. They provide thousands upon thousands of young men and women an opportunity to pursue a college education, many of whom otherwise may not afford one, and broaden the mission and reach of the universities they represent. Track and field is an especially important sport, given the role it plays in America's Olympic dominance. No one denies this. Not one AD in America wants to think about cutting non-revenue sports.

At the same time, the Supreme Court ruled the NCAA's business model illegal. Thousands of athletes, particularly those in football and basketball, had billions of dollars stolen from them, as the NCAA and its schools redirected money that their labor earned to support athletes in sports that don't make nearly the same money. Imagine if every Green Bay Packer had his salary capped at $1 million a year because the organization needed that money to fund a swim team.

The crux of the issue seems to be whether or not the Courts eventually rule student-athletes to be employees of the universities they represent. 

The track and field open letter is the sport's attempt to ensure its survival before the industry gets to that point.

"The clock is ticking," the memo closes. "This is a critical moment for collegiate track and field, and we must take action to protect and preserve the sport."