The Wild World of College Athletics
 
The past two years have ushered in a tidal wave of change across the entire landscape of college athletics. Depending upon who you ask, not all of it is for the better.
 
I am of the opinion that change was long overdue, especially in the areas of allowing student-athletes to capitalize on NIL and the loosening of overly restrictive legislation. Having served on several NCAA committees in recent years, I have witnessed attempts to modernize our industry but the calls for monumental change have only grown louder.    
 
These calls for change have come from every corner of our country, leading to the formation of a Division I Transformation Committee. This group will ultimately make recommendations that are expected to (not surprisingly given the committee's name) transform Division I and the manner in which it is governed. We have tried very hard as an association to level the playing field as much as possible (shared governance, access to championships, coaching, and scholarship limits, etc.), and that has not always allowed for the flexibility that is now needed across Division I.
     
We live in a world that was unthinkable only a short time ago. Student-athletes are receiving seven-figure NIL deals and the transfer portal has become a refuge for thousands of young people across all sports. Academic incentive payments of up to $5,980 annually can now also be offered to every student-athlete. Add the chaos created by conference realignment and it may appear as if the Division I model as we know it will soon be a relic of the past.
 
I believe that we are experiencing a seismic self-correction that will lead to a stronger model for Division I. So much of the focus has been on the finances, and rightfully so as the rising costs of running a championship-caliber Division I program have escalated significantly. This is not about the "haves" versus the "have nots" as much as it is about strengthening the enterprise of Division I athletics for the long haul.
 
This is a flashpoint but it is hardly the endpoint. There are 358 Division I schools, and our job is to ensure that Stony Brook continues to rise among them. We're poised, we're prepared and we're positioned for success. Stay tuned.
 
Getting Ready for the CAA!
 
The excitement is building for our inaugural year in the CAA and, with our first official athletic contest of the year rapidly approaching, it's starting to feel very real. Women's soccer will get us started on August 18, when Fordham makes the quick trip to LaValle Stadium. It will be the first of many events in a year filled with tremendous promise.
 
There is so much that goes into planning for a new year, which is why the summer is such a pivotal time. Ever since we made the decision to move to the CAA our focus was on positioning ourselves for success in year one while building for years two, three, four and five.
 
As our fall sport student-athletes return to campus, it is clear that they are energized by the opportunity to compete in the CAA. In many ways it feels like a completely fresh start, which after the past two-plus years is exactly what we need.
 
Our first non-football CAA conference contest comes early as our men's soccer team battles Hofstra on September 3, in a game that was originally scheduled as a non-conference game.
 
It's been a long time coming but we're almost there!
 
Getting Ready for Football!
 
I hope that you plan to join us when the 2022 football season kicks off under the lights of LaValle Stadium as we host Rhode Island on Thursday, September 1, at 7 p.m.
 
Our team just wrapped up summer workouts and will report to campus on July 31, to prepare for fall camp. I am very excited about the talent on this year's team, including the return of CAA rushing leader Ty Son Lawton. Ty Son was just named to the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes who are eligible for the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl and 2023 NFL Draft class.
 
Another storyline to follow is the question of who will line up under center. For the first time since 2019, we will have a new full-time starter at quarterback following the graduation of Tyquell Fields. I watched our three returning quarterbacks Daron Bryden, Drew Guttieri, and Josh Zamot battle during the spring and have tremendous confidence regardless of which one takes the first snap against Rhode Island.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, keep an eye on Buffalo transfer Eric Black up front and returning All-American linebacker Tyler King, who led all CAA freshmen with 95 tackles.
 
Our team is fired up and ready to represent Stony Brook and the Long Island community this season. I'm grateful to all of our season ticket holders and invite you to get yours if you don't already have them. Tickets for individual games are now on sale so let's pack LaValle on September 1, and start the year strong!
 
Keep believing!
 


Shawn