Elon University’s Department of Sport Management will host its annual symposium on Wednesday, Feb. 26, featuring a keynote conversation and two expert-led panel discussions highlighting “The Future of College Football.” The in-person event is free and open to the public.
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Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips, one of the leading voices across the college sports landscape, will serve as the keynote speaker for Elon’s Sport Management Symposium slated for Wednesday, Feb. 26. With a theme of “The Future of College Football,” the annual symposium will also include two panel discussions featuring sport industry experts from college athletics and professional football.
The free, in-person event will be held in the School of Communications’ Turner Theatre from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m., kicking off with a 40-minute conversation between Phillips and Assistant Professor of Sport Management Bill Squadron. Elon community members, including students, faculty and staff, are all encouraged to attend. Off-campus community members are also welcome, but they are asked to reserve a (free) ticket beforehand. For more information, visit the symposium’s website.
College athletics, particularly college football, faces several significant issues, many of which have far-reaching implications for players, coaches, universities and the broader sports ecosystem. These challenges include Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) rights and compensation; conference realignment and expansion; player health and safety; financial sustainability; and the transfer portal and increased player mobility.
Given his decades-long run as a leader in college athletics, including his tenures as vice president for athletics and recreation at Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University, Phillips is well positioned to discuss the array of challenges facing collegiate sports.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jim Phillips to campus to share his incredible experiences shaping and transforming college athletics,” Squadron said. “As in past years, the symposium will allow Elon students to benefit tremendously from the insights shared by Commissioner Phillips and the other speakers.”
After Phillips’ conversation, the symposium will move on to panel discussions, starting with “The House Settlement and Revenue Sharing for College Football Players.” Moderated by Ralph Russo, senior college sports writer for The Athletic, this panel will explore the debate over how to fairly distribute the revenue generated by college football and potential ways to compensate players. Participants include Chris Helms, executive associate athletic director, Virginia Tech; Joe Hernandez, founder and CEO, Just Win Management Group; and Jennifer Strawley, director of athletics, Elon University.
A second panel, titled “Should FBS Football Separate from the Rest of College Sports?,” will discuss the potential pros and cons of the Football Bowl Subdivision branching away from other collegiate athletic offerings. Elon alumnus Wes Durham ’88, play-by-play announcer for ESPN and ACC Network, will moderate the conversation with Nina King, athletic director, Duke University; Amy Perko, CEO, Knight Commission; and Brendon Plack, senior vice president, public policy and government affairs, National Football League.
As part of the symposium, faculty of the Elon University Poll and the Department of Sport Management will lead a short presentation of relevant survey data and gather input from audience members about potential questions for an upcoming national poll on issues related to college athletics.
Phillips may have limited media availability prior to his keynote address. Interested media members should contact Amy Yakola, deputy commissioner, chief of external strategy, ACC, at 336-337-4893 or ayakola@theacc.org.
Symposium program
4:20 p.m. – Keynote Address – A conversation with Jim Phillips, Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference
5 p.m. – Elon Poll Presentation
5:10 p.m. – “The House Settlement and Revenue Sharing for College Football Players” Panel
Moderator:
– Ralph Russo, Senior College Sports Writer, The Athletic
Panelists:
– Chris Helms, Executive Associate Athletic Director/Sport Administration, Virginia Tech
– Joe Hernandez, Agent and CEO, Sport Management Group, LLC
– Jennifer Strawley, Director of Athletics, Elon University
5:50 p.m. – “Should FBS Football Separate from the Rest of College Sports?” Panel
Moderator:
– Wes Durham ’88, play-by-play announcer, ESPN and ACC Network
Panelists:
– Nina King, Athletic Director, Duke University
– Amy Perko, CEO, Knight Commission
– Brendon Plack, Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs, NFL