Donald Trump to meet with key college sports decision-makers in golf outing where they'll discuss industry's future
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to host two of college sports' most influential leaders Sunday at his golf course in New Jersey.
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey are planning to golf with the president at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster in an invitation extended to them by the White House. The three men are expected to discuss the future of college athletics as Trump explores his involvement in the rapidly changing industry.
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Multiple sources spoke to Yahoo Sports about the planned event on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on the matter.
The significance of the meeting cannot be overstated. It comes two days after a California judge granted approval of a landmark legal settlement (House) that further evolves major college athletics into a more professionalized entity where schools will directly compensate athletes.
The two men attending the Trump meeting hold significant decision-making power.
Bevacqua presides over one of the country's most influential and valuable athletic departments — a school that's become a national leader during college sports' evolution. Trump holds a longtime relationship with Bevacqua, dating back to his days working as an executive at PGA of America. Sankey is described by many to be the most influential leader in the industry as he manages a conference that, with the Big Ten, is the most valuable and successful in the country.
Donald Trump has some history with Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, left, who is seen here in 2015, when Bevacqua was the CEO of PGA of America. (Jeffrey MacMillan for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
(The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The three men are expected to spend extended time together beyond their round of golf as NCAA leaders seek Congressional and White House assistance for a federal standard to stabilize and regulate what's become an unruly structure. Trump has grown interested in the issues, even deeply exploring the possibility of issuing an executive order and creating a commission to study the many developments — such as player movement in the transfer portal, booster-backed compensation to athletes, and the impact on women and Olympic sports.
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Such a meeting Sunday could trigger action from the White House, or possibly expedite Congressional negotiations over college sports legislation. Five U.S. senators — three Democrats and two Republicans — have held regular meetings over a federal college sports bill for the last several months. However, those discussions have been slowed recently by arising hurdles with bill concepts as well as global and domestic issues unrelated to college athletics.
Trump's involvement in college sports is serious enough that he began the creation of a presidential commission and even selected a chair of the group, Texas businessman Cody Campbell. However, partially in an effort to not impact Senate negotiations, the commission work was paused two weeks ago.
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For more than five years now, college leaders have spent millions of dollars in a lobbying effort on Capitol Hill as they seek legislation that deems athletes students, not employees; preempts state NIL laws; and provides protection for the NCAA and power leagues to enforce rules without legal challenges. Next week, the 13th Congressional hearing related to college sports will unfold — this one from members of a subgroup of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. A new House bill is expected to be introduced next week as well.
The Trump golf outing Sunday comes at a divided time, not just within Congress but in college athletics. Disagreements linger between power conference administrators over an assortment of issues — the transfer portal, the College Football Playoff and even the concept of collective bargaining with athletes. Many athlete advocacy groups, college sports attorneys and those within the sport itself believe that the House settlement will leave many unresolved issues, will elicit dozens of legal challenges on its own and needs to cede to bargaining with athletes, much like pro sports.
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