Alabama and Auburn Jointly Oppose Federal College Sports Bill

The University of Alabama and Auburn University are calling on the U.S. Senate to reject proposed federal legislation aimed at regulating college athletics, arguing the bill would make the current landscape worse rather than better.

In a joint statement released on Monday, signed by both universities' presidents and the chairmen of their boards of trustees, Alabama and Auburn voiced opposition to the "Protect College Sports Act," urging the US Senate not to advance it in its current form.

Get our free mobile app

The Act has been advocated for in Washington DC by many voices, including former Alabama coach Nick Saban - arguably the greatest college football coach in history.

Setting aside their considerable competitive differences, the two flagship rivals argued that the bill falls short of its framing as a stabilizing measure for college athletics. They said it would undermine enforcement of rules established under the landmark House v. NCAA settlement and invite new rounds of litigation. It would also create a sweeping federal oversight apparatus which could impact roster decisions, game scheduling and internal governance, they said, and benefit private equity interests by pressuring universities to pool media rights.

Both institutions said they share Congress's stated goals, which include protecting student-athletes, sustaining women's and Olympic sports, and establishing a single national set of rules. But the four men contend the current bill does not solve those problems and also leaves core questions unresolved, inviting the very legal battles it claims to prevent.

UA President Dr. Peter Mohler, Auburn President Dr. Christopher B. Roberts, UA System Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore Scott Phelps and Auburn Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore James H. Sanford signed the statement.

Alabama and Auburn said they remain willing to work with their Congressional delegation and members of both parties on legislation that holds up in court and genuinely addresses the challenges facing college sports.

The Protect College Sports Act, introduced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democrat Maria Cantwell, advanced from committees to the full Senate last month and has been placed on their Legislative Calendar.

For more exclusive coverage of the University of Alabama and college athletics in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.