Who really controls college athletic programs?

The Lord

At some top schools, the very good ADs keep control. They are usually on good terms with boosters, coaches, and politicians. They know how to balance everyone and everything to keep things under control.

Unfortunately, few schools have that kind of AD. At many (most?) schools, the AD is not a strong enough person to control all issues.

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But in the case of most major college athletic programs, don't the larger boosters control things. At least to some degree? When a coach is on the hot seat, the threat of losing money from donors will ultimately be the deciding factor on the coaches removal. Hell, T. Boone Pickens practically ran OK St.'s athletic program back in the day.

Maybe I'm overthinking this.

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For many programs, Big Money has a major say in what happens.

But when the NCAA and the SEC talk about lack of institutional control, they are talking about the repeated failure of the AD and President to veto behavior that violates the rules.

Big Money wants to fire the coach and pay the buyout? That's not a LOIC problem.

Big Money wants to pay millions to hire a coach? That's not a LOIC problem.

Big Money wants to have a roster that costs millions? That's not a LOIC problem.

Big Money wants to pay players without attempting to comply with SEC and NCAA guidelines? That's a LOIC problem.

Big Money wants to hire actual NFL pros to play for a college team? That's a LOIC problem.

The same thing that basically controls the rest of the world.

The almighty dollar.

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Who really controls college athletic programs?

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Just like everything else. Follow the money

$$$$$$$$$$$ givers.

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Big Money wants to pay players without attempting to comply with SEC and NCAA guidelines? That's a LOIC problem.

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Isn't this just done as NIL $$$ in today's CFB world? What are the SEC/NCAA guidelines left?

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There are NIL rules, and LSU complies with them. If LSU did not ATTEMPT to comply with them, that would be an LOIC problem.

Third-party NIL deals worth $600 or more must be reported to the NIL Go portal within five business days where the NIL deals are reviewed to ensure they have a valid business purpose and fall within a reasonable compensation range based on market value.

NIL cannot be directly tied to athletic performance, stats, or playing time.

NIL cannot be used explicitly to require a recruit to sign with a specific school.

Cannot have NIL that pays athletes without requiring actual promotional work or a real business purpose.