NCAA President Mark Emmert Says NCAA Doesn't Have 'Tsunami of Cash'

New NCAA president Mark Emmert has caught the brunt of fan disapproval in recent weeks. First the Cam Newton decision was handed down in a "hear no evil, see no evil" precedent; then, the Ohio State fiasco took place; and, finally, the NCAA ruled Kentucky's Enes Kanter permanently ineligible -- much to the chagrin of the Wildcat faithful.

After weathering that storm, Emmert has hit the road to try and change the perception of the NCAA. He wants people to understand that the NCAA does not have a "tsunami of cash," despite the recent announcement of the organization's agreement with CBS and Turner Broadcasting worth $10.6 billion.

"There's confusion about that because the numbers look big and people see a football stadium with 105,000 people in at Michigan or somewhere and do the math in their head and say, 'Well, this is all about money,'" Emmert said.

The reality, Emmert says, is that Michigan was only one of 14 schools that made money on athletics last year. Emmert is trying to spread the word that the money that comes in from these deals are funneled directly back to all student-athletes. In fact, 96 percent of the profits from the television deal will go directly to institutions.

Emmert also discussed the importance of the big money makers -- football and basketball -- in the evolution and advancement of all sports.

"It's like I used to say at the U of W or at LSU, 'Look, if you like gymnastics, buy football tickets. If you like volleyball, buy football tickets. If you like crew, buy football tickets because that's how we pay for those things,'" he said. "At the NCAA, it's all about driving revenue around the basketball tournament."


NCAA President Mark Emmert Says NCAA Doesn't Have 'Tsunami of Cash
Evan Hilbert
ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com