As federal agencies attempt to clean up college athletics, Buoncore notes that the NCAA failed to protect its young athletes and control the behavior of major athletic programs. In some ways, the NCAA itself is a barrier to cleaning up amateur sports, he says, because its amateurism rules do not allow athletes to receive payment for their services, creating additional incentive for bad behaviors.
“When you’re a Division 1 athlete, it is like having a full-time job,” he says. “You have to practice, you have to travel, you have to keep up with your classes, and you’re at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes to time. Then, you’re back on campus and everybody you know in your world is going out to have fun. ... The system creates part of the problem.”