PHOENIX — The NCAA on Thursday took the first step toward determining whether President Charlie Baker’s idea to create a new subdivision in which schools directly pay athletes can become a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Division I Board of Directors asked policy makers to evaluate a proposal Baker made last month in a letter to members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baker said he wants the association to create a new tier of Division I sports for highly resourced schools that would require them to offer at least half their athletes a payment of at least $30,000 per year through a trust fund. The first-year president also proposed allowing all Division I schools to offer unlimited educational benefits to athletes and to enter into name, image and likeness licensing deals with athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t say where it\u2019s going to go or how it’s going to end, but I think it\u2019s an important conversation to have,\u201d said Georgia President Jere Morehead, chairman of the D-I board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposal now goes to the Division I Council, a group made up mostly of athletic directors and conferences commissioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will give the D-I Council the opportunity to involve (other) conference commissioners, athletic directors, college presidents, and then come back to us with updates as they will plan to do at our April meeting,\u201d Morehead said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baker has been adamant about framing the proposal as just a conversation starter. He has no power to enact legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The council’s role is to try to determine if and how Baker’s idea could work while also gauging support for the idea among membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n