Personal Reflections on the Impact of Sports and the Urgency to Protect College Athletics

Sports have significantly influenced every aspect of my life. My parents met at a Florida Relays track meet held at the University of Florida. When I was a child, my mother was a Division II track coach at the Colorado School of Mines. I frequently joined her at practice sessions, attentively observing each throw and listening to the instructions she gave to her athletes.

Despite my parents enrolling me in various sports, my passion remained focused on throwing. Exposure to college track at a young age revealed the numerous opportunities athletics offered. I pursued these chances with dedication, achieving multiple high school state and national championships and fostering a close network of friends nationwide.

My time as a Clemson University student-athlete has been transformational, offering opportunities previously unimaginable. Daily, I strive to improve my abilities. Acknowledging challenges inspires me to become stronger, enhance my throwing skills, and expand my knowledge.

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At Clemson, access to exceptional facilities and a supportive community of coaches, teammates, and peers has been invaluable. In my two years as a college athlete, I’ve discovered how to overcome limits and continue advancing my capabilities.

It’s crucial that every American athlete experiences similar opportunities to pursue their dreams. Sports instill essential qualities such as hard work, resilience, adaptability, time management, and relationship-building.

Encouraged by my coaches, I chose to pursue both a B.S. and an M.P.A. while accepting leadership roles within the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Executive Board, Atlantic Coast Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ACC SAAC), internships, pre-professional organizations, and various volunteer activities. Clemson Athletics’ support has been instrumental for my progress.

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Congress is responsible for safeguarding American athletes amidst the NCAA v. Alston and House v. NCAA decisions, which have complicated the NCAA’s landscape. Institutions like Clemson strive to support athletes while disparities between Power 4 and mid-major programs widen.

Post-House roster caps, reliance on transfer portal for high school talent, and eligibility waivers have reduced walk-on positions and strained recruiting efforts. Consequently, some of my close friends faced team cuts, while budgets shrink as universities stretch resources to accommodate scholarships and services.

Olympic sports such as men’s swimming or track and field have been eliminated at some universities, with conferences discontinuing championship sponsorships for others. Revenue sharing and Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) growth have brought benefits and challenges, offering financial opportunities while increasing risks for athletes from unregistered agents or high fees.

The transfer portal has further disrupted college athletics, eroding school loyalty. Frequent transfers hinder team culture development, while constantly changing team compositions challenge stability. Tradition and loyalty, once defining college sports, are endangered without regulations.

Congress must act to save college sports for athletes like my brother, embarking on his Division I lacrosse journey, and my sister, dreaming of Power 4 lacrosse. Young athletes nationwide aspire to compete in NCAA sports.

College athletics create life-changing opportunities. Legislators must support S. 4668, the Protect College Sports Act, which seeks to establish equitable conditions for all athletes, safeguarding both revenue and non-revenue sports. Though imperfect, the bill is crucial for structuring laws governing revenue sharing, NIL, transfer portal, and eligibility.

If Congress remains inactive, opportunities that transformed my life might be lost for future generations. I’m a rising junior at Clemson, studying political science and participating in women’s track and field. Additionally, I serve as vice president of external affairs for Clemson’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and am part of the Atlantic Coast Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, advocating for the Protect College Sports Act. Aspiring to a political career post-athletics, I hope to continue contributing to this cause.