The Big 12 held the first of a series of forums on the state of college athletics Wednesday afternoon in New York City, and Texas Athletic Director Steve Patterson stole headlines with a number of controversial quotes.
Texas AD Steve Patterson on smaller programs: ‘Why should we share?’
The new man in charge of one of the nation’s biggest athletic programs stirred up controversy yet again.
Erich Schlegel
Moderated by Jimmy Roberts, the panel consisted of Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, three Big 12 athletic directors (including Patterson), three journalists, Sports Management Resources founder Dr. Donna Lopiano, Baylor University President Judge Ken Starr and former Denver Bronco (and Texas Longhorn) Selvin Young.
Patterson shared a dismissive attitude toward smaller sports and smaller schools.
#Texas AD Steve Patterson referred sports outside of football, hoops as "just expenses" #Big12forum ouch.
— Joe Favorito (@joefav) August 6, 2014 Steve Patterson counters: "Why should we share it if they are not generating it?" Because NCAA sports supposed to be non-profit, DL says
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerCBS) August 6, 2014 Patterson may have brought the most attention with this money quote about the financial value of a scholarship -- a price set by the university made up almost entirely of money athletes never actually see.
Steve Patterson said a Texas scholarship puts an athlete in the top third of household income in US
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 6, 2014 Twitter did not react too favorably to his comments.
Steve Patterson: Let them eat cake? It's not even their birthday!
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) August 6, 2014 Great hire RT @schadjoe: Steve Patterson: Why should you share when they're not generating?
— Spencer Hall (@edsbs) August 6, 2014 Ah, I see Steve Patterson is talking again.
— Bill Connelly (@SBN_BillC) August 6, 2014 University of Texas officials like bragging about how stupidly expensive it is to go to school there: https://t.co/xg7P83g8vt
— Travis Waldron (@Travis_Waldron) August 6, 2014 Steve Patterson thinks revenue sharing is dumb when it means he has to give to mid-majors, but loves it as an excuse to keep the NCAA model.
— Kevin Trahan (@k_trahan) August 6, 2014 Patterson has bent facts in the past when making arguments about the future of college athletics.
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