Division III members have indicated that fans and parents are often at the root of behavioral and sportsmanship problems during contests. The division formed a working group to help address the problem. That group has, in turn, partnered with the Disney Institute — the company’s leadership development wing — to build a program that provides solutions. Jack Ford with Gary Williams, Wittenberg director of athletics and recreation and chair of the Division III Sportsmanship and Game Environment Working Group.

For several years, administrators from Christian schools have gathered with LGBTQ leaders in the college athletics community to discuss their differences — and to seek similarities. Those difficult discussions have yielded tears and long-standing friendships. A look inside the Common Ground initiative. Jack Ford with Amy Wilson, NCAA director of inclusion.

The NCAA’s president is often heard speaking about the biggest issues in college sports, but who, really, is he? And how did he land the NCAA’s top job? A look at his journey through the world of higher education, including some stops off the beaten path. Jack Ford with Mark Emmert, NCAA president.

Student-athlete development staff rarely draw public attention, but play a crucial role. They are tasked with helping prepare college athletes for the lives that await after their playing days and, sometimes, simply serving as a shoulder to cry on. A pair of student-athlete development staffers from Big Ten schools detail their roles — and their goals. Jack Ford with Peyton Owens III, Minnesota associate athletics director for student-athlete development/diversity and inclusion, and Bridget Woodruff, Wisconsin director of student-athlete development.

What role do college presidents play in making rules in Division I? How has that evolved over the years? And what is the division doing to keep pace with issues in college sports that are evolving at a breakneck pace? An NCAA executive with a front-row seat describes the process. Jack Ford with Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for Division I governance.

Academic advisors do more than simply help athletes bolster their grades. They’re also mentors, friends and, when grades are posted, student-athletes’ biggest fans. A Champion magazine writer spent time with Tennessee State’s academic advising staff for a Fall 2017 feature story that illustrated how integral the role is to college sports. Jack Ford with Greg Johnson, Champion magazine associate editor.

While it’s nearly unheard of for universities overseas to devote resources to college athletics, Japan and a handful of European countries have begun expressing interest in the NCAA’s model. NCAA leaders have spent time sharing the benefits and challenges of tethering competitive sports to higher education. Jack Ford with Mark Emmert, NCAA president.

Citing financial constraints, the University of Alabama at Birmingham shuttered its football program after the 2014 season. But an outcry from the community — and the tens of millions of dollars of donations that ensued — saved the team. The Blazers returned to the field in 2017. A Champion magazine editor who wrote a Summer 2017 feature story on the program’s resurrection sheds light on the program’s journey back from the brink. Jack Ford with Brian Hendrickson, Champion magazine executive editor.

So you want to be a Division I or II athlete? The first step — other than maintaining solid grades and excelling in your sport — is to sign up with the NCAA Eligibility Center. A step-by-step walkthrough of what young athletes should expect through the process, and background on how it has evolved through the years. Jack Ford with Felicia Martin, NCAA vice president of enforcement.

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions is often at the center of major news related to college sports. But who makes up that body? And how does it function? The basics: It is composed of athletics administrators from schools throughout the country and even some members of the public, and is tasked with adjudicating cases argued by NCAA enforcement staff and member schools. In this episode, the committee’s chair describes the process in detail. Greg Christopher, athletics director at Xavier and Division I Committee on Infractions chair, with guest host Cameron Schuh.