Alachua County Library District welcomes New York Times investigative reporter and author Mike McIntire on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m. to Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Avenue. McIntire will talk about his book, Champions Way: Football, Florida and the Lost Soul of College Sports.
In his book, McIntire painstakingly lays out a damning case that Florida State University (FSU) and its sports program permitted sexual assaults and academic fraud as the price for producing championship football teams.
McIntire effectively weaves together emails, police reports, court transcripts and interviews with whistle-blowers and victims to show a pattern in how Seminole stakeholders handled scandals.
He delves deep into events to show negligence by campus and local police, grade manipulation and deceit by FSU administrators, and shadowy mess cleaning by attorneys and boosters in order to keep star players on the field. While FSU is the primary example, problems at other programs are reported as well; as McIntire convincingly argues that these transgressions are not limited to FSU, but are widespread.
McIntire summarizes the history of college sports and the social and economic culture of football in American universities. The financial aspects may be a revelation to those not familiar, and further inform discussion of the future direction of college sports. Should college football players be paid? Are they really student athletes? As scandals continue to rock the NCAA, most recently in college basketball, these questions grow even more important to answer. McIntire examines the causes and offers hope to those who would reform college sports.
For additional information, visit the Library District’s eBranch at www.aclib.us or call (352) 334-3900.
If a person with a disability needs an accommodation in order to participate in this event he or she is entitled, at no cost to him or her, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Alachua County Library District at 352-334-3910 at least three (3) days prior to the event. TTY users please call 711 (Florida Relay Service).