Charlotte 49ers athletics director Judy Rose will view this week’s NCAA president’s retreat through a different lens than she normally might use.

The focus of the retreat will be potential reform in college athletics, including holding athletes to higher academic standards, financial sustainability and the overall integrity of college sports. The retreat was spurred in part, no doubt, by recent scandals at football programs including Southern California, Ohio State and North Carolina.

...

Rose and UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois are at the retreat in Indianapolis today and Wednesday, two of approximately 50 Ads and presidents/chancellors invited by NCAA President Mike Emmert.

And with Charlotte starting football in 2013 (in the Football Championship Subdivision initially, then moving to Football Bowl Subdivision), Rose said she will be paying particular attention.

“All this news recently has just further amplified for me what we have to do to make sure we have our (compliance) ducks in a row when football starts,” said Rose. “Integrity is integrity, though, and that’s never been a problem here.”

Rose added that it’s not the specific nature of having a football program that most concerns her. It’s the sheer numbers it will bring, in addition to Title IX-mandated women’s programs (likely lacrosse and field hockey).

“We’ll be doubling our athletics program,” said Rose. “That’s a lot more kids that we’ll be working with and keeping track of.”

And Rose realizes the actions of just a few athletes can all but bring down an athletics program and seriously damage the reputation of a university.

“You’re only as good as your staff,” she said. “Nobody at (North Carolina) would have thought they didn’t have the right people in place and that they hadn’t put their student-athletes through all the compliance (education) they needed. So it’s the person, even if he’s signed an agreement on the tutoring policy, for instance, who abuses that. It’s not the university. But it becomes a reflection on the university.

“So we’re learning from other people’s mistakes. Is it scary? Yes. Does it keep me up at night? No.”

By David Scott, The Charlotte Observer.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/08/07/2512004/49ers-focus-on-rules.html#ixzz1UXpOs5r8