From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey spoke to the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club through a Zoom call on Wednesday, May 19.
The Auburn, New York, native shared some thoughts about how the conference was affected by the pandemic as well as some updates on current topics within the conference.
“The phrase ‘sports builds character’ is accurate in many situations,” said Sankey. “However, ‘sports reveals character’ is sometimes the case as well.”
Sankey touched on the intra-conference transfer rule, which requires an athlete to sit out for one full academic year upon a transfer to another SEC institution. This was initially instated to prevent programs from recruiting from other programs. The rule has been challenged lately by argument that other student groups can transfer and immediately be eligible for participation.
Commissioner Sankey also raised a subject that has so often been discussed: that of expanding the college football playoff to include more teams. He raised it only to say that he knows nothing about changes as of now. There are still four more years of contracts with TV, colleges, etc., so it won’t change this year for sure.
‘There’s value in the system,” he said, “and there’s also impact from the system.”
Another issue frequently talked about is that of use of the “student athlete name, image & likeness.” Some are of the opinion that students should control the use of these and be allowed to run their own businesses. The NCAA cannot stop states from enacting laws; the State of Alabama, for example, has passed legislation against prohibiting the use of an athlete’s own likeness. Sankey added that political leaders should be educated on what happens on college campuses.
In closing, the Commissioner said of his thoughts for the fall: “We are moving toward normal. Notice I didn’t say ‘to normal.’ We still have a way to go but we’re heading in that direction.”
The Rotary International motto is ‘Service above Self,’ and this club lives out this motto by serving the community in many ways. Proceeds from fundraising events, including the coordination of a golf tournament for more than 25 years, go toward the club’s many projects. Those projects include leadership opportunities for local high school students, Dr. Seuss books for local elementary students, ribbons at City Hall in recognition of Veterans’ Day, lunch for campers and staff at Smile-a-Mile, trees planted at Civitan Park, and more.
The Club has recently funded the new clock tower in downtown Trussville, benches at the walking track at Cahaba Elementary, and playground equipment at the Mall in historic Trussville. The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club meets at First Baptist Church Trussville on Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. For more information on the Club, or to help with one of our projects, please ‘like’ us on Facebook (Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club) or email Diane Poole at dianepoole1225@centurytel.net.