Lawmaker Fires Back at the NCAA

State Rep. Chapin Rose, a former University of Illinois alumni, introduced a bill yesterday in the Illinois House to put a tax of 10% on all events in Football and Basketball that the NCAA gets revenues from. He said that the NCAA doesn't deserve the tax exempt status that they are currently receiving. "They have abandoned their educational mission", he said.

"If they spent more time on their on own house and their graduation rates instead of worrying about university symbols they would be better off." Rose said. U of I has been at odds with the NCAA since a ruling last April. The NCAA ruled then that U of I couldn't host any type of post season events because of Chief Illiniweks use. The use of Chief Illiniwek was categorized as "hostile and abusive."

Data released by the NCAA showed the graduation rate among football players was 54 % and basketball was 46 % at the Division I level. Rose claims that the tax was to call attention to the NCAA's failure to improve these rates. Bob Williams a spokesman for the NCAA said that work does need to be done to improve the rates.

Rose said that the money generated by the tax would go back to the Universities to help do what the NCAA isn't doing. Help to educate kids. The money would be redirected based on schools enrollment. Rose went on to say,"When you look at tax-exempt status, its not how much revenue you raise, but what you do with it." "Ninety-Four percent is sent back to support member institutions and their athletic programs and general academic funds. There are very few tax=exempt organizations that can say that."

Last year the NCAA took in over 500 million dollars in the sale of broadcast rights for Division I Basketball alone. It would appear that battle over Chief Illiniwek is just starting to heat up even more.