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From the Quad
11/21/2024 2:02:00 PM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Good Afternoon Demon Deacons Family,
Welcome to a Special Edition From the Quad as in a few moments we'll take a break from the intense November championship action for the Demon Deacons to update you on a major off-field national shift affecting college athletics, the House vs. NCAA case settlement, and share our strategic approach to ensure Wake Forest continues to compete - and win - at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.
But first, let's bask in the glory of this past Sunday's ACC Championship, the fourth ACC men's soccer crown for Wake Forest and the third in the 10-year tenure of head coach Bobby Muuss. Walking onto the field with ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips as the huge partisan Deacon crowd and our team celebrated the thrilling penalty kick victory over Clemson was special! And, as Commissioner Phillips pointed out to me at that moment, Wake Forest has now captured two of this fall's five league Championship trophies – in the biggest and most competitive ACC ever. The men's soccer title marks Wake Forest's 59th ACC Championship, building on the 58th won by men's cross country a few weeks ago.
We have more postseason action this week as our top-five ranked men's cross country team will make their fifth-consecutive appearance – a new program record – at the NCAA Championships on Saturday morning in Madison, Wisc. You can watch the Championship on ESPNU or on ESPN+ here.
Additionally, Coach Tony da Luz and our women's soccer team soundly defeated Morehead State in their opening match of the NCAA Tournament and will host Colorado on Friday evening at 6 p.m. inside Spry Stadium, with the winner advancing to a third round match at Spry Stadium on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile that incredible run earned the men's program the No. 8 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, which included a first-round bye. The Deacs open up action against Maryland or LIU on Sunday with first touch set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here or by calling the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 with reserved chairbacks at $15, bleacher general admission at $10.
Of course we have lots of regular season action this weekend too, as Coach Dave Clawson and our resilient football team continues the fight at No. 8 Miami at noon Saturday on ESPN, while we have a basketball doubleheader inside Joel Coliseum on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. with Coach Megan Gebbia's team hosting Davidson and Coach Steve Forbes' squad playing at 4 p.m. vs. Detroit Mercy. Also, Coach Randi Smart's squad is at home tomorrow night and Sunday for a pair of ACC matches in its penultimate weekend of the regular season.
While our student-athletes focus on their studies and competitions at hand, let's take a look at the bigger picture of college athletics, and specifically the projected House case settlement.
House vs. NCAA: A New Frontier for Intercollegiate Athletics
Over the last 15 years, a series of class action lawsuits have pecked away at the NCAA rule book's concept of amateurism, beginning with the O'Bannon case in 2009 and most recently, the House case. Against that backdrop (and lots of ACC and NCAA legal fees), Wake Forest has kept its focus on continuous improvement, both in our national position and enhancing the value of our World Class Student-Athlete Experience for all Demon Deacon intercollegiate athletics teams.
Since the Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling against the NCAA in the Alston case in June 2021, and the subsequent NCAA decision not to enforce rules regarding third-party name-image-likeness, the college athletics enterprise has been buffeted by a "Wild West" atmosphere seemingly devoid of rules, or at least, common sense.
Now, the preliminary settlement in the House case, (click here for a synopsis) which was approved in the U.S. District Court on October 7 and pending final approval April 7, 2025, represents a monumental shift that redefines the future of collegiate athletics. The $2.8 billion settlement of past damages will provide significant payments to many current and former student-athletes but also gives the Power conferences and the NCAA relief and closure from a potentially much higher financial liability. The plaintiffs determined that 90 percent of the damage payments will be awarded to football and men's basketball players, with the 10% balance distributed among athletes in all other sports.
Moving forward, the settlement will give institutions like Wake Forest the opportunity to share media fees and other revenues with student-athletes through direct individual licensing agreements, beginning as early as fall 2025. This ability to share revenue is permissive, not required.
While undeniably expensive, the proposed House settlement does provide a potential "leveling" of the playing field with a common, permissive "cap" on revenue sharing across all Power 5 and NCAA institutions. Under the common "cap" system, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, it is anticipated that participating institutions could share up to $20.5 million in revenue with student-athletes annually. The first $2.5 million of "new" athletics scholarships must count toward the $20.5 million cap. Additionally, current NCAA scholarship limits per team will be eliminated.
The proposed House settlement also provides for a new clearinghouse, administered by the Power conferences, that will regulate third-party endorsement agreements with student-athletes, to ensure they are truly "fair market value" and not just de facto "pay-for-play" deals like some of the more sensational stories around the country over the past few years.
For us, the ability to increase the number of athletic scholarships in sports like baseball (current NCAA limit, 11.7), women's golf (current NCAA limit, 6), men's tennis (current NCAA limit, 4.5) provides potential opportunities for deserving young men and women to access a Wake Forest education and increase our athletic competitiveness.
On the other hand, for the first time, roster limits will be in place for all sports, which will reduce the overall number of opportunities. For example, football will be capped at 105 players, meaning for Wake Forest we will have to reduce our current 125 roster count.
So what's the bottom line for Wake Forest?
First, as referenced in the 2023 Strategic Framework document, competing at the highest level of college athletics is an integral element of Wake Forest's identity. President Susan R. Wente and the Board of Trustees have further affirmed four core institutional pillars as Wake Forest University approaches the beginning of its third century in 2034:
Our plan has three prongs. First, like any of you when faced with new expenses in your home or business, we have been drilling down on careful examination and tough decisions about expense reductions and reallocations of existing resources, while still protecting our ability to provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience. Second, with the support and encouragement from leadership donors, we will once again call on additional investments from all of Demon Deacon Nation, in the form of Deacon Club gifts, ticket purchases, and sport-specific fundraising. And, continued institutional investments in Wake Forest Athletics both solidifies the foundation and amplifies the importance of competitive and academic success. Thanks to President Wente and the Board, we have the confidence to charge forward with this ambitious plan, as some of our competition vacillates and falters.
As I finish up this edition of From the Quad, Senior Associate AD Mike Piscetelli, Regional Director of Development Jared Kishbaugh and I are flying to south Florida for two days of visits with loyal Wake Foresters prior to our Saturday game inside Hard Rock Stadium against the Hurricanes. As we've visited with small groups and individuals around the country over the last two months, it's been incredibly motivating and affirming to see Demon Deacons stepping up to ensure that our 13 head coaches are equipped to lead our student-athletes to more championships as they earn the lifetime benefits of a Wake Forest education.
From helping to lead the launch of the ACC in 1953, to the construction of what is now Allegacy Stadium in 1968, to the opening of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 1989, to the massive expansion of opportunities for female student-athletes in the 1990's, to the construction of a world-class athletics facility infrastructure over the past decade, and many other "existential" challenges, this moment is yet another when the skeptics, who don't really know or understand us, will question Wake Forest's ability to survive in such an incredibly complex and competitive environment.
But I am fully confident, with everyone in Deacon Nation doing their part, that we'll meet this challenge and continue to thrive as A Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program that Wins Championships, while we offer the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina and add tremendous Value to the University, Winston-Salem & Triad Community!
Let's get after it!
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Good Afternoon Demon Deacons Family,
Welcome to a Special Edition From the Quad as in a few moments we'll take a break from the intense November championship action for the Demon Deacons to update you on a major off-field national shift affecting college athletics, the House vs. NCAA case settlement, and share our strategic approach to ensure Wake Forest continues to compete - and win - at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.
But first, let's bask in the glory of this past Sunday's ACC Championship, the fourth ACC men's soccer crown for Wake Forest and the third in the 10-year tenure of head coach Bobby Muuss. Walking onto the field with ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips as the huge partisan Deacon crowd and our team celebrated the thrilling penalty kick victory over Clemson was special! And, as Commissioner Phillips pointed out to me at that moment, Wake Forest has now captured two of this fall's five league Championship trophies – in the biggest and most competitive ACC ever. The men's soccer title marks Wake Forest's 59th ACC Championship, building on the 58th won by men's cross country a few weeks ago.
We have more postseason action this week as our top-five ranked men's cross country team will make their fifth-consecutive appearance – a new program record – at the NCAA Championships on Saturday morning in Madison, Wisc. You can watch the Championship on ESPNU or on ESPN+ here.
Additionally, Coach Tony da Luz and our women's soccer team soundly defeated Morehead State in their opening match of the NCAA Tournament and will host Colorado on Friday evening at 6 p.m. inside Spry Stadium, with the winner advancing to a third round match at Spry Stadium on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile that incredible run earned the men's program the No. 8 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, which included a first-round bye. The Deacs open up action against Maryland or LIU on Sunday with first touch set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here or by calling the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 with reserved chairbacks at $15, bleacher general admission at $10.
Of course we have lots of regular season action this weekend too, as Coach Dave Clawson and our resilient football team continues the fight at No. 8 Miami at noon Saturday on ESPN, while we have a basketball doubleheader inside Joel Coliseum on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. with Coach Megan Gebbia's team hosting Davidson and Coach Steve Forbes' squad playing at 4 p.m. vs. Detroit Mercy. Also, Coach Randi Smart's squad is at home tomorrow night and Sunday for a pair of ACC matches in its penultimate weekend of the regular season.
While our student-athletes focus on their studies and competitions at hand, let's take a look at the bigger picture of college athletics, and specifically the projected House case settlement.
House vs. NCAA: A New Frontier for Intercollegiate Athletics
Over the last 15 years, a series of class action lawsuits have pecked away at the NCAA rule book's concept of amateurism, beginning with the O'Bannon case in 2009 and most recently, the House case. Against that backdrop (and lots of ACC and NCAA legal fees), Wake Forest has kept its focus on continuous improvement, both in our national position and enhancing the value of our World Class Student-Athlete Experience for all Demon Deacon intercollegiate athletics teams.
Since the Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling against the NCAA in the Alston case in June 2021, and the subsequent NCAA decision not to enforce rules regarding third-party name-image-likeness, the college athletics enterprise has been buffeted by a "Wild West" atmosphere seemingly devoid of rules, or at least, common sense.
Now, the preliminary settlement in the House case, (click here for a synopsis) which was approved in the U.S. District Court on October 7 and pending final approval April 7, 2025, represents a monumental shift that redefines the future of collegiate athletics. The $2.8 billion settlement of past damages will provide significant payments to many current and former student-athletes but also gives the Power conferences and the NCAA relief and closure from a potentially much higher financial liability. The plaintiffs determined that 90 percent of the damage payments will be awarded to football and men's basketball players, with the 10% balance distributed among athletes in all other sports.
Moving forward, the settlement will give institutions like Wake Forest the opportunity to share media fees and other revenues with student-athletes through direct individual licensing agreements, beginning as early as fall 2025. This ability to share revenue is permissive, not required.
While undeniably expensive, the proposed House settlement does provide a potential "leveling" of the playing field with a common, permissive "cap" on revenue sharing across all Power 5 and NCAA institutions. Under the common "cap" system, for the 2025-26 fiscal year, it is anticipated that participating institutions could share up to $20.5 million in revenue with student-athletes annually. The first $2.5 million of "new" athletics scholarships must count toward the $20.5 million cap. Additionally, current NCAA scholarship limits per team will be eliminated.
The proposed House settlement also provides for a new clearinghouse, administered by the Power conferences, that will regulate third-party endorsement agreements with student-athletes, to ensure they are truly "fair market value" and not just de facto "pay-for-play" deals like some of the more sensational stories around the country over the past few years.
For us, the ability to increase the number of athletic scholarships in sports like baseball (current NCAA limit, 11.7), women's golf (current NCAA limit, 6), men's tennis (current NCAA limit, 4.5) provides potential opportunities for deserving young men and women to access a Wake Forest education and increase our athletic competitiveness.
On the other hand, for the first time, roster limits will be in place for all sports, which will reduce the overall number of opportunities. For example, football will be capped at 105 players, meaning for Wake Forest we will have to reduce our current 125 roster count.
So what's the bottom line for Wake Forest?
First, as referenced in the 2023 Strategic Framework document, competing at the highest level of college athletics is an integral element of Wake Forest's identity. President Susan R. Wente and the Board of Trustees have further affirmed four core institutional pillars as Wake Forest University approaches the beginning of its third century in 2034:
- A world-class academic institution that embraces excellence at all levels;
- A vibrant and engaged residential living-learning community;
- A partner for economic development and a marquee employer in Winston-Salem;
- A highly competitive Division I, Power 4 ACC athletics program with a robust slate of extracurricular and experiential learning opportunities.
Our plan has three prongs. First, like any of you when faced with new expenses in your home or business, we have been drilling down on careful examination and tough decisions about expense reductions and reallocations of existing resources, while still protecting our ability to provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience. Second, with the support and encouragement from leadership donors, we will once again call on additional investments from all of Demon Deacon Nation, in the form of Deacon Club gifts, ticket purchases, and sport-specific fundraising. And, continued institutional investments in Wake Forest Athletics both solidifies the foundation and amplifies the importance of competitive and academic success. Thanks to President Wente and the Board, we have the confidence to charge forward with this ambitious plan, as some of our competition vacillates and falters.
As I finish up this edition of From the Quad, Senior Associate AD Mike Piscetelli, Regional Director of Development Jared Kishbaugh and I are flying to south Florida for two days of visits with loyal Wake Foresters prior to our Saturday game inside Hard Rock Stadium against the Hurricanes. As we've visited with small groups and individuals around the country over the last two months, it's been incredibly motivating and affirming to see Demon Deacons stepping up to ensure that our 13 head coaches are equipped to lead our student-athletes to more championships as they earn the lifetime benefits of a Wake Forest education.
From helping to lead the launch of the ACC in 1953, to the construction of what is now Allegacy Stadium in 1968, to the opening of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 1989, to the massive expansion of opportunities for female student-athletes in the 1990's, to the construction of a world-class athletics facility infrastructure over the past decade, and many other "existential" challenges, this moment is yet another when the skeptics, who don't really know or understand us, will question Wake Forest's ability to survive in such an incredibly complex and competitive environment.
But I am fully confident, with everyone in Deacon Nation doing their part, that we'll meet this challenge and continue to thrive as A Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program that Wins Championships, while we offer the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina and add tremendous Value to the University, Winston-Salem & Triad Community!
Let's get after it!
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Get to Spry Stadium for NCAA soccer, Varsity Arena for volleyball, Joel Coliseum for basketball, Hard Rock Stadium for football or the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisc. to cheer on the Deacs this weekend. Remember, the 'One More Rule' as your support helps fuel and energize our student-athletes when they see our passionate fans in their corner!
- Make your plans now to join us at Allegacy Stadium for the final home game of the 2024 football season on Saturday, Nov. 30 when Coach Clawson's squad takes on Big Four rival Duke at 12 p.m. and the contest will be nationally televised on ACC Network. In the spirit of Pro Humanitate, Wake Forest Athletics is proud to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina as we have a unique ticket deal where $15 from every promotional ticket sold will go directly to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. Additionally, click here for our other fan engagement plans for the home finale.
- Come experience an unparalleled campus tradition in Wait Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. for the annual Wake Forest Lovefeast which brings the entire community together and recognizes Winston-Salem's Moravian tradition. The event is first come, first seated. Don't miss out!
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
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