Photograph by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Providers
9 College of Mississippi legislation college students braved the chilly and snow this month to immerse themselves into the evolving world of collegiate sports activities legislation.
By way of the Wintersession Sports activities Legislation Practicum course, the scholars gained firsthand sensible expertise and data. The category included a visit to the NCAA Annual Convention in Nashville, and classes taught by Keith Carter, UM vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, and U.S. Olympic seaside volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings.
The category was created and taught by Ronald Rychlak, distinguished professor within the Faculty of Legislation and Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Legislation and Authorities.
“The scholars performed negotiations, did an NCAA campus investigation, ready responses to mock crises and labored at a ladies’s basketball recreation,” Rychlak mentioned.
“We share a number of enjoyable and pleasure, plus they (the scholars) get to develop expertise and contacts that may assist them sooner or later.”
On the NCAA Annual Convention, held Jan. 14-17 in Nashville, Tennessee, the scholars attended conferences on matters starting from the NCAA affect on the Olympics to sports activities betting’s impression on student-athletes and new alternatives in ladies’s sports activities.
In addition they heard displays from athletics administrators from three different faculties, toured Belmont College services and met with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
Trey Hubner, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, enrolled within the class due to the unprecedented occasions in collegiate sports activities.
“That is essentially the most groundbreaking yr within the historical past of collegiate sports activities,” the second-year legislation scholar mentioned. “Whether or not or not it’s NIL, Title IX, the switch portal or another scorching subject, it felt like the proper time to inject myself into the dialog.
“It goes with out saying that the conference was a useful expertise which will by no means be replicated once more in future years.”
Rychlak, who serves because the college’s school athletics consultant, attends the NCAA conference yearly. He was impressed by the format of the UM Research USA program to have Ole Miss athletics directors share insights with college students for one week after which have the NCAA convention function the second week’s programming.
Through the years, a number of college students have even made connections that led to jobs.
“That’s at all times particular, however even people who by no means work within the subject find yourself honing authorized expertise and creating a greater appreciation of how universities and their athletic departments perform,” Rychlak mentioned.
Grant Hughes, a second-year scholar from Madison, was significantly to study cooperation amongst athletics packages.
“I not solely bought a greater understanding of the operations of school packages at every divisional stage of the NCAA, but in addition how all of the member establishments work collectively within the total governance of the NCAA,” he mentioned.
Lauren Homosexual, a second-year legislation scholar from Ripley, took the category to raised perceive the evolving panorama round title, picture and likeness points in collegiate sports activities.
“By participating in real-world discussions and eventualities, I purpose to construct on the inspiration I developed in my earlier coursework and analysis,” she mentioned.
Jennings, who obtained the NCAA 2025 Silver Anniversary Award advised attendees, “No matter dream you could have in your coronary heart, you could have an obligation to pursue it.”
That message struck a chord with Homosexual.
“As a nontraditional legislation scholar, her phrases affirmed my perception that it’s by no means too late to pursue a dream,” she mentioned. “This convention jogged my memory why I selected this path: to work exhausting, pursue justice and make a distinction within the lives of others.”