History of (men's) College Sport

College sports have a the focal point of public controversy and debate since the 1850s. The NCAA was founded to address these issues in the early 1900s but has had minimal success. More specifically, they are seen as a polarizing entity, with stakeholders having strong feelings about a plethora of topics that make up the college sport debate.  This notion is voiced well by the current university president Gordon Gee, who stated in 2007, "I am an avid supporter of intercollegiate athletics.  But I believe intercollegiate athletics is in danger of losing its direction and its soul. By that I mean it has become corporatized, it has become isolated and it has become disconnected from the vitality and the values of the university." But where did these issues begin and how have they evolved over the last 125 years?   Today we will deep dive into the history of men's college sports and the NCAA to try to answer these questions and more.