NIT – Fresh off leading the UConn Huskies to the NCAA national title, star point guard Shabazz Napier said he sometimes goes to bed hungry.
The NCAA may have been somewhat embarrassed, as the Final Four and its other major events draw hundreds of thousands of fans and generate billions in revenue for the organization.
Perhaps to wipe the egg off its face, the NCAA on Tuesday declared that “division I student-athletes can receive unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation, the Legislative Council decided Tuesday. The rule, which applies to walk-ons as well as scholarship student-athletes, is an effort to meet the nutritional needs of all student-athletes.”
The provision of meals approved today is in addition to the meal plan provided as part of a full scholarship. Prior to this change, scholarship student-athletes received three meals a day or a food stipend.
Council chair Mary Mulvenna, associate commissioner of the America East Conference, said Tuesday’s decisions underscored the commitment to student-athletes.
“Today we took action to provide meals to student-athletes incidental to participation,” Mulvenna said. “I think the end result is right where it needs to be.”
No action is considered final until the Division I Board of Directors meets April 24.