Sports Culture

Values to Last a Lifetime

For all his love of philosophy and his focus on Academics First, Myles Brand was a sports fan through and through. He grew up playing basketball and running track, which he fondly recalled as some of his best memories of high school. And more than anything, he loved how athletics was a place for student-athletes to grow, learn, and find their own community of like-minded friends.

Brand often spoke about the underlying values of college sports. As he saw it, the role of athletics in education was to enrich the college experience while teaching essential life skills that could only be learned outside the classroom. Sports gave student-athletes the opportunity to gain experience growing as a person and learning values like leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship, and diligence.

Because of his love of sports, Brand was all the more determined to ensure that intercollegiate athletics stayed as fair, fun, and free of commercialism as possible. He believed that the values of college sports were at the core of the NCAA’s mission, and he wanted to protect the student-athletes’ ability to participate in athletics without sacrificing their education. After all, most student-athletes would not become professional athletes—and Brand believed it was foolish to pretend differently. But every student-athlete had the right to learn and grow through sports, like so many had before them.

Brand’s excitement for athletics was not always obvious in his formal speeches, but his genuine enthusiasm for the game is more than evident in his podcast episodes, where he often spoke passionately about the joy and beauty of sports.

Sports Culture

Indiana University Press Conference on the Results of the Investigation into Coach Bob Knight; introductions by IU Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations Christopher Simpson; IU President Myles Brand; Vice President of the IU Board of Trustees Frederich Eichorn; and IU Trustee John Walda

May 15, 2000



Indiana University News Conference on Coach Bob Knight Sanctions, including “Sanctions and Directives Resulting from the Conditions for Review” and the agreement signed by Knight

May 15, 2000


“When the Going Gets Tough,” The Presidency, 3:3, pp. 14-16

September 1, 2000


Coach Bob Knight Termination Press Conference; introductions by IU Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations Christopher Simpson; IU President Myles Brand; and Vice President of the IU Board of Trustees Frederich Eichorn

September 10, 2000



Myles Brand Letter Regarding Coach Bob Knight’s Firing

September 13, 2000


Doonesbury Cartoon Regarding Coach Bob Knight’s Firing by Garry Trudeau

October 15, 2000


“Academics First: Reforming Intercollegiate Athletics,” delivered to National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

January 23, 2001


“Academics First: Reforming Intercollegiate Athletics,” published in Vital Speeches of the Day; delivered to the National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

January 23, 2001


“Academics First: Rejuvenating Athletics Reform,” Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) Trusteeship, 9:2, pp.18-22

January 24, 2001


NCAA State of the Association delivered as NCAA President at 2003 NCAA Convention

January 1, 2003