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Gordon Gee

Role(s) as quoted
  • West Virginia University president emeritus
  • Ohio State University president
Person type
School administrators
Entries
3 (Jan 2008 to Jun 3, 2026)
Topics
Playoff & bowls (2) NFL relationship & draft (1) Governance & legislation (1) Pay, NIL & revenue sharing (1)

In the Ideas index

All entries (oldest first)

Gordon Gee, Ohio State University president · · BCS (2006-13) · permalink
“They will wrench a playoff system out of my cold, dead hands. It's too much like moving toward having universities being farm clubs for the pros.”
Gee flatly rejected a playoff, arguing it would push universities toward being farm clubs for the pros.
Source: Inside Higher Ed: Key President Pushes for a Playoff
Playoff & bowls NFL relationship & draft
Gordon Gee, Ohio State University president · · BCS (2006-13) · permalink
“The collective presidents of America's major universities believe that the playoff system is not in the best interest of intercollegiate athletics or our universities.”
After President-elect Obama called for an eight-team playoff, Gee held firm, saying presidents of major universities believe a playoff isn't in the best interest of college athletics.
Source: The News-Herald (Journal Register): Gee still doesn't want playoff
Playoff & bowls
Gordon Gee, West Virginia University president emeritus · · 12-team/revenue-sharing (2024-26) · permalink
“We have a revenue problem, either we grow the pie or we destroy everything that we're about. It's pretty damn simple.”
Told senators the system has failed and admitted the NCAA and conferences lost in court because they would not let athletes monetize their talents; framed it as a revenue problem.
Source: U.S. Senate Commerce Committee (Democratic press release): Committee Hears Powerful Testimony Bolstering the Need to Fix College Sports Crisis
Governance & legislation Pay, NIL & revenue sharing