Big Ten commissioner takes a few parting shots before leaving

Outgoing Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany kicked off his final Big Ten football media days Thursday by saying he thinks some serious mistakes made in the 1970s created problems today in college athletics.

Delany, who is in his 31st and final year as commissioner, said the loss of the four-year scholarship, the ending of the $15 weekly “laundry” stipend for athletes and allowing freshmen to play have all contributed to various headaches.

“I think that’s really expedited everything and hasn’t allowed for the full socialization, cultural and academic, for students,” he said. “I raised that issue about five years ago, and to be honest with you, there was not much of a reaction. It was more of a thud. So I would say some of those areas are issues that have concerned me.”

In the mid-’70s, the NCAA ruled schools no longer could provide athletes with a monthly living expenses stipend. “Cost of attendance” stipends have only recently been offered to certain athletes amid lawsuits against the NCAA, schools and conferences over everything from athlete safety to compensation.

During his tenure, Delany added Penn State, and then helped the Big Ten land Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers 20 years later to expand to its current 14 teams. Delany oversaw the creation of the Big Ten championship game in football, as well as the launch of the Big Ten network.

Delany will retire in 2020 and Kevin Warren will take over on Jan. 2. Warren is a former chief operations officer of the Minnesota Vikings and will be the first black commissioner of the Big Ten.