{"id":106,"date":"2026-08-04T19:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T19:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marshall.test\/whitepaper\/?page_id=104"},"modified":"2026-08-06T12:28:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T12:28:18","slug":"from-the-mountains-not-the-sidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Mountains, Not the Sidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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\n \n Meet Marshall<\/span>\n <\/a>\n
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Welcome to Marshall<\/div>\n
\n Why Choose Marshall?<\/a>\n\n The Value of a Marshall Degree<\/a>\n\n Our Community<\/a>\n\n Our Blog<\/a>\n\n Our Stories<\/a>\n\n Our History<\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n Marshall Life<\/span>\n <\/a>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFrom the Mountains, Not the Sidelines<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n
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A white paper from Marshall University<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t

From the Mountains,Not the Sidelines<\/em><\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

The future of college athletics and why this moment matters to Marshall University, Appalachia, and America.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDownload the paper\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

By\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPresident Brad D. Smith<\/strong>, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVice President and Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison<\/strong>, and \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoard of Governors Chair Kathy Eddy<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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In life, capitalizing on critical moments matters. This is a case for why this moment matters \u2014 and why schools like Marshall must be part of the national conversation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

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College athletics is being reshaped in real time by NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and revenue sharing. Even the nation’s largest athletic brands are struggling to balance the books.<\/p>\n

For a university like Marshall \u2014 investing above its size, serving a region where athletics represents something larger than entertainment \u2014 the stakes are especially high. This paper lays out what’s changing, what it means for programs outside the wealthiest conferences, and what we believe should guide what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Athletics is not simply entertainment. It is a strategic institutional asset.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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By the numbers<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

More than wins and losses<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStudent Athletes<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGraduation Success Rate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPerfect 4.0 GPAs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tService Hours<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegional Economic Output<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJobs Supported<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

Academic figures reflect the Spring 2026 semester. Economic figures are from estimates prepared in 2026 by Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The future of college athletics cannot belong only to the wealthiest institutions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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What’s inside<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Eight Pages on What Comes Next<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A look at the financial reality facing college athletics, where Marshall sits in a widening national market, the principles we believe should guide reform, and what supporters can do.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

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  1. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t01<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy this moment matters<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  2. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t02<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAthletics as a strategic institutional asset<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  3. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t03<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe financial reality facing college athletics<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  4. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t04<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFor Marshall, the stakes are especially high<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  5. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t05<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPlaying from a different position<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  6. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t06<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe need for national solutions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  7. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t07<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat supporters can do<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  8. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t08<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is at stake<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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    Read the Full White Paper<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    Share it with colleagues, community partners, and policymakers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload the Paper\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Brad D. Smith<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    President<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Gerald J. Harrison<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Vice President and Director of Athletics<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Kathy Eddy<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Board of Governors Chair<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-splash-landing.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-106","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/106\/revisions\/126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/fromthemountains\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}