E. Gordon Gee’s decision to leave the top job at Vanderbilt University for the presidency of Ohio State University has caught the attention of many college-sports officials, who wondered what impact the move might have on the Buckeyes’ $98-million athletics operation.
Four years ago, as Vanderbilt’s chancellor, Mr. Gee declared war on college sports. He fired the athletics director and folded the intercollegiate sports programs into the office of student affairs. His idea, which was lampooned by fans of other Southeastern Conference programs, was to shave costs and more closely integrate the sports program into the rest of the university (The Chronicle, October 17, 2003).