Darlington to Play Role in NCAA Governance

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma Football center Ty Darlington will help usher in a new era of NCAA autonomy governance when he joins 14 other current NCAA Division I student-athletes who will represent their peers at the 2015 NCAA Convention that begins on Jan. 14 in Washington, D.C.

More on Ty Darlington
Service
Vice President of Big 12 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2014-15, will serve as president in 2015-16
President of OU Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter in 2013-14 and 2014-15
Mission of Hope – Made relief trips to Haiti in 2013 and 2014 with another one planned in May 2015
Volunteers at Oklahoma's Children Hospital special
Has served as a volunteer football coach at his high school every year since graduation
Awards
2014 CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team
2014 CoSIDA Academic All-District list
2014 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
2012-13 Jay Myers Outstanding Freshman Award, presented by the OU Athletics Council

Darlington will participate at the convention along with two other Big 12 Conference student-athlete representatives: Maddie Stein (Kansas – softball) and Anthony Lyons, Jr. (Texas Tech – baseball).

The current NCAA Division I governance structure, adopted in August 2014, provides autonomy to the High Visibility Conferences (Big 12, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC) to adopt rules in a set of specific areas and ensures that student-athletes have the ability to vote in the decision-making process. Autonomous legislation is designed to allow permissive use of resources or to otherwise enhance the well-being of student-athletes by any member, to advance the educational or athletics-related needs of student-athletes.

Under the autonomy process, each institution in those five conferences will have one vote and there will be three student-athlete representatives per conference that also will each have one vote (15 student-athlete votes total). The student-athlete representatives will work alongside university chancellors and presidents, athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives and athletics administrators during the autonomy discussion and business sessions.

A Capital One Academic All-America First Team selection, Darlington received his undergraduate degree from OU's College of Arts and Sciences in December, a remarkable feat considering that he completed all of his requirements in only two-and-half years. He earned a 3.96 GPA and served as a commencement speaker at the College's convocation ceremony. He will begin pursuing his graduate degree in adult and higher education with a career aspiration of serving as a collegiate coach or athletics administrator.

The Apoka, Fla., native was part of an Oklahoma offensive line that has permitted a mere 9.0 sacks this season, the lowest total of any FBS program. The Sooners finished 10th in the nation in rushing (261.2 ypg), thanks to the OU offensive line and freshman running back Samaje Perine, who ranked eighth in the country in rushing, averaging 131.8 ypg.

Q&A with Ty Darlington

Q: How big of a responsibility is it being one of 15 student-athletes representing your peers at the NCAA level?

DARLINGTON: “That's exactly what it is, a huge responsibility. It is also a humbling honor to be chosen from all the individuals who submitted applications. I'm excited about it, though. I feel like I'm qualified to do it and understand the different issues and topics that will be brought up so I'm prepared to have a vote. The goal is not for me to only represent my university. The goal is for me to represent student athletes everywhere. I'm not just voting on behalf of Oklahoma student-athletes. I'm voting on behalf of student-athletes from the Big 12 Conference and on behalf of student-athletes across the nation.”

Q: How have you educated yourself on pertinent NCAA issues and potential ramifications of legislation?

DARLINGTON: “If it were just me doing it by myself, it would be a very daunting task. The Big 12 Conference has done a fantastic job of getting us ready. David Flores at the Big 12 has conducted several conference calls with me and Maddie Stein of Kansas and Anthony Lyons from Texas Tech and other conference personnel. We really got to dive into the issues and they have enabled us to ask questions. We are able to understand the purpose behind each of the things that we are voting on plus some of the pros and cons.

“Here at OU there have been people who have been very accommodating to explain things. Our head athletic trainer, Scott Anderson walked me through the concussion legislation and Jason Leonard from compliance explained some of the pros and cons of the financial aid landscape. We have all the resources in place to be qualified and knowledgeable about the issues.”

Q: What do you hope to take away from this trip to the NCAA convention?

DARLINGTON: “I am trying to stay free of expectations and just enjoy the experience. I have never been to Washington, D.C. There is a lot of history that I hope to soak in. At the same time I am really excited to experience the whole thing, and hopefully have a better understanding of the whole process and to get comfortable with it. The number one goal for me would be to conduct myself and represent all the different organizations that I will be representing with class. I'll do that by the way I conduct myself while I am there and also by being prepared. I need to be ready to answer the questions I need to and have the knowledge of the pertinent issues.”