Perception is reality. How many times have you heard that phrase? The reason it has stood the test of time? There's a lot of truth to it. This week we were reminded of that old saying yet again.

 

Earlier this week the NCAA announced it had passed legislation (pending Division I Board of Directors approval on April 24) to provide student-athletes with unlimited meals and snacks. Previously, student-athletes had been limited to three meals a day or a food stipend. Side note: this latest ruling also grants walk-ons be permission to eat with their teammates at the training table. Until this legislation passed, walk-ons were required to practice, train and put in the same work, but were not allowed to join their teammates for meals. That ridiculous rule has now been abolished.

 

Most observers agree this is long overdue. The easy conclusion to draw is that this was passed as a reaction to UConn's Shabazz Napier saying he often went to bed hungry. His comment came only days after he was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four after leading his Huskies to the national championship. The quote makes headlines, the media runs with the story and lo and behold, two weeks later the NCAA passes legislation allowing schools to provide as much food as they want for athletes.

 

Can you see why the NCAA has a perception problem? The legislation was in the works long before Napier made his comments, but the fact that it was announced only days after a high profile athlete said he didn't get enough to eat leads many people to believe otherwise. Yet again, the NCAA looks as if it was reactionary rather than proactive about an issue regarding the welfare of the student-athlete. It appears to many, the NCAA only took action when it received some bad press.

 

Here's where reality may meet up with perception - does anyone think the threat of the players forming a union didn't have an effect on this decision? Most of the headlines and discussion around the union issue have focused on players getting paid. According to the group working on behalf of the players however, getting them paid isn't even an issue at this point. What is at issue - players having a seat at the table (no pun intended) and a voice when it comes to legislation regarding the welfare of those players.

 

Is this not a prime example of that? Why did it take so long for the NCAA to step up and pass this rule? Heck, until recently, schools weren't able to provide cream cheese to student-athletes when they served bagels. No really, that was a rule. NCAA legislation just enacted in 2009 only allowed schools to provide bagels, fruits and nuts to student-athletes. Providing complimentary butter, a jam packet or cream cheese was a violation.

 

Now, they have swung to the entire other end of the spectrum, allowing unlimited meals and snacks. One day it's no cream cheese for your bagel. The next day, an all-you-can-eat buffet of snacks is permissible.

 

I won't get into now, but how long will it take before schools start promoting their food service as a recruiting tool? Will the resumes of the head chefs now become a standard feature on school's websites? How quickly will schools begin tweeting and Instagramming pictures of the training table food spreads? It sounds crazy, but just wait. It's coming.

 

The NCAA will certainly say otherwise, but it's nearly impossible to believe the threat of unionization didn't have some effect on this current legislation. The NCAA is an easy punching bag and groups are lining up to take their shots.  As we've said before, this is an issue that isn't going away any time soon. Student-athletes and the group(s) representing them know they have momentum on their side. For the first time in decades, they are getting some traction. The NCAA (and schools) will begin their PR push soon. They will begin to build their case publicly to show everything they do for student-athletes. This was step one. There will be more.

 

I would venture a guess that most fans are not in favor of athletes being paid, but I can't imagine many being opposed to them having plenty of food available. The NCAA could have saved a few punches by simply passing this rule long ago. Now, it appears as if they caved to external pressure. Reactionary instead of proactive. Remember, perception is reality.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured are WVU athletes Dustin Garrison, Bria Holmes and Harrison Musgrave. Middle photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotogrpahy.com, while top and bottom photos are courtesy of WVU Sports Communications. Cover photo also by Ben Queen.