Florida State privatizes its Athletic Department

Florida State Is Privatizing Its Athletic Department To Shield Itself From Scrutiny

The move will privatize FSU's athletics department—essentially giving it all the benefits of being both a private corporation, including shielding it from public scrutiny—while still operating on behalf of a taxpayer-funded institution. Florida State is expecting the changes to take effect by the fall.

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Florida State gets these new privileges without one big drawback that usually goes with them—the athletic department still will be subject to an immunity clause that limits any jury judgements or settlements to just $200,000. Anything higher would have to be approved by the state legislature, because it'd be paid by the taxpayers.

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Under this arrangement, not only would Florida State's athletic leadership not have to be transparent in the event of a scandal or tragedy—similar to the way Maryland was held accountable after the death of Jordan McNair—but there also would be an artificial cap on the judicial consequences for their actions.

The article notes that other schools, UF, UCF, Georgia, and Penn St have similar arrangements that make oversight increasingly more difficult as time passes. But nonetheless....