MSU professor recounts history of American college sports in latest coauthored book
Contact: Bethany Shipp
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斞侵奚墒悠 professor and administrator Eric Moyen explores the successes and challenges of American intercollegiate athletics in his latest coauthored book 鈥淐ollege Sports: A History.鈥
Moyen is a professor of higher education leadership in MSU鈥檚 College of Education and serves as the university鈥檚 assistant vice president for Student Success. Published by Johns Hopkins University Press, the book was the No. 1 new release in Amazon鈥檚 higher and continuing education category in November. It is coauthored by John Thelin, a University of Kentucky professor emeritus of the history of higher education and public policy. Moyen and Thelin will discuss their new book on Chicago鈥檚 morning show on Friday, Jan. 17, at 9:15 a.m. CST.
The book details the history of college athletics from the mid-19th century to present and explains the symbiotic relationship between athletics and academic institutions. Moyen and Thelin tell of the successes and the challenges that have plagued college sports since its inception, setting a backdrop for understanding its current landscape. The book also chronicles how marginalized groups in athletics have been treated and the impact of the media and commercialization on the industry.
鈥淢any see college athletics as an aberration that doesn鈥檛 fit in the university structure,鈥 Moyen said. 鈥淏ut the more Dr. Thelin and I read and discussed it, we began to see college athletics is really important in defining a college's or a university's mission. Though it is a story of both success and excess, it actually mirrors how other aspects of higher education have changed over time, such as the installment of lazy rivers on campuses and luxury-style residence halls.鈥
Given current issues facing college sports and its uncertain future, Moyen said the book is timely and sets the context for approaches to reform policy and a way forward that is beneficial to student athletes as well as academic institutions and their key constituents.
Moyen is a former doctoral student of Thelin鈥檚 and previously coauthored 鈥淐hanging the Game: My Career in Collegiate Sports Marketing鈥 with college business pioneer Jim Host. With a lifelong love for college athletics, Moyen鈥檚 interest in the topic was first sparked by a class he took of Thelin鈥檚 on higher education and athletics.
鈥淚t has been a pleasure getting to work with my professor and mentor, as we first started discussing these issues literally a quarter of a century ago,鈥 Moyen said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful it led to the opportunity to write this book together.鈥
Moyen earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Taylor University in social studies education, master鈥檚 degree in U.S. history from the University of Alabama and doctorate from the University of Kentucky in higher education.聽
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