THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT OUR CONVERSATION WITH A NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK DIRECT PAYMENTS TO PLAYERS NOW LEGAL.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE SPORTS?

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE NEW BASKETBALL SEASON AND THE STRUGGLES OF THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM THAT IS AHEAD.

FIRST TONIGHT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IS Dr.

TAOFEEK OWONIKOKO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER'S GREENEBAUM COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER.

AND PROFESSOR OF ONCOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

NOVEMBER IS LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

STILL THE MOST DEADLY OF CANCERS.

HOW MUCH OF THAT IS SMOKING?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

YES, NOVEMBER IS THE LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

AND LUNG CANCER REMAINS A DEADLY DISEASE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CANCERS WORLDWIDE AND THE MOST LETHAL CANCER FOR US IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM.

AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS WHO WILL DEVELOP LUNG CANCER WILL DEVELOP THAT ON THE BACKGROUND OF PRIOR RISK OF TOBACCO SMOKE.

THAT IS STILL A MAJOR FACTOR.

>> Jeff: I READ OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SMOKED, THE INCIDENCE IS RISE.

WHY WOULD THAT BE?

>> THAT IS ACCURATE.

WE NOW OBSERVING THE LAST DECADE OR TWO THAT PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER WHO NEVER SMOKED CONSTITUTE A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION OF LUNG CANCER PATIENTS.

ABOUT 20% OF PATIENTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER WITHOUT ANY REAL EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO USE.

AND WORLDWIDE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT NUMBER COULD BE BETWEEN 30 AND 40% OF PATIENTS IN ASIA FOR INSTANCE.

STILL, AN UNKNOWN IN TERMS OF WHAT IS REALLY DRIVING THIS INCREASE IN PEOPLE WHO NEVER SMOKERS DEVELOPING LUNG CANCER.

BUT WE ARE BEGINNING TO GET INSIGHT.

PART OF THIS COULD BE EXPOSURE TO PARTICULATE MATTER.

IN ADDITION TO OTHER RISK FACTORS WE KNOW COULD DRIVE LUNG CANCER DEVELOPMENT BEYOND TOBACCO SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TO RADON.

>> Jeff: AND PARTICULATE MATTER IS THAT MORE OF A OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD BUT AROUND THE HOUSE, TOO?

>> IT COULD BE BOTH.

IN GENERAL PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND OCCUPATIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME STUDIES DONE THAT SHOW WHEN YOU HAVE COOKING AROUND THE HOUSE FOR INSTANCE THERE ARE PARTICULATE MATTERS THAT MAYBE RELEASED FROM COOKING OFTENTIMES THAT IS GOING TO NOT HANG AROUND YOUR HOUSE FOR THAT LONG.

FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN SPECIFIC OCCUPATION WHERE THIS COULD BE IN THE ATMOSPHERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEY GET EXPOSED TO THIS IT COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS RISK FACTOR.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR RESEARCH TO REALLY PROVE THIS.

BUT THERE'S GROWING EVIDENCE THIS COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INCREASE INCIDENCE OF LUNG CANCER IN NEVER SMOKERS.

>> Jeff: I DID READ IN THE NEVER SMOKER CATEGORY, WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP LUNG CANCER THAN MEN.

IS THAT THE CASE?

>> THAT IS TRUE.

BEFORE WE STUDY THE MOLECULAR DRIVER OF LUNG CANCER THE EACH DEEM LOGIC STUDIES YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO FIND WOMEN, PEOPLE OF ASIAN ORIGIN AND YOUNGER PATIENT DEVELOPING LUNG CANCER WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO.

NOW, WITH OUR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF MOLECULAR DRIVERS OF LUNG CANCER A UNIQUE GENETIC CHANGES WITHIN THE CANCER CELLS THAT TENDS TO BE MORE COMMON IN PEOPLE THAT NEVER SMOKED.

AND THIS GROUP OF DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER WHAT WE CALL GENETIC ALTERATION THAT DRIVES LUNG CANCER IS MUCH MORE COMMON IN WOMEN THAN IN MEN.

YOU CAN FIND IT IN ANY PATIENT OF ANY GENDER.

>> Jeff: REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE DOCTOR SEND US AN E-MAIL LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

LET'S TURN TO TREATMENT A LITTLE BIT.

LOTS OF MODALITIES.

WHAT IS NEW ON THE TREATMENT FRONT?

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS FOR PATIENT WITH LUNG CANCER WE HAVE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ALL MATTERS OF TREATMENT WE HAVE FOR THIS DISEASE.

STARTING FROM TARGETED THERAPY, NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE MOLECULAR DRIVERS OF THE DISEASE.

WE HAVE AGENTS THAT CAN BE USED THAT WILL TARGET SPECIFIC CHANGES WITHIN THE CANCER CELL.

OVER TIMES THESE ARE PILLS YOU TAKE MY MOUTH.

AND THE USE OF THESE AGENTS IN THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS ACTUALLY REDUCED THE DEATH RELATED TO LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE THEY WORK IN ADVANCED STAGES AND EARLY STAGES OF LUNG CANCER.

THE OTHER MAJOR ADVANCE IS THE USE OF I AM MUN KNOW THERAPY ON CHEMOTHERAPY OR TARGETED THERAPY THAT WORKS DIRECTLY ON THE CANCER CELLS.

I AM KNOW THERAPY WORKS WITH THE IMMUNE CELLS IN YOUR BODY AND WAKES THEM UP SO THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THERE'S SOMETHING GOING WRONG IN THE BODY IN THE FORM OF CANCER AND THE IMMUNE CELLS WILL ELIMINATE THE CANCER.

THE THIRD AREA WHERE WE'VE MADE PROGRESS IS THE USE OF LESS INVASIVE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES.

BEFORE WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO GO TO SURGERY A BIG SURGERY THEY OPEN THE CHEST TO GET INTO THE LUNGS.

NOW, WHAT WE CALL VIDEO ASSISTED SURGERY WHERE YOU USE A PIN HOLE SURGERY THE STAND-OUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS AND ADVANTAGE OF THIS IS ENCOURAGES LESS MORBIDITY.

PATIENTS THAT FOR SHORT DURATION OF TIME IN THE HOSPITAL AND THERE'S LESS TISSUE DAMAGE, LESS PAIN, RECOVERY IS FASTER.

AND WE KNOW THE OUTCOME IS JUST AS GOOD AS IF YOU WENT THROUGH OPEN SURGERY.

>> Jeff: IS THERE A CATEGORY OF LUNG CANCER OR A STAGE OF LUNG CANCER WHERE YOU BELIEVE IT COULD BE CURED?

>> YES.

LUNG CANCER IS CURABLE JUST LIKE MAJORITY OF CANCERS WHEN CAUGHT VERY EARLY.

SO WE CALL CANCER CURABLE WHEN YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN WITHOUT SURGERY, RADIATION OR MEDICINE.

THAT WILL MAKE THAT CANCER GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK.

AND WE KNOW THAT FOR PATIENTS THAT IS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGES ONE, TWO, AND SOME STAGE THREE LUNG CANCER PATIENT WE ACTUALLY CAN CURE THEM.

IF YOU THINK OF PATIENT WITH STAINING ONE LUNG CANCER, OVER FIVE YEARS TYPICALLY HOW LONG WE FOLLOW BEFORE WE SAY SOMEONE DOES NOT NEED MORE FOLLOW-UP.

70-80% OF STAGE ONE LUNG CANCER PATIENTS MIGHT BE CURED OF THEIR DISEASE.

IF YOU WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE AND GET DIAGNOSED AT STAGE FOUR LESS THAN 20% OF THOSE PATIENTS MAYBE ALIVE IN FIVE YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT DIAGNOSIS CANCER AT VERY, VERY EARLY STAGES IS ONE SURE WAY TO CURE IT.

>> Jeff: THAT BRINGS US HOW DO WE CATCH IT EARLY?

IS IT SYMPTOMATIC AT THAT EARLY STAGE?

>> IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES WHEN IT'S CURABLE OFTENTIMES IT IS NOT SYMPTOMATIC.

SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE EFFORTS TO FIND IT.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE THE TOOL TO DIAGNOSE LUNG CANCER EARLY.

ESPECIALLY IN THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGH-RISK OF DEVELOPING THE LUNG CANCER AND THOSE ARE OLDER PATIENTS FROM THE AGE OF 50-80.

WHO SMOKED.

SMOKED HEAVILY PACKY, SOMEBODY SMOKING A PACK OF CIGARETTES DAILY FOR 20 YEARS.

AND WHEN THE DAY LAST SMOKE.

IF YOU SMOKED WITHIN THE LAST 15 YEARS AND YOU SMOKED ABOUT 20 PACK YEARS WITHIN THAT AGE RANGE OF 50-80 THERE IS A TOOL THAT WE CAN USE WHAT WE CALL LUNG HEALTH SCAN OR LOW DOSE CT SCAN THAT CAN DIAGNOSE THE CANCER WHEN IT'S SMALL AND ASYMPTOMATIC AND CURABLE.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM SMOKER HOW OPEN ARE THEY TO DOING THAT TEST?

>> THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS ARE WELL-INFORMED.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS FOR THEM TO BE AWARE IT IS A TOOL AVAILABLE TO THEM TO USE TO BE DIAGNOSED EARLY.

AND ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND, JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE THE LOW DOSE CT CENTERS WHERE YOU CAN GO AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR PULMONOLOGIST OR ONCOLOGIST IF YOU HAVE ONE.

INFORMED DECISION YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT PROCESS YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> Jeff: VIEWER QUESTION.

ELIZABETH WANTS TO KNOW IS LUNG CANCER HEREDITARY?

AND WHAT TESTS ARE AVAILABLE TO DETERMINE THAT?

SO IF IT RUNS IN SOMEBODY'S FAMILY SHOULD THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET TESTED AND IS THERE A DIFFERENT TEST?

>> THAT A VERY, VERY GOOD QUESTION IN TERMS OF HEREDITARY NATURE OF LUNG CANCER.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF LUNG CANCER IS NOT HEREDITARY BUT WE HAVE HAD REPORTS IN SOME FAMILIES AND IT TENDS TO BE A SPECIFIC GENETIC ALTERATION CALLED EGFR THAT THAT HAS BEEN FOUND IN MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF THE SAME FAMILY.

UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE IT IS SO RARE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PROMOTE AS A WAY TO FIND LUNG CANCER UNLESS YOU TRULY HAVE STRONG FAMILY HISTORY AND THEN YOU YOU CAN SEE A COUNSELOR AND THEY CAN DO TESTING AND PROPER DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF WHAT TESTS TO BE DIAGNOSED EARLY.

>> Jeff: INTERESTING QUESTION FROM KEVIN.

IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN MARIJUANA USE AND INCREASED RISK OF LUNG CANCER?

>> THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE JURY IS OUT THERE.

YOU CAN FIND THAT SUPPORT WHICHEVER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT YOU WANT TO TAKE.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS CERTAIN THINGS TRAVEL TOGETHER PEOPLE USE MARIJUANA THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE TOBACCO AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE WHAT IS DUE TO MARIJUANA USE AND WHAT IS DUE TO TOBACCO AND THE USE OF BOTH TOGETHER.

>> Jeff: I THINK EVERYBODY WHO SMOKES AT THIS POINT KNOWS IT'S BAD AND THEY WANT TO QUIT.

BUT IT'S TOUGH.

THEY WILL QUIT AND RELAPSE.

HALF A MINUTE A COUPLE SENTENCES WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A LONG-TERM SMOKER WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING?

>> THE BEST ADVICE IS TO NEVER HAVE STARTED.

IF YOU'VE STARTED TO STOP.

AND IF YOU HAVE STRUGGLING TO STOP, THERE'S HELP ALONG THE WAY.

THERE IS THE QUIT LINE YOU CAN CALL IF YOU CALL OUR CENTER WE CAN GUIDE YOU TO WHERE TO FIND RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP YOU BE ABLE TO QUIT SMOKING.

>> Jeff: AND THE BEST PLACE TO GET STARTED ON A SCAN IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE ALSO CONTACT THE GREENEBAUM COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER.

>> CONTACT THE GREENEBAUM COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER AND WE WILL SET YOU UP.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.

>> Jeff: Dr.

TAOFEEK OWONIKOKO WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: THIS MORNING WE SAT DOWN ON THE HARDWOOD WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND'S FIRST YEAR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JIM SMITH.

JIM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND NICE PLACE YOU GOT HERE?

>> NOT A BAD PLACE TO COME TO WORK FOR SURE.

>> Jeff: AND SEASON OPENING TONIGHT.

MEN'S BASKETBALL.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ON THIS COURT.

LET'S START THERE.

EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH.

PRESEASON RANKINGS HIGH IN THE BIG TEN.

THOUGHTS?

>> NUMBER TWO IN THE BIG TEN AND NUMBER 10 IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM IN THE HISTORY THE WOMEN HAVE HAD HERE AT MARYLAND AND THIS TEAM IS REALLY GOOD AND FUN TO WATCH.

THEY CAN SHOOT IT.

IT'S A FAST-PACED GAME.

BRENDA IS PUSHING THE PACE.

AND THE GIRLS CAN SHOOT IT WELL.

IT WILL BE A FUN YEAR.

>> Jeff: MEN'S TEAM PLAYS IN BALTIMORE WITH A NEW COACH AND NEW ROSTER A QUESTION MARK?

>> BUZZ IS WE HIRED A GREAT COACH.

BUZZ WILLIAMS IS A TERRIFIC COACH HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF BASKETBALL HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

HE GOT HERE WITH ZERO PLAYERS.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN MANY TIMES IN NCAA HISTORY THAT A COACH DID NOT HAVE ANY PLAYERS.

HE BUILT A NICE ROSTER.

WE HAVE HAD INJURIES IN THE PRESEASON.

WE HAVE TO GET HEALTHY AND MAKE A RUN OF THE YEAR.

I KNOW COACH IS VERY POSITIVE AND UPLIFTING ALL THE TIME AND HE WILL GET THE MOST OUT OF HIS GUYS.

>> Jeff: DID YOU HIRE BUZZ?

>> DARRYL COLLEEN HIRED BUZZ.

GREAT HIRE THEY DID A TERRIFIC JOB GETTING A BIG TIME COACH TO COME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS JOB FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS.

GIVE ME BACK AWAY FROM THE REVENUE PROGRAMS YOUR IMPRESSION OF ATHLETICS AT COLLEGE PARK?

>> I THINK ATHLETICS AT COLLEGE PARK ARE A GREAT SPOT WE ARE IN A GREAT FACILITY.

WALK AROUND AND LOOK AT ALL THE FACILITIES WE HAVE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S BEEN AN INVESTMENT IN THE COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

AND I THINK THAT REALLY MATTERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE GREAT FACILITIES FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES TO TRAIN IN AND COMPETE IN.

I'M VERY BULLISH ON WHERE THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ATHLETICS CAN GO.

I BELIEVE IN THE MARKET.

WE ARE IN A GREAT AREA TO RECRUIT.

IT'S GOT A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS THAT ARE HERE IN DMV BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY AN ASSET NOT A LIABILITY.

I MIGHT BE IN THE MINORITY THERE BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS A POSITIVE.

THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD POSITIVE ENERGY AND OPPORTUNITY HERE AT MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: NEWEST OF THE FACILITIES IS ADJACENT TO THIS BUILDING, NEW BASKETBALL PERFORMANCE CENTER WHERE $50 MILLION PRICE TAG.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS AN INCREDIBLE BASKETBALL PERFORMANCE CENTER.

WHEN BOTH TEAMS WALKED IN YOU CAN SEE THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY HOW NICE IT WAS.

THE DETAILS THOUGHT ABOUT THE STUDENT ATHLETES AND WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE.

NOT JUST TRAINING THERE BUT THEY COULD LIVE THERE.

IT FEELS LIKE IT IS A TRUE HOME.

IT'S NOT JUST A LOCKER ROOM WHERE YOU GO OUT TO PRACTICE.

IT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU GO AND LIVE AND BREATHE MARYLAND BASKETBALL FOR BOTH THE MEN AND THE WOMEN.

>> Jeff: DO THOSE THINGS TRANSLATE TO WINS ON THIS COURT?

>> I THINK THEY DO.

I THINK HAVING A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN EVERYDAY IN, AND FEEL LIKE IT'S YOURS AND YOU TAKE GREATER OWNERSHIP IN YOUR PROGRAM AND PERFORMANCE KNOWING THIS INVESTMENT WAS MADE SO YOU CAN PRACTICE EVERYDAY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND HAVE ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED RIGHT IN ONE BUILDING.

I DO THINK IT WILL TRANSLATE INTO WINS.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE A SIMILAR FOOTBALL PERFORMANCE FACILITY.

I JUST WONDER WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS CHANGED IN COLLEGE SPORTS AND WE SHOULD GET INTO THIS A BIT, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BLOW SOMEBODY AWAY WITH THE FACILITIES AND THEY ARE GOING TO SIGN ON THE SPOT TO BECOME A TERP HAS EVOLVED NOW THAT THERE'S MONEY FLYING AROUND LEGALLY FLYING AROUND.

>> I THINK THAT IS TRUE BUT IT'S STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PROCESS OF THAT DECISION MAKING.

IT IS NOT THE ONLY THING BUT I DON'T THINK ONE THING WAS THE ONLY THING.

IT'S THE PROGRAM.

IT'S THE COACHING.

IT'S THE FACILITIES.

AND NOW FOR SOME PLAYERS AND NOW NIL.

THEY ARE ALL PART OF THE EQUATION HOW THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT IS WHAT A PLAYER IS GOING TO LOOK AT.

HOW AM I GOING TO BE MOST SUCCESSFUL AT THE SCHOOL I CHOOSE?

I THINK THOSE ARE FACILITIES HELP MAKE THAT PLAYER FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS EXPERIENCE WHICH IS GOING TO COME IN HANDY IN THIS NEW ERA.

ALSO YOU WERE AT OHIO STATE FOR A WHILE?

>> BOTH, I THINK I HAVE A BLEND OF GOOD COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A FAIR AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.

BOTH THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AS WE GO INTO THIS EVER CHANGING WORLD OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS TODAY.

EVERYDAY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

HECK, IT'S NOT THE WAY IT WAS FIVE MONTHS AGO.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE RAPIDLY EVOLVING AND THAT HELPS ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT BEING IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AND HOWEVER DAY YOU ARE COMPETING AND HAVING TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WERE GOING TO OPERATE DIFFERENTLY AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE IN TODAY'S COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

>> Jeff: WHERE DO WE STAND TODAY?

WHAT IS LEGAL?

BACK IN THE DAY AND I MEAN A COUPLE YEARS AGO, LIKE IF AN ASSISTANT COACH BOUGHT A RECRUIT A SANDWICH AT THE WRONG TIME ALARMS WOULD GO OFF AND THERE WOULD BE TROUBLE NOW YOU ARE WRITING CHECKS?

>> SO THERE'S A PROCESS FOR REV SHARE THAT IS THE TERM, DETERMINED BY THE FEDERAL COURTS AND THE SETTLEMENT IT DETERMINED THAT SCHOOLS COULD ELECT TO HAVE REV SHARE PAYMENTS UP TO $20.5 MILLION.

THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE SETTLEMENTING THE SECOND PART WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PLAYERS TO EARN ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SIMILAR TO THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS WHERE SOMEONE MIGHT BE IN A COMMERCIAL FOR A CAR DEALERSHIP AND COMPENSATED FOR THAT.

THOSE ARE THE TWO OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR COLLEGIATE ATHLETES THAT DID NOT EXIST IN THE PAST.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO BE IN THE BIG TEN.

ONE OF THE THINGS IT MEANS IS THAT MARYLAND GETS A CHECK FOR I'VE READ 70 MILLION, 80 MILLION SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POWER CONFERENCES WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY AND EVERYBODY ELSE, IS JUST A DIFFERENT WORLD.

>> IT IS WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE IN THE BIG TEN.

AS IT RELATES TO THE OTHER CONFERENCES AND THE REV SHARE THAT COMES FROM THE CONFERENCE OFFICE.

FOR MEDIA RIGHTS AND SO SPONSORSHIP.

I WOULD AGREE THAT THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT HERE.

MARYLAND HASN'T SHARED IN THE FULL SHARE YET THAT WAS PART OF THE TRANSITION FROM THE AC COMVMENT INTO THE BIG TEN.

SOON WE WILL BE A FULL MEMBER OF THE BIG TEN AND WE'LL SEE THE NUMBERS THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO.

>> Jeff: THIS IS A LONG FRATERNITY PLEDGING PROCESS.

YOU ARE NOT FULLY MADE MEN YET.

>> WE'RE ABOUT NINE MONTHS AWAY AND THEN WE'RE THERE.

I THINK NEXT YEAR IS THE LAST YEAR.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALLOCATING THE 20 MILLION?

I'M SURE THE FOOTBALL COACH IS GOING TO WANT 19 MILLION.

BOTH OF THE BASKETBALL COACHES ARE GOING TO WANT THE SAME NUMBERS.

DO YOU DECIDE?

>> ULTIMATELY THE DECISION FOR THIS YEAR WAS MADE BY THE PREVIOUS GROUP.

SO BUT I THINK THEY WEIGHED ALL THOSE FACTORS ANDS.

THEY WEIGH FOOTBALL, MENS AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL OUR SPORTS AND HOW BEST TO ALLOCATE TO GIVE ALL OUR SPORTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE.

SCHOOLS LOOK HOW THE JUDGED RULE AND HOW THAT DISTRIBUTION WENT AND THAT IS HOW SCHOOLS DID IT AS WELL.

>> Jeff: SO IT IS A NEW TRANSACTIONAL ERA.

>> IT IS TRANSACTIONAL, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP STILL MATTER.

THE TRANSACTION IS THE FINANCIAL PIECE BUT THE GROWTH AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A STUDENT ATHLETE AT A GREAT UNIVERSITY STILL MATTER.

FOR 90% OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES THAT PARTICIPATE HERE.

I THINK SO MANY TIMES WE FOCUS ON 10%.

THE MINORITY OF STUDENT ATHLETES WHO ARE GETTING PAID A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS TRULY INDICATIVE WHAT COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS IS.

>> I'M WONDERING BECAUSE I AM A FAN IF WE HAVE A COACH MAKING $6 MILLION IN THE NEW ERA, I UNDERSTOOD WHY THAT WAS IMPORTANT IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN IT WAS THE COACHS' REPUTATION AND SALES ABILITY TO GO INTO SOMEBODY'S LIVING ROOM AND EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS THE RIGHT SCHOOL.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT DIMINISHED.

I WONDER IF YOU ARE BETTER OFF WITH A $1 MILLION COACH AND I BET YOU CAN FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE AND A $5 MILLION OFFENSIVE LINE?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW -- >> Jeff: WHICH WOULD THEN GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS FINDING THAT QUARTERBACK THAT WANTS TO PLAY BEHIND THAT $5 MILLION LINE.

>> ARE YOU AUDITIONING FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER'S ROLE?

>> Jeff: NO, JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.

>> THAT IS WHERE THERE IS A FINITE COLLAR AMOUNT THAT ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND YOUR EXAMPLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE RIGHT.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS IS GOING TO FIGURE OUT IS THAT THE BEST WAY TO GO?

AND WE'LL SEE.

>> Jeff: HOW ABOUT SUPPORT FROM ALUMNI AND OTHER DONORS THAT IS A BIG PART OF YOUR JOB.

WHAT IS THE PITCH?

>> IT IS.

I THINK SO WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE VERY, VERY GENEROUS DONORS AND ALUMNI HERE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE BARRY GOSSETTE PERFORMANCE CENTER AND BARRY HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORTER OF MARYLAND ATHLETICS.

AND SO PART OF THAT PITCH IS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GROWING STUDENT ATHLETES.

AND THAT WE WANT TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND PROVIDE A GREAT ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AND ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE WHILE THEY ARE HERE AND HOW DO WE DO BOTH TOGETHER WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO DO AND OUR DONORS CAN HELP US ACCOMPLISH.

>> Jeff: THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM HAD A ROUGH WEEKEND IT WAS HOMECOMING BLOWN OUT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOOTBALL FANS TO KNOW?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT GAME, YOU REALIZE THAT INDIANA MADE A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN FOOTBALL AND IT SHOWS.

AND THAT INVESTMENT WASN'T JUST IN THE MOST RECENT COACH IT STARTED BACK IN 2021 AND THAT THEY SAID FOOTBALL WAS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

A MASSIVE INVESTMENT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE ADMINISTRATION ALL FELT LIKE THEY COULD BE SUCCESSFUL AT INDIANA IN FOOTBALL AND IN BASKETBALL.

AND THEY MADE THAT INVESTMENT.

SO I'D SAY WE'RE HEADED DOWN THE PATH OF MAKING THE INVESTMENT AS WELL.

SO MARYLAND CAN BE AT THAT SAME LEVEL AS INDIANA.

>> Jeff: THE GREAT THING YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU, MAYBE IT'S UNIQUE, I DON'T KNOW, THIS IS THE ONLY I BELIEVE POWER CONFERENCE SCHOOL IN IF YOU COMBINE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST MEDIA MARKET.

DIFFERENT IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, WHICH IS A BIG TOWN BUT NOTHING ELSE GOING ON SIGNIFICANT SPORTS RELATED.

THE SCHOOL OWNS THAT MARKET.

HERE, YOU ARE COMPETING WITH COUPLE OF NFL TEAMS A COUPLE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, YOU GOT HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THAT?

>> IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS IN ATLANTA.

ATLANTA HAD A LOT OF SPORTS IN TWO MAJOR ACC AND SEC TEAM.

YOU LEARN HOW TO CAPITALIZE ON THOSE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS.

FOR FOOTBALL, THAT TELLS YOU THERE IS A HUGE FOOTBALL FAN BASE HERE IN THE DMV AND HOW DO WE CAPITALIZE ON THAT?

LET ME GO BACK TO THE FOURTH LARGEST MEDIA MARKET WHY DO YOU THINK THE BIG TEN SELECTED MARYLAND?

BECAUSE OF THE MARKET AND THE DOMINANCE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS FROM A MEDIA PERSPECTIVE AND ADD THE STUDENT ATHLETE FROM A YOUNG ATHLETE EXPERIENCE AND THE POTENTIAL THAT IS HERE THAT WE CAN RECRUIT IN OUR HOMETOWN AND BE IN A MAJOR MARKET AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S IS ULTIMATELY WHY I THOUGHT MARYLAND WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

BIG TEN, BIG MARKET, BIG OPPORTUNITY.

>> Jeff: LAST QUESTION.

YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED IT YET BUT THIS BUILDING, WHEN IT'S PACKED, AND THERE IS A BIG GAME, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER IN SPORTS.

FLIP SIDE IS THIS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG FOR YOUR AVERAGE GAME ESPECIALLY IN WINTER BREAK YOU WILL HAVE CONFERENCE GAMES IN JANUARY AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT EMPTY UP THERE.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT?

>> WE CAN MOVE WINTER BREAK.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE WINTER BREAK THE UNIVERSITY IS LOSING THEIR MIND THAT I SAID THAT.

WE ARE NOT MOVING WINTER BREAK BUT ONE PERSON I GIVE CREDIT TO IS JOE LA BU.

HE KNOWS HOW TO FILL VENUES.

SO WE'VE HAD TWO SELLOUTS IN FOOTBALL.

AND IT TAKES AN EFFORT AND A LONG-RANGE PLANNING SCENARIO SO WE DON'T HAVE EMPTY FACILITIES DURING THE BREAK.

THERE IS ENOUGH BASKETBALL FANS IN THE MARKET TO FILL.

WE HAVE TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB IN RECRUITING THEM TO COME OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE THE GAME IS TAKING PLACE.

I THINK WE WILL.

IF THE BASKETBALL TEAM IS AS COMPETITIVE AS I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE BUILDING WILL BE FULL.

>> Jeff: JIM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK WITH "STATE CIRCLE" THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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