May 26, 2005

Q & A: Mark Murphy

Director of Athletics discusses paying student-athletes, Northwestern’s recruiting pitch and the challenge of competing against other schools

What was the lacrosse championship experience like?

It was great for the student-athletes, their families and our fans. And the program earned a whole new level of respect. I told the players to just keep playing with confidence and to savor the moment because there aren’t many chances to make history.

Are student-athletes role models?

I think so. There’s no way around that. Certainly football and basketball players get more media exposure.

But take the lacrosse team, for example. Whenever there’s a game, local high school programs come out to watch. They look up to our players. They watch them to see how they act and perform.

So whether or not they like it, they are role models. And I’d say Northwestern student-athletes provide tremendous examples.

Should student-athletes be paid?

No, it would be a huge mistake. The line between college and pro sports is already blurred enough.

Northwestern put a number of players in the NFL this year. What does that say about the football program?

We have nine players in NFL camps this year. So it says we lost some good players. But really, it’s a sign that this is a respected program. We’re competing at a high level.

One of the points we emphasize when talking to recruits is that Northwestern offers a unique combination. They’re getting the equivalent of an Ivy League education here, and they’re competing in one of the country’s best football conferences.

And we tell kids, “If you’re good enough, you’ll get national exposure. And you can be drafted.”

When you travel to special events and meet fans and alumni, what kinds of questions do you get?

I’m often asked — especially by knowledgeable fans — about the challenges of competing in our conference and in the nation overall.

What are they?

I think the University’s academic standards and reputation are a tremendous benefit. The challenge of being a model for other schools — to show that you don’t have to sacrifice your academic standards to win — is why I came to Northwestern.

Northwestern scored 980 on the recent NCAA academic progress report. That compares to the Big Ten average of 963 and the Division I average of 948. Are you satisfied with that?

I’d say it’s very impressive, but not surprising. We expect student-athletes to graduate at about the same rate as the overall student body. We take pride in that.

When the Anderson Hall/Burton Academic Advising Center opens this summer, how will it change athletics operations?

I’m really excited that our coaches, administrators and staff will all come together under the same roof. Academic advising will be there too, so it means student-athletes will be coming in and out every day.

I’m kind of isolated over here [in the current administrative office facility at the south end of Ryan Field] and normally I don’t get to interact with our student-athletes unless there’s a crisis. And it’s nice to see them when there’s not a problem. I want them to have a good experience here and to know that we care.

As an athletic director, you’re in your third career. Can you share a memorable moment from one of your other jobs?

I worked as an attorney for the Department of Justice, defending government agencies. I remember representing the Census Bureau against the state of Montana, which had just lost one of its congressional seats in the 1990 census.

Here I am, just a few years out of law school, standing before a three-judge federal panel, working a case that goes to the Supreme Court on direct appeal.

As I stood before the panel, one of the judges put me on the spot and asked, “What gives you the right to take away our congressional seat?”

That was as big a pressure situation as I’d ever faced. But playing in the NFL taught me the value of doing my homework. When you’re prepared, you have confidence and it enables you to perform in the spotlight.

That’s probably as good a lesson as you could pass on to a student-athlete.

Absolutely.