Mark Emmert Defending NCAA Enforcement: Accusations of Inactivity 'Dead Wrong'

With the college football season nearing an end and the inaugural four-team playoff coming up, NCAA President Mark Emmert reviewed some of the more controversial issues from the season soon to be over.

According to ESPN, Emmert was in New York for the Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, an even that was hosted by SportsBusiness Journal. The leader of the college athletics governing body spoke on several issues, mainly focusing on the NCAA's enforcement branch.

"I think the perception that we're not doing anything that has been kicked around in some of the media is just dead wrong," Emmert said in his public discussion. "They've been incredibly active. They're involved in a lot of cases right now."

NCAA enforcement was thrust under the microscope several times this season. For one, several internal emails were released as court documents in a lawsuit, showing how NCAA officials doubted their sanctions against Penn State for the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.

The NCAA was criticized again for dragging their feet in the UNC - Chapel Hill academic scandal. Emmert also commented on Georgia running back Todd Gurley's suspension for autograph signing, which many believe was the result of an outdated rule that is too constricting.

"People said, 'Give the kid a break; it's a dumb rule,'" Emmert said. "Well, is it a rule?"

During his four years as NCAA president, Emmert pointed out that he has doubled the budget for enforcement, even amid past scandals and polarizing events in college sports. He also said that individual schools need to be "partners" to the NCAA to have an effective enforcement system.

"It's the only way you can get out the facts," Emmert said. "If you don't have subpoena power, you have to have people engaged and involved."

The NCAA will also have no role in the University of Alabama - Birmingham cutting its football program, ESPN reported. Emmert said that as student-athletes are allowed to receive beenfits, schools may have to make choices in cutting various programs. The NCAA has also not discussed lowering the threshold for Division I membership down from 14 sports teams.