Consolidation of Physical Education Department and Athletic Department

Graham promotes the consolidation of the physical education and athletic department, December 18, 1936

Today, there obviously exists a difference between big-time college football programs and small-time programs.  President Graham desired NC State’s football program to resemble other small-time teams.  Besides his desire to inhibit monetary assistance to players, Graham’s point of view was evident when he argued in the hearings for the consolidation of the physical education department and athletic department.  Sociology professor Jay J. Coakley finds that big-time college football programs generally consist of separate physical education and athletic departments because combining the two makes the program resemble more of a high school program and deters monetary assistance from outside sources.  The hearings did not center on this issue but its brief discussion points again to Graham’s dislike of money-focused programs.  The image displays Graham’s argument in the hearing that consolidating the Physical Education and Athletic Department promoted educational values. Visit our exhibit on Football and the Well-Rounded Citizen to learn more about Graham’s educational focus.