FIRE Student Network

This year, FIRE is launching a new program that will bring the free exchange of ideas directly to college students: FIRE Debates.

FIRE Debates will bring leading figures to colleges and universities for Oxford-style debates on controversial topics relevant to today’s students. The debates will remind students that free inquiry and open discussion play a central role in both education and democracy. FIRE aims to show students across the country that open debate and dialogue is not harmful or detrimental, but healthy, productive, and fun. 

FIRE is thrilled to announce ESPN’s Jay Bilas and the NCAA’s Oliver Luck will debate the motion “College athletes should be allowed to be paid” in the first installment in our series, FIRE Debates, on October 20 at Texas A&M University.

Jay Bilas is a broadcaster for ESPN, an attorney, and a former professional basketball player. In 1995, Bilas joined ESPN as a college basketball analyst. Currently, he serves as a game and studio analyst and courtside commentator for College GameDay, in addition to being a regular contributor to SportsCenter,ESPN.com, and ESPNEWS. Bilas also provides commentary on coverage of the NBA Draft and NCAA Final Four. As a college basketball player, he started for four years at Duke under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. In college, Bilas was one of two student-athletes in the nation appointed to NCAA’s Long-Range Planning Committee. A 1986 NBA draft pick of the Dallas Mavericks, Bilas played basketball professionally in Italy (1987–88) and Spain (1989). Bilas then returned to Duke to serve as assistant coach to Krzyzewski while attending law school.

Oliver Luck has been the Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the NCAA since January 2015. Prior to this role, Luck was the Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President at West Virginia University. During this time, Luck served on the College Football Selection Committee and the Player Safety Advisory Panel for the National Football League. A former student-athlete and quarterback for the NFL, Luck played football for both West Virginia University and the Houston Oilers. After retiring from professional football, Luck received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. He went on to use his football knowledge as the general manager and vice president of NFL Europe, before serving as its president for four years.

There is no admission fee for this event.

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