Washington State was already planning a student-athlete dining center when the NCAA ‘deregulated’ its complicated, unrealistic rules on meals.
The opening of Washington State’s $61 million Cougar Football Complex in the summer of 2014 coincided with a small but significant change in the NCAA’s rules governing nutrition for student-athletes.
Until April 2014, schools weren’t allowed to provide snacks other than bagels, fruits, nuts and peanut butter for their student-athletes. Sorry, no cream cheese, Greek yogurt, nonfat milk or vegetables allowed.
“We couldn’t provide a carrot or broccoli to athletes because it would have been a violation of an NCAA rule,” said Lindsay Brown, who was hired as WSU’s Coordinator of Sports Nutrition in August 2011.