3/23/01--Boston College Law School is pleased to announce that NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will speak at the school on April 3rd, 2001. The discussion, "Professional Sports in the New Millennium," is sponsored by LSA and the Office of the Dean, and will occur in the new Law School East Wing building, room 115, at 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.

"Mr. Tagliabue has been a leading figure in professional sports and the legal profession for many years," said BCLS Dean John H. Garvey. "His success with the NFL is considerable. It is both an honor and an unusual pleasure to have him at Boston College, to share his experiences and expertise with our students."

Tagliabue has addressed a number of NFL priorities in his 10 years as NFL Commissioner. Among them, the NFL has expanded from 28 to 32 teams, operated under successive long-term labor agreements with the NFL Players Association, secured the largest television contracts in entertainment history, and refocused its efforts in developing public-private partnerships for new stadiums across the country.

Tagliabue has presided over the re-organization of the league’s management structure, adopted stringent policies on steroids and other drugs, and expanded the NFL’s presence internationally. He also initiated a series of rule changes in the mid-90’s to speed up the game, ensure balance between offense and defense, and promote player safety. Under his leadership, the competitive action on the field has flourished, stadium attendance and television audiences have reached record levels, and the value of NFL franchises has soared.

Tagliabue took office on November 5, 1989, succeeding Pete Rozelle, who served as NFL Commissioner from 1960 to 1989. Before becoming Commissioner, Tagliabue was a partner at Covington & Burling, a Washington DC law firm, then the NFL’s principal outside counsel. Tagliabue had represented the NFL as an attorney in important areas, including television, expansion, legislative affairs, franchise moves, labor and antitrust cases. His involvement with the NFL began in 1969 when the merger of the NFL and the American Football League was being implemented and Monday Night Football was being launched.

Earlier, Tagliabue had served in the office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Defense Department, as a defense policy analyst on European and North Atlantic affairs. On leaving the department, Tagliabue was awarded the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, the department’s highest award.

Paul John Tagliabue was born in Jersey City, N.J., on November 24, 1940. He attended New York University School of Law where he was an editor of the law review and graduated with honors in 1965. He is a former member of the board of trustees of NYU Law School. He is a member of the board of directors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Urban League, and of the board of governors of the United Way of America.

Following the speech, there will be a reception in Barat House from 5-6 p.m. for BC community only.