This document is the introduction to the main body of a report on the inquiry into the need for and feasibility of a national study of intercollegiate athletics. In addition to outlining the organization of the report on the findings of the inquiry, it consists of five sections designed to provide background information regarding the approach taken in the report, the conduct of the effort, the prejudices of the inquiry team, the classification of sports and institutions, and those trends that seem most to be affecting intercollegiate sports in the spring of 1974. The balance is organized under six major headings: individual attitudes, commercialism, entertainment, and ethics, controlling competition, economics, sports and education, and issues to be studied. (Author/MJM)