Quote:
Originally Posted by Abe Sargent
According to CNN/Si only 9 schools in teh country bring in enough money from their football programs to not only prop up teh rest of athletics, but also to contribute top teh school's general fund . Everybody uses it to prop up non-revenue sports, bu tvery few have enough to rollover. Just nine schools.
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Yes, most athletics programs do not generate enough revenue after expenses that could be rolled over outside of the athletics department.
But I think it was Jon who nailed it on the head with why Universities put an emphasis on athletics even though it is usually a money-loser: athletics are a useful tool to promote the University "brand", to build equity and awareness with prospective students and people not associated with the school, and to act as both an interest generator and conduit for overall "institutional development" (i.e., fund-raising) for targeted (read: wealthy) alumni and other prospective donors of interest (i.e., again, wealthy ones).