Outrageous 5-year Rise of College Sports Spending

[boutons_deux]

But out-of-pocket spending per student athlete has still risen 61 percent from 2005 through 2010, up to $19,318 per athlete. The cost of educating a single student, on the other hand, has gone up just 23 percent, to $13,628. By comparison, the consumer price index, which the government uses to measure inflation, grew about 15 percent during that period.

What's driving all this growth? According to Delta Cost, the cost of facilities and equipment are rising everywhere. At the FBS schools, coaching salaries have been on the rise (remember Gene Chizik's multi-million dollar buyout at Auburn). At lower divisions, athletic scholarships have pushed up costs.

The bottom line, though, is that there are hundreds of colleges in this country where, in the face of ever shrinking state funding, administrators are choosing to spend millions on sports programs with only the faintest hope that they'll one day see a return on their investment other than the dubious intangible benefits of having a few second-rate sports squads around to keep up school spirit. Moreover, they're spending more on those programs every year. Even if athletics only make up a relatively small fraction of their overall budgets, this seems like a place where more of higher ed needs to think about cutting.


http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/01/this-outrageous-5-year-rise-of-college-sports-spending/267287/

[vy65]

So?

[Blake]

it's an observation that our collegiate spending priorities are out of whack.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

If the athletic programs are still generating a profit, I really don't see a problem here as that's money going to other areas of the schools. If schools are using other funds to subsidize rising athletic program costs, then it's a real problem that likely won't get addressed.

Some athletic programs (like Notre Dame or Michigan football) are so ridiculously lucritive I'm still sure they're bringing in millions every year.

[coyotes_geek]

The mega programs are self sufficient and aren't the problem. It's the smaller programs wanting to play with the big boys where this is an issue.

[Blake]

The mega programs are self sufficient and aren't the problem. It's the smaller programs wanting to play with the big boys where this is an issue.

that's the real problem that this article didn't quite address.

Lots of athletic budgets operating in the red. There is really no excuse for it.

[vy65]

If Middle Tennessee State University's allocation of funds is out of whack, don't go. No one is forcing kids to go to schools with shitty budgets.

[boutons_deux]

Several years ago I read that UTexas football business cost $20M/year to operate, with revenue of $50M/year.

[Blake]

If Middle Tennessee State University's allocation of funds is out of whack, don't go. No one is forcing kids to go to schools with shitty budgets.

the ol' ”nobody is forcing you to go” bit. Lol.

That aside, the issue I have is if and when an athletic department takes tax dollars for help getting out of the red.

[vy65]

the ol' ”nobody is forcing you to go” bit. Lol.\

And the problem with that under these facts is ...?


That aside, the issue I have is if and when an athletic department takes tax dollars for help getting out of the red.

I'd agree with you if the athletic programs and/or the school weren't getting out the red. Or if any profits aren't re-invested schoolwide or returned to the state.

[TDMVPDPOY]

dont most of the colleges revenue come from tv deals for their sports carnivals/tournaments, then govt handouts?

[coyotes_geek]

If Middle Tennessee State University's allocation of funds is out of whack, don't go. No one is forcing kids to go to schools with shitty budgets.

Well, sure, but I don't think that invalidates Blake's point. The university exists for the benefit of all students, not just athletes. If the university is disproportionally allocating resources to the athletic department at the expense of other departments, it's more than fair to call them on it.


dont most of the colleges revenue come from tv deals for their sports carnivals/tournaments, then govt handouts?

There's a pretty important distinction between "college" revenue and "college athletic department" revenue. Generally speaking, college revenue = taxpayer funding, tuition & fees, donations to the university; college athletic department revenue = tv deals, ticket sales, donations to the athletic department, funding from the college

[MannyIsGod]

If Middle Tennessee State University's allocation of funds is out of whack, don't go. No one is forcing kids to go to schools with shitty budgets.

Well yeah, but that doesn't mean its still not a big problem that deserves some attention.

[boutons_deux]

sports in HS and college are a huge, expensive distraction from all education objectives.

[vy65]

Well, sure, but I don't think that invalidates Blake's point. The university exists for the benefit of all students, not just athletes. If the university is disproportionally allocating resources to the athletic department at the expense of other departments, it's more than fair to call them on it.


Well yeah, but that doesn't mean its still not a big problem that deserves some attention.

I guess, but that's not really responsive to my point which is: if no one's forcing you, why does anyone care about MTSU's budget allocations? It might not be fair, but calling them out ain't gonna do shit.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

And the problem with that under these facts is ...?

It's a copout and it's a state school. "We the people" and all that stuff

[vy65]

It's a copout and it's a state school. "We the people" and all that stuff

No its not. You're not forced to go to any specific university, and have a breadth of choices. If you don't like how one is budgeted, don't go. Simple as that.

If you think democracy is falling apart at the seems from athletic program funding, vote the rascals out who oversee the board of regents. Isn't that the we the people stuff?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

So we shouldn't be talking about politics at all then? We shouldn't write or speak to our representatives but only have a say on election day? This kind of goes against the entire notion of Social Contract that our country is founded on. You went to Law Shool so I know you've read at least some of Two Treatise. I would contend that it is our duty to speak out.

/highhorse

[vy65]

So we shouldn't be talking about politics at all then? We shouldn't write or speak to our representatives but only have a say on election day? This kind of goes against the entire notion of Social Contract that our country is founded on. You went to Law Shool so I know you've read at least some of Two Treatise. I would contend that it is our duty to speak out.

/highhorse

I think there are plenty of more important things to talk about than this.

[vy65]

And yes, I get the irony of posting a shit ton in a thread saying that this shit isn't important ...

[coyotes_geek]

I guess, but that's not really responsive to my point which is: if no one's forcing you, why does anyone care about MTSU's budget allocations? It might not be fair, but calling them out ain't gonna do shit.

I think the taxpayers whose money get spent on those institutions should care. But they clearly don't which is how those schools find themselves in that situation.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I just think the NCAA is wrong in what they do. The SEC gets over $133m from ESPN every year alone. Not to mention all the local revenue, merchandise, et al. They give the kids a scholarship and stipend sure but in real economic terms that is at most $50k at a place like Stanford. Most places it is much less than that and the feds pick up more than a little of that as well.

People scoff when NFL players talk about it being like modern day slavery and I agree; however, I really do not think that the NCAA is too far off. Sure some guys go to the pros but many more do not and they get paid shit compared to what they earn their NCAA overlords. Making it worse is that its being done through colluding state supported institutions. The DoJ doesn't care and never has. It's fucked.

I don't watch NCAA athletics at all whatsoever.

[vy65]

I just think the NCAA is wrong in what they do. The SEC gets over $133m from ESPN every year alone. Not to mention all the local revenue, merchandise, et al. They give the kids a scholarship and stipend sure but in real economic terms that is at most $50k at a place like Stanford. Most places it is much less than that and the feds pick up more than a little of that as well.

People scoff when NFL players talk about it being like modern day slavery and I agree; however, I really do not think that the NCAA is too far off. Sure some guys go to the pros but many more do not and they get paid shit compared to what they earn their NCAA overlords. Making it worse is that its being done through colluding state supported institutions. The DoJ doesn't care and never has. It's fucked.

I don't watch NCAA athletics at all whatsoever.

This demonstrates complete ignorance of the word "slavery."

[vy65]

Actually, nevermind, potentially...

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I am not conflating the two. Just saying that collusion so you don't have to pay kids and prevent their right to a free market is fucked.

[vy65]

fair enough

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I think the taxpayers whose money get spent on those institutions should care. But they clearly don't which is how those schools find themselves in that situation.
This.

Also, to people who suggest paying college athletes, this is why that's a horrible idea. You start letting schools do that, B-list/C-list programs will start blowing millions on player salaries.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

This.

Also, to people who suggest paying college athletes, this is why that's a horrible idea. You start letting schools do that, B-list/C-list programs will start blowing millions on player salaries.

So? This isn't China.

[Blake]

No its not. You're not forced to go to any specific university, and have a breadth of choices. If you don't like how one is budgeted, don't go. Simple as that.


It would be an incredible breath of fresh air to find a 4 year school that does not force you to pay for fees not associated with your education.

but since I don't like it, maybe I should start my own university. I could bestow myself a doctorate in a 6 month program.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I am not conflating the two. Just saying that collusion so you don't have to pay kids and prevent their right to a free market is fucked.
They have a free market. They can go play Canadian football for 3 years before entering the draft. No one is forcing them to go to college.

The thing I hate most about the topic of college athletics is people portraying the life of a college athlete as treacherous indentured servitude. The DoJ has a lot more important stuff to worry about than college kids getting a free education other people incur massive debt and pay thousands to get, when all the athletes have to do in return is play a sport most people play for fun.

The real fucked up thing colleges do is not properly advise students who pay thousands to major in political science or philosophy that their major won't lead to any jobs.

[Blake]

This.

Also, to people who suggest paying college athletes, this is why that's a horrible idea. You start letting schools do that, B-list/C-list programs will start blowing millions on player salaries.

I haven't seen one single proposal to pay college players that doesn't badly fail in some way or another

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

What also could be done to help the profitability of college athletics is get rid of bullshit like title 9 rules that force schools to have female athletic programs that don't generate any revenue at all. Schools should have been allowed to drop those programs 3-4 years ago when tuition at state universities started flying through the roof.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It would be an incredible breath of fresh air to find a 4 year school that does not force you to pay for fees not associated with your education.

but since I don't like it, maybe I should start my own university. I could bestow myself a doctorate in a 6 month program.

It's no coincidence that college prices started skyrocketing after Clinton started slashing funding to institutions like the NSF. The schools need new revenue streams for their research programs. I get that but this way of doing should be illegal anti-trust statutes being as they are.

The NCAA is facing a collusion lawsuit from Ed O'Bannon about the trade practices of the NCAA.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/10/expert_report_in_ed_obannon_la.html

If the judge allows the case to become class action, the NCAA is fucked. Let it be so...