The University of Alabama athletics department paid $4.3-million on an eight-day trip in January to Pasadena, Calif., for college football’s national championship game, according to an analysis of expense reports obtained by The Birmingham News. Nearly one-third of the expenses came from bonuses to coaches and administrators, the study found. The rest included travel, meals, lodging, and entertainment. The university’s estimated revenue from the game came to about $3.7-million. In the game itself, Alabama defeated the University of Texas to win its first national title since 1992.
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How heartening that universities can afford to pay fat bonuses to “coaches and administrators” for football success. I would be REALLY impressed, just once, to see bonuses of any sort paid to outstanding professors who help students to achieve success. But wait- that is not the purpose of universities; promoting sports is the purpose.
I’m surprised the difference between income and expenses is only $600,000. Take away the bonuses and the Tide would have made money on the championship. I guess $600,000 is a nice round sum to pay for a national championship. Wait a minute, we forgot to figure in King Nick’s salary.
Let’s see now, “football generates revenue that contributes to the rest of the university.” Nope, scratch that one.How about, “football generates revenue that supports women and non-revenue sports programs?” No, in fact it sounds like the “minor” sports might be supporting football ($4.3 mil. – $3.7 mil. = .6 mil deficit).Let’s try, “athletics contribute to building community within the university.” Unlikely unless a major portion of that $4.3 million went to student travel, scholarships, student programs & other support. Want to enlighten us on that ‘Bama?Anyone want to argue the case that “football provides educational opportunities for student athletes,” or “winning football generates fundraising for academic programs,” or “football builds future leaders,” or….(you name the shibboleth)? Not likely to be any takers here either.No, big time college football is revealed once again to be what it is, a corrupt graft on universities that is financially and intellectually bankrupt. It will end when athletic revenues are recognized for what they are, unrelated business income, and taxed accordingly by the IRS. The second shoe dropping will be when football players organize and demand benefits commensurate with their contributions to the business enterprise, or withold their servies. Yes, the ‘Bama players strike before the season begins and demand some portion of Sabin’s $4 million salary to pay for their crippled knees, worthless academic credits, and broken promises. It will happen, it merely waits for the right sports agent/union organizer and fed-up tax attorney/citizen.
I also read in this issue where the University of Nevada might close an entire institution. Could that leave a football team without a university to play for?
And yet again, we see the sham collegiate football has become. All the hype and spin in the world can’t mask the fact that collegiate football has spun out of control in the worst possible way. In a time of budget austerity and cutbacks, we see huge salary increases for assistant football coaches, presumably reflecting the ridiculous salaries now being commanded by the top tier of head coaches. The NCAA is no help. Even now they are seeking to increase the size of the huge profit machine their “March madness” basketball adventure has become, which already takes the “student athletes” out of as much as three weeks of classes. Perhaps 11185500 is right. Let’s go to pay to play, since it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between the NFL and collegiate football. Even better, collegiate football could become another pro league (perhaps the UFL) and seek to have a seat at the Super Bowl bonanza.