I have written about football on campus more than once. (OK, I know some were closer to rants.) Not only because of the infractions of the coaches and players. Not only because of the injuries that are rampant in this game. (Only now are we beginning to talk about the plethora of TBI- traumatic brain injury- that accompany this sport). Not only because the graduation rate is below those for the rest of the school. But, mostly because of the drain on college finances.
I admit that some schools don’t have that last problem. For example, the University of Michigan comes to mind- it’s football team is well into the black. But, the graduation rate is only 72%. (The basketball team graduation rate is even lower at 36%, but that is also related to the fact that the Pros steal kids from college. Only 6.8% of the football team players ever make the Pros.)
Given the current economy, where states are cutting back- a LOT- on funding, this will be a very large issue. (It’s also why Maryland dropped out of the ACC to join the Big 10; Maryland had already killed 6 sports programs this year and needs the financial boost from the Big 10 money pool- read cable and broadcast TV revenue- for its sports programs to survive.) My fear is that these big TV revenues will undermine the academic mission of the universities.
Most colleges are still using general funds and student fees to support the athletic program- because less than 20% of them report a profit. And, those that report a profit are all because of big-time football revenues. (Ohio State Football, for example, yields 70% of the total revenue for all sports on their campus! Michigan’s Football team provides 75% of the $ 133 million budget for athletics. But, that also includes “Big House” rentals for weddings at $ 6K a pop!)
I don’t think this model is sustainable, even for those 20% of the schools that register a profit. (It certainly is not for the 80% that don’t! After all, cable revenue is bound to dry up. Billing folks like me for sports that I may or may not watch (ok, won’t watch) will only mean I will drop my cable vendor as the costs begin to climb- even higher than they are now. And, even though I love to support my son’s team, I don’t subscribe to NewsCorp’s Big Ten Network (49% owned by the Big Ten), since the costs are insane- and I only would watch 10 basketball games, at most.
But, there are other factors that still lead these universities to support their athletic programs. One of the biggest reasons is donations. Development officers for the universities prowl the stadium. They collect a great deal of the donations to the university as a result of sports; to be honest, as a result of football for most of these campuses. (At Alabama and Michigan, 60 to 70% of the donations are arranged due to or at football situations!)
So, where do you stand on this issue? And, will you support even higher taxes to pay for these football programs at universities? And, how can we do this, when we are not even paying for the infrastructure needs of our communities and states with our taxes?
What I am about to say would earn me the dog house if my husband was still alive…but I’d say it anyway so I’ll say it now. There is a knife that cuts two ways here. In High School kids (their parents) are being made to pay up to like 800 dollars per sport/activity just to participate, and that doesn’t count for the equipment they need to purchase as well. Now, we have this…and the “on the side of the sport” mentality I’d say that things of that nature are making playing sports the activity of the rich, and there is going to be a drastic reduction in kids who might be able to use the sport to springboard into a better life and get to college.
To bring that thought back around to your post, once the kid is in college, the focus should be and always be on learning. I’ve long thought that there should be a separation between “real school” and a schools that specialize in nothing but sports and sport academic type programs (almost like a trade school situation). At the heart of it, these kids are being used to boost donations, raise money for the school, and at the end of it, if they don’t earn that golden ticket into the NFL does the college care that they majored in basket weaving (which they passed because teachers are made to look the other way for jocks. So they end up with no marketable skill.)
So, no I don’t support the extra taxes for such a frivolous thing. We invest in the wrong stuff. We invest in the shiny, flashy, super star crap, as a distraction from our crumbling infrastructure and waste of human resources. It’s terrible to me on many levels not the least of which is to tell a kid their only way out of the ‘hood is behind a ball being a show pony for people’s entertainment.
I’m sorry, Roy, I’m rambling a bit but it is just another hot button for me, that shows we have some values messed up. When a cancer researcher makes little in comparison with an NFL “star” and we know the NFL guys name but not the researcher’s who will make a difference…it burns my toast a bit.
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As one of those “cancer researchers” (or akin) that knows that my contributions to society are clearly not as welcome as those of the “utility” player that is on the roster of my beloved Philadelphia Phillies (who makes $ 1 million if he is REALLY not worth it, but $ 2 – $5 million if he can at least play), that is not my primary concern.
My primary concern is that we are not insuring that we are training these children (ok, young adults) for the degrees they need to obtain. Since few, if any, football players make the NFL, they need to obtain the skills and training for which they originally matriculated. And, graduation rates as low as 30% are just unconscionable to me…
I love sports, and I think a lot of kids (even those who aren’t involved in the athletics) choose a school based on how big their sports program. For them going to a school that has strong ties to tradition is an honor, something they would like to be a part of. I went to Canisius College, A small private school in Buffalo and my freshman year, they cut the football program which was under-performing to add some more track and field programs. They couldn’t afford to spend money on a particular sport, that wasn’t bringing in any money.
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Diane:
Are you willing to spend another $ 2000 in tuition so that sports can continue on campus? That number may be low, but if the school has 5,000 students that means the shortfall (which averages $ 10 million on campuses of that size) can be met? That’s problem 1.
Problem 2 is the cost that will be paid (and paid dearly) as the TBI situation becomes more prevalent and the insurance won’t cover the injury- or will for even higher premiums that will be passed onto the students…
I am NOT against sports on campus. I am against sports not paying its fair share. So, at places like Michigan- go for it. Alabama- probably. But, what about the other schools? In this day and age when no one wants to pay higher taxes for the things we NEED, do you think they will pay more taxes for the things they don’t?
I’m a Wolverine, so I’m a bit biased. I think it can be sustainable if universities and colleges get corporate sponsorships. I’m not sure though how I feel about being taxed for it. Even high schools have “pay to play” and fundraising though 🙂
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I understand that, Lisa…And, your second sentence is critical. And, if the school loses 20 million on sports, but generates 40 million in donations for needed assets, then we are dealing with an accounting issue. The school obtains the needed benefits!
I understand that some folks took umbrage at my comment on schools using football as a “loss leader” to get donations for other programs.
That is among the BEST uses I can see for having a football program. If a school can generate funds for new libraries, new science labs, and other needed improvements- money that may difficult to obtain from alumni and comes more easily at the football stadium- I say GO for it! The academic program is the primary function of the university.
One of the thing that Indian universities lack is a proper athletic support system. And thus Indian sports on the whole is taking a back seat. All we know is cricket and that is all.
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I must admit that I did not consider the presence of sports in Indian Universities. But, that makes sense. Thanks, Hajra!