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Whew, Pig$
By Max Brantley
The $95 million that rolls into the University of Arkansas's athletic department is by far the biggest of any single department at the UA.
Arguing about overemphasis of college sports is about as worthwhile as arguing abortion and guns. Few are in the middle. Either you think no price is too great for gridiron (or minor sport) glory or you believe sports spending is hopelessly out of control.
I'm behind Door No. 2, but have little to offer beyond hand-wringing.
Consider: Last weekend, the University of Georgia fired Mark Richt, who's averaged 10 wins a season over 15 years in Athens. He was due for a raise to $4 million a year, about on par with Arkansas's Bret Bielema, who finally recorded a better than break-even regular season in his third year as Razorback head coach.
The Washington Post last week rolled out an investigative project that showed the top 48 college sports powers (these include Arkansas) had doubled their income in the last 10 years, to $4.5 billion. And yet the majority of those schools still managed to operate at a deficit. A million-dollar athletic director, a $4 million head coach and a heavy debt load from the unending facilities race does make it hard to balance budgets, even when your business is tax-free and further advantaged by the tax deductions available to those who contribute to "the program."
I'm behind Door No. 2, but have little to offer beyond hand-wringing.
Consider: Last weekend, the University of Georgia fired Mark Richt, who's averaged 10 wins a season over 15 years in Athens. He was due for a raise to $4 million a year, about on par with Arkansas's Bret Bielema, who finally recorded a better than break-even regular season in his third year as Razorback head coach.
The Washington Post last week rolled out an investigative project that showed the top 48 college sports powers (these include Arkansas) had doubled their income in the last 10 years, to $4.5 billion. And yet the majority of those schools still managed to operate at a deficit. A million-dollar athletic director, a $4 million head coach and a heavy debt load from the unending facilities race does make it hard to balance budgets, even when your business is tax-free and further advantaged by the tax deductions available to those who contribute to "the program."
Snip
http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/whew-pig/Content?oid=4191162
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