BC$

[SB-50]

CNN Money article re college football profits and some aspects of the BCS payout system:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/31/news/co ... /index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's the summary of the article:

"These huge payouts make it very unlikely that the big conferences will ever agree to a playoff system to determine a champion -- even though many college football fans, including President Obama, have lobbied for a playoff.

This is clearly a case where the haves are going to make sure they remain the haves, no matter what the have-nots and many fans think is fair. There are more than 2 billion reasons why nothing is going to change soon."

[professorjackson]

I'm not an accountant, but there's always something interesting in these profit and loss statements from departments of intercollegiate athletics.

Page 87 of the link below is "Bowling Green State University, Intercollegiate Athletics Department
Schedule of Operating Revenues and Expenditures, Year Ended June 30, 2009."

What does it mean? Did we really lose close to $3 million on football last year? Did we really lose over $2 million on athletics overall? $9 million of the revenues generated by intercollegiate athletics weren't really generated by athletics, but are student fees, that one could argue were diverted from other possible uses.

http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/auditsea ... 9-Wood.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SB-50]

I'm not an accountant, but there's always something interesting in these profit and loss statements from departments of intercollegiate athletics.

Page 87 of the link below is "Bowling Green State University, Intercollegiate Athletics Department
Schedule of Operating Revenues and Expenditures, Year Ended June 30, 2009."

What does it mean? Did we really lose close to $3 million on football last year? Did we really lose over $2 million on athletics overall? $9 million of the revenues generated by intercollegiate athletics weren't really generated by athletics, but are student fees, that one could argue were diverted from other possible uses.

http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/auditsea ... 9-Wood.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Starting with page 74, this is EXTREMELY elightening. Thank you Professor!!

From page 75 (some known, some unknown info):

c. Football coaches’ salaries increased nearly $457,000 or 57%. We were
informed by certain officials of the Athletic Department who have
responsibility for financial and accounting matters that the increase was due to
the coaching transition experienced in the current year in which there were
periods of double staffing as new coaching staff was hired while the prior staff
was still paid under their original contract. In addition, the head football coach
received a $250,000 buyout upon his termination which was charged to this
account.

d. Football staff benefits increased $93,000 or 39%. We were informed by
certain officials of the Athletic Department who have responsibility for
financial and accounting matters that similar to the increase in coaches’
salaries mentioned above, staff benefits increased in the current year due to
the coaching transition.

e. As football travel expenses were not recorded by team and recruiting
categories in the current year on an aggregate basis, total football travel
expenses decreased by approximately $294,140, or 33%. We were informed
by certain officials of the Athletic Department who have responsibility for
financial and accounting matters that there was a decrease in expense due to
one additional away game for the GMAC Bowl in the 2007 season as well as
trips to Minneapolis, MN and Boston, MA during 2007 which are higher cost
cities for food, lodging, and transportation as compared to the 2008 away
games played in Boise, ID and Laramie, WY.

[Drago]

If the economy doesn't bounce back soon, I wouldn't be suprised if the MAC may be forced to drop down to 1AA for football. Attendance is down across the board (partially because ADs agree to play games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Friday afternoons, so that 2000 people can see them play on ESPNU).
A couple of weeks ago Outside the lines was talking about TV revenues. The Big 10 gets 250 million dollars for their football TV contracts every year. The MAC received approximately 1 million for theirs. How can the MAC expect to compete?
Our football program loses money, but we play on Friday afternoon in front of 5000 people. Think about the lost revenue from tickets, concessions,etc. I'm just not sure MAC Presidents are going to allow their football programs to lose a couple of million dollars a year, while they have to cut academics.
Factor in the that the MAC has now lost 14 bowl games in a row, I think it could be a possibility in. A couple of years.