Athletics Arms Race

Disease: Athletic programs not self supporting

According to the Center For College Affordability And Productivity (2010), the vast majority of intercollegiate athletics programs have much greater expenses than revenues.  In fiscal year 2006, only 19 out of 119 FBS (formerly known as Division I-A) reported net income with the remaining 90% of schools reporting a net loss for the year (Fulks, 2009).   Astoundingly, not a single “...athletics program outside of Division I FBS profits from athletics.” (Center For College Affordability And Productivity, 2010).  All of Divisions II and III as well as 100 out of 119 Division I programs utilize tuition and fees to pay for athletics. (Center For College Affordability And Productivity, 2010).   The report states that at the median FBS school, $1.4 million dollars was allocated from student fees and tuition towards athletics.  The problem has gotten so bad that faculty are now organizing efforts to put academics first (Suggs, 2001).

Solution:  changes in federal law and NCAA rules

Salary caps are an often touted solution, however, any type of salary cap would currently be against current anti-trust laws.  Any exemption would require congress to enact a limited exemption to NCAA institutions (Center For College Affordability And Productivity, 2010).  If this type of legislation could be passed, and upheld by the courts, then this could go a long way to curtailing spiraling coaching salaries.

A rule change by the NCAA reducing the number of scholarships a university can offer for different sports would substantially contribute to cost savings as well.

Center For College Affordability And Productivity (2010). 25 ways to reduce the cost of college. Washington, DC:  Retrieved from http://centerforcollegeaffordability.org/uploads/25Ways_to_Reduce_the_Cost_of_College.pdf

Fulks, D. L. (2009, September). 2004-06 NCAA revunes and expenses of Division 1 intercollegiate athletics programs report. Indianapolis: National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved from NIAA website: http://www.immagic.com/eLibrary/ARCHIVES/GENERAL/NCAA_US/N080331F.pdf

Suggs, W. (2001, May 25). Pac-10 faculties seek to halt the "arms race" in athletics. The Chronicle of Higher Education.  Retrieved from http://chronicle.com.ezproxy.cbu.edu:9000/article/Pac-10-Faculties-Seek-to-Halt/26408/