I just heard that two more universities, Rutgers and James Madison, are ditching men's swimming while spending zillions on football and golf. My own alma mater almost cut women's swimming several years ago. They were saved by alumni fundraising, but not until the swim team put itself up for sale on ebay. Endurance sports get no respect. It makes no sense. I thought open water swimming and triathlons and road racing were on the rise even among young kids. If so, why cut all those sports in college? I guess it's still just a miniscule percentage that participate compared to other sports, like my least favorite youth sport -- travel soccer.
Parents
Former Member
lapswimmr - I think your assocation of gambling as a driver to keep football (etc.) going is simply wrong. Yes there is gambling, both legal and not for football, basketball, but the vast majority of college football fans are simply students, alumni, and parents of students, and very few gamble. What keeps football going is ticket sales and TV. The University of Texas athletic department has a $95M annual budget, second only to Ohio State. The stadium seats 80,000+ and it is sold out for every game at ~ $70 per seat. Two-thirds of their games are televised. They have luxury suites (I've been in them) at more than $20,000 per year plus the cost of tickets.
There is a ton of money unrelated to gambling in these sports. UT's very successful swimming program is probably a huge money-loser. Eddie Reese is justifiably one of the best paid coaches around, but he probably earns no more than $150-$200K plus what he makes running swimming camps. That wonderful pool costs a bunch to keep running.
People will bet on anything - elections, academy awards, and it doesn't keep these activities going. I bet the UT athletic director doesn't care what Las Vegas is doing.
UT can afford to keep men's swimming because of the huge cash flow from football and basketball. If UT decided to charge admission to swim meets, attendance would drop from a few hundred to a few dozen.
I'm not picking on UT or praising them. I just happen to live in Austin and am forced to read and hear about them constantly.
lapswimmr - I think your assocation of gambling as a driver to keep football (etc.) going is simply wrong. Yes there is gambling, both legal and not for football, basketball, but the vast majority of college football fans are simply students, alumni, and parents of students, and very few gamble. What keeps football going is ticket sales and TV. The University of Texas athletic department has a $95M annual budget, second only to Ohio State. The stadium seats 80,000+ and it is sold out for every game at ~ $70 per seat. Two-thirds of their games are televised. They have luxury suites (I've been in them) at more than $20,000 per year plus the cost of tickets.
There is a ton of money unrelated to gambling in these sports. UT's very successful swimming program is probably a huge money-loser. Eddie Reese is justifiably one of the best paid coaches around, but he probably earns no more than $150-$200K plus what he makes running swimming camps. That wonderful pool costs a bunch to keep running.
People will bet on anything - elections, academy awards, and it doesn't keep these activities going. I bet the UT athletic director doesn't care what Las Vegas is doing.
UT can afford to keep men's swimming because of the huge cash flow from football and basketball. If UT decided to charge admission to swim meets, attendance would drop from a few hundred to a few dozen.
I'm not picking on UT or praising them. I just happen to live in Austin and am forced to read and hear about them constantly.
