[terry]

It is ironic to me that the endowment should count, but the land, the most critical part of the original Founding Grant, would not? 

The athletic department's endowment income comes largely from gifts that were designated specifically for intercollegiate sports. Donors have given funds to endow hundreds of athletic scholarships and a number of varsity coaching positions. The income that comes from these endowment funds is required to spent for the designated purposes. This income therefore is directly related to varsity sports. It was donated specifically for that purpose.

That is not true of the golf course. The land was part of the Founding Grant. That land is available for general university purposes. The university chooses to use it as a golf course under the supervision of the athletic department. The university allows the athletic department to use the profits for general athletic department operations. Golf course profits therefore are available to subsidize varsity sports, if the athletic department so chooses. But that money was not generated in connection with varsity sports.

So, whether golf course income "counts" depends on what question you're asking. If you're trying to figure out how much money the athletic department has available to spend on varsity sports, golf course profits count. But if you're trying to figure out how much revenue the athletic department receives in connection with its varsity sports programs, golf course profits should not count. I think both questions are interesting for different reasons.

[terry]

It is ironic to me that the endowment should count, but the land, the most critical part of the original Founding Grant, would not? 

The athletic department's endowment income comes largely from gifts that were designated specifically for intercollegiate sports. Donors have given funds to endow hundreds of athletic scholarships and a number of varsity coaching positions. The income that comes from these endowment funds is required to spent for the designated purposes. This income therefore is directly related to varsity sports. It was donated specifically for that purpose.

That is not true of the golf course. The land was part of the Founding Grant. That land is available for general university purposes. The university chooses to use it as a golf course under the supervision of the athletic department. The university allows the athletic department to use the profits for general athletic department operations. Golf course profits therefore are available to subsidize varsity sports, if the athletic department so chooses. But that money was not generated in connection with varsity sports.

So, whether golf course income "counts" depends on what question you're asking. If you're trying to figure out how much money the athletic department has available to spend on varsity sports, golf course profits count. But if you're trying to figure out how much revenue the athletic department receives in connection with its varsity sports programs, golf course profits should not count. I think both questions are interesting for different reasons.