[terry]

Unless the endowment has done REALLY well since 8/31/15, I doubt it's $36B. As of 8/31 it was $22.2 billion, according to "Stanford University Facts." The point remains valid, but having an exaggerated number in their just gives them an excuse to dismiss the point.

I don't think Muir cares about the size of the university's overall endowment. He cares about the athletic department's revenue streams. Last time I looked, I think the athletic endowment was in the range of $450 million to $500 million -- large, but not anywhere near $36 billion. The athletic endowment throws off about $25 million per year in revenue, which is the department's largest revenue source. Broadcast revenue is the second largest source at about $18 million, I believe. Losing a couple million in broadcast revenue would not be trivial.

In any event, it doesn't really matter because Muir isn't driving these decisions. Stanford doesn't have the ability to impose its will on the Pac 12. It's a Pac 12 issue, not a Muir issue.

[terry]

Unless the endowment has done REALLY well since 8/31/15, I doubt it's $36B. As of 8/31 it was $22.2 billion, according to "Stanford University Facts." The point remains valid, but having an exaggerated number in their just gives them an excuse to dismiss the point.

I don't think Muir cares about the size of the university's overall endowment. He cares about the athletic department's revenue streams. Last time I looked, I think the athletic endowment was in the range of $450 million to $500 million -- large, but not anywhere near $36 billion. The athletic endowment throws off about $25 million per year in revenue, which is the department's largest revenue source. Broadcast revenue is the second largest source at about $18 million, I believe. Losing a couple million in broadcast revenue would not be trivial.

In any event, it doesn't really matter because Muir isn't driving these decisions. Stanford doesn't have the ability to impose its will on the Pac 12. It's a Pac 12 issue, not a Muir issue.