[Mick]

[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=16439.msg186235#msg186235 date=1484324268]

2) Ethically, I don't think the school ought to maximize revenue anyway. The point of college sports ought to be community -- students, alumni, athletes, etc. If the school is willing to raise its prices at the drop of a hat, then why are we here? It makes a business transaction out of a community gathering. I hope anyone who decided that raising prices was OK also was OK with McCaffrey skipping out on the bowl game, because ultimately they're the same decision: putting individual needs ahead of community values.

Schools are all about success in all sports, and it costs money and lots of it.  Better venues, better training, better coaches, better nutrition, better technology, better everything.  It's expensive, and it feeds upon itself.  That's why recruits take trips and why they're influenced by what they "get."  Incidentally, Harvard's Associate Athletic Director once explained to me that athletic alumni tend to donate more to universities, which is one reason they maintain extensive athletic programs.

I think most of us look back somewhat wistfully on the days when college football was more about community and student-athletes were as much about being students as they were about being athletes. Now it seems like everyone is just interested in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. However, I seriously doubt that the philosophy going to change and as fans we might as well learn to deal with it.
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[Mick]

[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=16439.msg186235#msg186235 date=1484324268]

2) Ethically, I don't think the school ought to maximize revenue anyway. The point of college sports ought to be community -- students, alumni, athletes, etc. If the school is willing to raise its prices at the drop of a hat, then why are we here? It makes a business transaction out of a community gathering. I hope anyone who decided that raising prices was OK also was OK with McCaffrey skipping out on the bowl game, because ultimately they're the same decision: putting individual needs ahead of community values.

Schools are all about success in all sports, and it costs money and lots of it.  Better venues, better training, better coaches, better nutrition, better technology, better everything.  It's expensive, and it feeds upon itself.  That's why recruits take trips and why they're influenced by what they "get."  Incidentally, Harvard's Associate Athletic Director once explained to me that athletic alumni tend to donate more to universities, which is one reason they maintain extensive athletic programs.

I think most of us look back somewhat wistfully on the days when college football was more about community and student-athletes were as much about being students as they were about being athletes. Now it seems like everyone is just interested in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. However, I seriously doubt that the philosophy going to change and as fans we might as well learn to deal with it.
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