[Goose]

Is that a good thing?  Could that $300 mm be spent on other activities more consistent with the university mission “to qualify its students for personal success, and direct usefulness in life” and its purpose “to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization."  Not saying that some degree of athletic investment is inconsistent with that mission, but I think there are probably better uses for that money.

BC

IMO there are plenty of better uses for that money. It is perfectly possible to justify an athletic program that is revenue positive, or even slightly revenue negative if that program is composed of students who are truly students. When the program is 300 million revenue negative I find it very difficult to justify the expenditure. I find it impossible to do so in an environment where the players are paid professionals.

[Goose]

Is that a good thing?  Could that $300 mm be spent on other activities more consistent with the university mission “to qualify its students for personal success, and direct usefulness in life” and its purpose “to promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization."  Not saying that some degree of athletic investment is inconsistent with that mission, but I think there are probably better uses for that money.

BC

IMO there are plenty of better uses for that money. It is perfectly possible to justify an athletic program that is revenue positive, or even slightly revenue negative if that program is composed of students who are truly students. When the program is 300 million revenue negative I find it very difficult to justify the expenditure. I find it impossible to do so in an environment where the players are paid professionals.