Is college athletics Big Business?

I just read in another thread that college is big business. Any thoughts/ideas/information on just how big the business side of college athletics is?

 

Absolutely, positively. I truly am uncomfortable with the trend in college sports. Its taken on a life of its on with total $$ rising exponentially but the programs themselves sucking up all those extra $$ and begging for more. Coaches salaries have gone into the stratospere (FB and BB) while nonrevenue sports go hungry. Facilities arms races are going on in every conference. To what end? So fatcats can brag about their team?

 

Absolutely.

Success on the sports field equates to higher enrollment and the contributes to the ability to increase fees. I know the FB coaches at WF pretty well. Even WF, who is at the pinnacle when it comes to integrity, will tell you that you are being paid to play a sport and are rewarded with a quality and very expensive education. The athlete must live up to his end of the bargain.

With the recent success WF has seen in FB the school has seen fundraising increase not only for sports boosters but in overall academic funding. Applications were also up significantly. College sports is a top contributing factor when applicants apply to a school. Success breeds success.