re: Athletics transfers $10 Million+ to University this FY

Money donated is a donation, but it is still university money, and absent specific strings or restrictions by the donors, it can be used as the university chooses. And but for the academic program there would be few TAF donors. They donate because they are mostly alums with academic degrees from the university who love their school and the athletic programs.

My point is that the athletic department is not an independent operation. It is a department of the university subject to the supervision of the officials charged with running the university and the BOS. Never forget that without those students and professors and other parts of the school, there is no athletic department. It is a well-run program, and it deserves praise for doing a good job of managing finances. We are fortunate indeed to have a program that actually makes money. And justly proud. But the athletic department exists to benefit the university, not vice versa.

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So you think that the athletic department isn't part of the university? The department owes its existence to the university. The money generated by the department is in fact university money, not the athletic department's money. I am glad we have a department that generates revenue. Kudos to the department. And I am glad it transfers money back to the university, but make no mistake, all of the money generated is university money. These transfers are not gifts or donations.

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What are you even ranting about? The money came from TAF to the Athletics Department, and was subsequently absorbed into the University's general fund because the Athletic Department is, as you correctly state, a part of the University.

TAF partners with the Athletic Dept, but TAF is not part of the University. The article should have provided a more thorough background story.

Yes, part of that money was a gift/donation. The only obligation TAF had to provide LSU was the 7.2M$. TAF may give additional money if/when there is a surplus. Naturally, as a non-profit TAF cannot keep the money, but (from what I read in the charter) TAF is not obligated to give the additional surplus to LSU.

Sorry, but yep.
"Beginning in 2012, the athletic department has annually presented $7.2 million to the university in accordance with the Athletics Fund Transfer Policy approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors. The policy states that in years in which LSU Athletics yields a surplus, a portion of the surplus in addition to the $7.2 million may be provided to the university."
Note that the transfers are made pursuant to policy adopted by the BOS. If it wasn't university money, the BOS would not have a policy to transfer the money, nor the authority to do so. The decision isn't a result of the largesse of the department, it is policy of the university established by the BOS. Once the money is in the In the university coffers, regardless of how it got there, it is university money. Some funds' usage may be restricted by the donor, but once it is the university money, it is just that. TAF money is TAF money until it is given to the university under whatever terms the university and TAF agree to. I can't see any reason why anyone would have a problem with this.

The money transferred isn't being transferred from TAF, but from the department's funds. Some of those funds originate with TAF, but once transferred to athletic department, the funds belong to the university. Don't forget that TAF is the not sole source of funding for the department, which includes ticket sales, merchandising, SEC distributions, etc.

My point is I don't get the complaints from those who think the money should not be transferred and forget the athletic department serves the university, even those few professors who gripe about athletics and coaches' salaries. Without those academic folks, there is no football team, basketball team, Tiger Stadium expansions, etc.

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My point is that the athletic department is not an independent operation. It is a department of the university subject to the supervision of the officials charged with running the university and the BOS. Never forget that without those students and professors and other parts of the school, there is no athletic department. It is a well-run program, and it deserves praise for doing a good job of managing finances. We are fortunate indeed to have a program that actually makes money. And justly proud. But the athletic department exists to benefit the university, not vice versa.

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You make some good points.

The reality, which most people don't see, is that athletics has largely evolved to be a huge marketing arm for universities. In the same way professors compete to publish papers and market themselves as experts in their field, universities do the same. And few things build community support, draw student interest and build esprit de corps, open alumni wallets, and "can" create direct revenue the way sports do. In theory, the universities can then try to focus some of that attention on their world class robotics lab or whatever other programs they want to push.

Most universities end up having to write that marketing expense off every year as a loss... perhaps a soft loss, if it gains enough attention in some way, or draws some donors/boosters/patrons closer. Perhaps it is a losing effort for some colleges and their expenditures don't pan out and they have to cut some programs. LSU is tremendously fortunate that athletics turns a profit and it's marketing program pays for itself: it's like getting to have your cake and eat it to... But the money is, as you said, entirely university money.

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The money transferred isn't being transferred from TAF, but from the department's funds

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Right, but dont say that my donations to TAF are subject to whatever the University wants. Eventually that may be the case but TAF is run by a separate board and is completely independent.

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My point is I don't get the complaints from those who think the money should not be transferred and forget the athletic department serves the university

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I havent seen anybody say this.

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even those few professors who gripe about athletics and coaches' salaries.

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Those people can gtfo. I am not sure what you meant by this but I dont care for these people one bit.

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Without those academic folks, there is no football team, basketball team, Tiger Stadium expansions, etc.

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Without the athletics do you think the LSU brand would be where it is today? Get off your Academic high horse. Both ends serve a very important purpose and LSU is extremely lucky to have an Athletic Department which is self sufficient and doesnt need money from the University itself.

Just think what LSU's endowment would look like if LA people cared about academics as much as sports.

Explain...

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Without the athletics do you think the LSU brand would be where it is today? Get off your Academic high horse. Both ends serve a very important purpose and LSU is extremely lucky to have an Athletic Department which is self sufficient and doesnt need money from the University itself.

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I would say the success of the football team brings more kids from OOS. The brand is on TV more, more kids hear about LSU. I would bet enrollment went up after 2003. In turn, the athletic department is making more money because of the success of the football team, meaning they have more money to give back to the academic side.

Soooo another words the university has figured out the TAF could be its "government" and bail them out, but without legislation. This is great.