quote:
for example, if tejas boosters go all in and offer saban 25 million per year what do you think that would do to their university's image. hell, the president should resign; make a statement. this is a fricking college!

While I'm lukewarm on the rest of your post, I agree with this.

The faculty has already rumbled about Brown getting $5 million. Never mind that not a penny is coming from the academic side of things (except for a paltry base salary as a university employee, probably $200K) or taxpayer money (except for the base, illegal in Texas).

The faculty argued that the University subsidizes athletics in other ways, such as providing the land upon which the stadium sits (and the original stadium construction), parking in the vicinity on gameday, and support staff like the UT police department (among others), along with the Longhorn silhouette that is branded on merchandise and the classrooms and instructors to which athletes are privy. They do have a point on that.

Even though athletics success often translates into increased academic giving (look at A&M), faculty sometimes doesn't think that way. Some even hang on to the notion that the University pays all of Mack Brown's salary, which is completely false -- most is donated privately and independently.

Michigan seems to be another traditional power that has to appease the faculty which can compromise athletics success... but then there's Stanford on the flip-side (academic and athletics success).

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Posted by tmc94

Member since Sep 2012

11559 posts

Posted on 12/4/13 at 1:16 pm to texashorn

quote:
Even though athletics success often translates into increased academic giving (look at A&M), faculty sometimes doesn't think that way. Some even hang on to the notion that the University pays all of Mack Brown's salary, which is completely false -- most is donated privately and independently.

It's funny to me in this day and age so many people still don't get this. Athletics drives exposure which drives applications and gifts. It even helps with research grants a bit. Given how the state is hammering us with cutbacks and is basically at war with the academics, you'd think they'd pay more attention to ways they can gain autonomy.

The problem is most academics see things in black and white and not the shades of grey that life really is. You may not like athletics and how focused the university is on it, but you better damn well get on board because it's your gravy train whether you realize it or not.

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Posted by LSU GrandDad

houston, texas

Member since Jun 2009

21564 posts

Posted on 12/4/13 at 3:52 pm to texashorn

quote:
The faculty has already rumbled about Brown getting $5 million

what a lot of football fans, esp. non alums don't understand is that a lot of the university leaders, faculty and admin and even trustees really don't give much of a shite about football. sure they hope their school wins but certainly care far more about the academic reputation of the university ON A NATIONAL SCALE. imo, the university of texas will not outbid for saban. I would like to see them frick bama boosters up with a run at it tho.