NCAA Athletics Arms Race

[obc]

Athletics Arms Race Editorial Article

I thought this editorial was interesting and presented some interesting perspectives. Obviously this editorial focuses on BCS Top 100 Athletic Programs which is a different level from the one USD athletics lives. We have seen our Athletic budget grow by a large percentage since the move to D1 was announced. With the facilities project, the amount the athletic department spends will go way up.
Will it be worth it to the overall institution (University of South Dakota). I love athletics, so it may be impossible for me to be unbiased. My initial thought is that to get the value out of the money spent USD will have to get to the NCAA tournament in MBB and WBB as well as make a few deep runs in the NCAA football tournament and an occasional win against our annual BCS FB opponent.

[Yote 53]

I was in Minneapolis last weekend over by the airport in Bloomington. On one of the freeways there, within eyeshot of where I was standing, there was a USD billboard ad, the one with the sneakers and the laces tied together. I see that add almost daily outside Sioux City so didn't pay much attention, then did a double take and realized I was in Bloomington, MN. I then remembered an administrator at USD telling me that the season after USD Football beat Minnesota applications from the Minneapolis area shot way up.

Don't underestimate what athletics does for the visibility of a University. Athletics opens a lot of doors and in many ways that can't be measured.

I really want to see what application numbers are like for NDSU after that 3 hour promo ESPN gameday did for them this fall.

[canislatrans]

Glad to hear about the billboard ad in Minneapolis. Last time through, I saw plenty of NDSU, and no Coyote red. It makes a difference! I agree with obc and Yote 53 on the potential impact of getting to the NCAA tournament, football playoffs, and of course any FBS wins we can muster.

[gorabbits]

ope.ed.gov/athletics/

The above link has athletic spending data for every school at every level of college athletics if you are interested. The info for the 2012-13 year was recently added.