[Husker] lack of class...?

[Jeff Volk]

Steve Stone wrote:

>>NU is an educational instutution, not a cash cow.

This statement might be a little naive. Nebraska athletics, especially football, IS a cash cow and not just for the University.

According to the 2004-05 Athletic Department Annual Report the athletic department realized almost $56,000,000 in revenue and a year end "profit" or surplus of around $77,000. That surplus, when added to previous year's surpluses leaves the NU Athletic Dept with a reserve fund of about $620,000. 

Beyond that, Nebraska Athletics had an economic impact on the City of Lincoln of $114,000,000 in 2004 with football accounting for about $87,000,000 of that total. This number, which was determined by the UNL Bureau of Business Research and not the athletic department, includes both athletic department spending and money spent by fans who attend the games. It does not include ticket or concession revenues nor does it include the revenue generated by fans who don't attend the game but who watch it at sports bars, etc. 

For the 2004 season, and for football only, each game day realized $12,600,000 in expenditures for a total of $75,600,000 for the six game season. Of that, $33,800,000 came in the form of fan expenditures and $41,800,000 came in the form of athletic department expenditures. 

Nebraska Athletics is a virtual corporation that provides far reaching economic impact not only for the State of Nebraska, but for businesses and industries everywhere. Living here in Minneapolis I can tell you that the MN4NE gatherings for televised games at a chain of sports bars here in the Twin Cities has a HUGE impact on those establishments revenues for those days compared to normal Saturday afternoons. 

As for being an educational institution...only 9.9% of the Athletic Department's expenses in 2004 were related to academics and student support. 

The University of Nebraska as a whole is an educational institution but don't be fooled into thinking that the University of Nebraska Athletic Department is anything other than a cash cow - for the University, the City of Lincoln, the State of Nebraska and beyond. 

Have a great day.

See ya in San Antonio!!

Jeffrey Volk