[Husker] Athletic Department Budget Cuts?

[Skylar Dodds]

> From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf
Of Rod Wellman

> Arguing that the athletic program is self supporting is all well and  
> good.  But I sometimes wonder about society's priorities.  What does  
> it say about us when we spend all this money on sports?  

Cowherd had a great segment on this the other day, basically scoffing at the
idea that athletic organizations everywhere should reduce their prices to
help people through tough economic times.  His response was pretty simple,
it's not the organizations that really determine the prices, it's the fans
and their demand for the 'goods'.  He said the average ticket price to see a
Yankee game in the new stadium is $250.  He then went on to say (they're
already sold out, so this wouldn't happen) that if they were averaging 9,000
per game, they would change the prices a month into the season.

> From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf
Of Rod Wellman

> NO college football coach should get paid $500,000, let alone a million  
> or two or three million.  It's just nuts.

I couldn't disagree more with this for a number of reasons:

1) They're running a program that is responsible for bringing his
organization 85% of its revenue (estimated at $50-60 million).  Paying a top
'exec' about 3% of that is not out of line at all to make sure you have the
top talent keeping the money coming.

2) They say goodbye to their family for 70% of the year between coaching,
recruiting, game-planning.  They work harder and longer hours than most
people will never understand.

3) They are exposed to public ridicule and unfortunately in some cases
physical and emotional harm to them and their family if things do not go
right.  We sometimes get an idea of some of this, but I'm sure it's WAY more
of an issue than we would like to think.  People are idiots about that kind
of thing.

4) Just like in any business you should be paid based on the value you bring
to the organization.  If you make your organization much more profitable by
millions upon millions, then you should be paid accordingly.

--
Skylar