(U of) Alabama athletics brought in $174.3 million last year

[yallerdawg]

Source: AL.com, by Michael Casagrande


University of Alabama athletics continues to be profitable and football remains the driving force, according to budget documents the school files annually with the NCAA.

The school made $15.6 million more than it spent in 2017, according to the document obtained by AL.com through open records requests.

*****

In terms of football, the profit was $45.9 million with total revenue of $108.2 million. With expenses rising last year, the profit was down $1.8 million from the 2016 report filed with the NCAA. The revenue, however, was up from $103.9 million in 2016.

For perspective, USA Today reported the University of Texas had revenue of $215 million in 2017 (compared to Alabama's $174.3 million). It was the highest revenue number in the 13 years of the newspaper's survey of athletics money, up from the previous record of $173.2 million Texas set in 2015.

*****

Contributions accounted for $32.9 million. That could take a big hit in 2018 with the new tax plan passed by Congress and signed by the president. In the past, 80 percent of those contributions could be written off as charity donations.

That deduction is eliminated under the new tax plan, which will make things more difficult for athletics departments to raise money from donors.


Read it all at: http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2018/01/alabama_athletics_brought_in_1.html#incart_river_home_pop

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Well, they don't have enough money to hire professors to teach, so boo-hoo for the athletics program

I'd like to pay my taxes in a state where the universitites are known for producing breakthroughs in science, engineering, and medicine (and anything else, really), and where the athletics program is an afterthought, indulged when funds are abundant and not otherwise. AL has a suffocating surplus of ignorant footbal fans and doesn't need to be investing in more.

[yallerdawg]

2. We have UAB and USA medical research and training!

There are Alabama and Auburn alumni making contributions around the world!

Troy University reaches worldwide!

Huntsville is cutting edge technology, and has to be an inspiration across the state!

Our workforce is drawing international investment and production, as much as anywhere in the South!

Why not also excel at athletics?

America loves its entertainment, and many of these student/athletes go on to successful enriching careers!

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Have you tried getting a job at any of those campuses ?

Of course they have lots of students! Students pay tuition! But they're relying on part-time, non-tenured faculty, and not doing any new faculty hires. Lots of bucks for football, none for quality education. It's not a question of doing both, UA is only trying to do one thing well, and that's football.

I was born and raised in Huntsville, and moved back here a few years ago. I'd like to be proud of my state, but where education is regarded, I can only be ashamed and embarassed. Ra-ra rooting for the home team isn't going to do it. AL is low in just about every ranking of educational quality published, and has been for years. Knowing that Huntsville is probably the best in the state isn't encouraging, it's depressing, considering what things are like here.

[yallerdawg]

4. Looks about standard to me.

https://facultyjobs.ua.edu/postings/search

And I have a BS from USA. Which has served me just fine.

And both my kids were born at the USA Women's and Children's Hospital in Mobile!

My wife has a BA in Fine Arts from Troy University, with kids graduating from same over next few years!

So - "ra-ra."

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Hope you like these rankings ...

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2018/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/name/alabama/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats

Rah, indeed.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. I have a faculty job on one of those campuses

...and my wife has one on the other.

Lots of full time tenured faculty on both campuses. Do we use adjuncts? Yes, of course. Most every university does.

Are they qualified? Quite. They go through rigorous reviews by the departments and graduate school (if grad faculty).

Have faculty positions declined? Not generally, no. In many departments they have gained faculty.

My wife and I are well published and have millions of dollars in grants/contracts to our names. She has received a number of teaching awards. Our colleagues are some of the best in the nation in their areas. Our departments have pushed for high quality assistant professor hires over the years.

U of A has top programs in business and communications. One of the best in the country in communications. The law school is top notch

Auburn university has one of the top programs in the country in veterinary sciences and their engineering programs are some of the best in the country

UAB - don't even get me started on the top accolades in medicine and research there. Also, UAB undergraduate education has become more and more competitive over the past five to ten years with many high level students enrolled this year.

I'm very proud of our institutions and of the faculty members and students.