Proud Aggie, Class of ’80

UC Bezerkely may be putting their objection up to Baylor’s religious background to cover up their hypocrisy over the financial greed involved in this kind of deal, but the bottom line here is money and the evidence of its power and pull is the fact that the political influence put together to include Baylor as part of the package was like a straw fence against a wildfire.

I read your post to my wife (BU Alumn), and she loved it.

Tim

Personally, I think Baylor might be a better school if it dropped their sports program and focused on being a Christian, academic institution. But politically that won’t fly with the alumni.

The game that is played is interesting. One will read of sports bringing in ‘x’ dollars for this and that which is not sport, but the sport program itself will be in the red and will require funds, nonetheless, to keep it afloat. Yes, the money can be said to come from the gate, but it went ‘here’ instead of funding the opening of the gate! Baylor basketball, a good draw, in the last accounting reported this year, had revenues of $4,595,742. It also had expenses of $4,595,742. It is doubtful other Baylor sports, except perhaps football, will have the potential for creating revenue for the school. Let’s have NCAA sports, but let’s also be realistic about their impacts. Considering the costing of athletics: ugh, well, it is problematic. At best costs are underestimated. And that helps propel the myths which surround it.

Instead of being concerned about where Baylor plays football, I would be concerned about the 6-year graduation rate of Baylor athletes that was reported in 2009. The NCAA graduation rate was 56% compared with about a 71% graduation rate for non-athletes. And keep in mind, the NCAA graduation rate allows adjustments to the denominator (i.e., transfers), that the federal rate (i.e., IPEDS) does not allow; that is, the NCAA grad rate tends to be a bit more generous.

I don’t know any person here, who is familiar with the workings of Baylor University, that would agree with your statement. The athletic programs do help and have helped since the mid-90s. In light of the public response in this area, it is clear that most recognize that getting bumped out of the Big 12 is about much more than just athletics.

http://tinyurl.com/perrymanbig12

bapticus hereticus: Research, however, by and large, does not support these assertions. There is a mythology surrounding NCAA D1 that is difficult to puncture.

Baylor is a private, tuition-driven school that does not have a massive endowment like elite private institutions. Baylor Big 12 athletics bring in millions to the university and the community. The athletic programs help attract students and donors which in turn allows Baylor to devote more money to research, better technology, new facilities, etc.