Urban is not worth an extra million per game
by fontoknow (2021-01-04 20:27:47)

In reply to: I disagree. Think how many alums refuse to donate to ND  posted by Sorin107


From TV unless we start playing a holtzian schedule.

People don't tune in to watch bloodbaths between Alabama and Troy State. They tune in to watch Alabama vs LSU or Alabama vs Auburn.

Percentages of alumni giving might go up a bit, but I don't think you suddenly see more seven figure and eight figure gifts. I.think the University could break even here if not marginally increase annual donations a bit, but giving is really decoupled from football.

Football is probably academically neutral these days. We aren't getting superstar faculty because of football, and we aren't losing superstar faculty due to football. And I doubt we are losing students to Ohio State or Alabama due to football. I think football is important to those schools as an amenity much like some schools have built a lazy river. This is important for schools where they are ranked. ND is in a much different space.