Yes, the title is right. There is a dirty little secret we just can’t come to grips with as the football loving society that we are. The same type of problem an alcoholic, a smoker or any user of hard drugs has a hard time confessing. The problem: We love college football so much we aren’t willing to admit how much of a waste of money it actually is.
After having played football in high school, a little in college and being an overall huge college football fan, I’ll admit: I have the same problem. I was conditioned to love it and now that it’s in my system and I don’t think it will ever come out.
As fans we are all too concerned with how well our team did last week, who they play this week and whether or not they will make it to the conference championship and/or a post season bowl game.
But the reality hits when you break down the cost of this highly addictive past-time; which we did in class this last week. We looked at how much a team actually spends on a home game (not a road game) for a hotel stay and pre-game dinner the night before. Our calculation came to between $70,000-$80,000; a figure which varies depending on the size of the school and the location. If this practice were eliminated, the funds saved could allow for the re-instatement of a previously eliminated sport such as track and field or wrestling.
Remember, this is just one example of the excess of spending in this prime-time sport. The list of excess spending goes on: constant upgrades in uniforms, newer and newer training facilities and not to mention the constant construction and expansion of stadiums (some might refer to them as temples) that house these epic contests.
But let’s face it, who will be the first to step up and say enough is enough? Not me, you first.
Brandon Urry
KIN 577
LT 24
LT 24
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