Near the end of our last class meeting, we discussed the expenses that a school like USC dishes out for their players, coaches, and staff to stay at hotels prior to home games. If I remember correctly, the amount came to roughly $80,000 per seasons for the seven or so home games. I personally have no problem with this practice, as I feel that schools such as USC easily make back this money, arguably with just one home game. Yes, I understand the argument that 93 Division 1 FBS institutions lose money every year, but why should a revenue producing sport like USC Football have to suffer? A quick Google search finds that USC Football brought in over 34 million dollars in the 2011-2012 season, with expenses of only 23 million dollars, registering a profit of 11 million (Reid, 2012).
I also disagree with the assumption that the athletes do not like this practice as they feel it is "glorified babysitting". As a college student scraping to get by, if you told me that I would get to spend a night in a posh hotel with meals catered for me prior to games, I would be all for it. It does allow coaches a way to monitor their athletes prior to games, but with so much riding on wins and losses for coaches, as our readings suggest, it makes sense that they would want to prevent any accidents that could happen and risk potential personal losses.
Reid, S. (2012, October 15). Usc posts record athletic-related revenue. Retrieved from http://www.ocregister.com/articles/million-374645-year-revenues.html
A. Stine
LT 24
KIN 577
Schools like USc do bring in lots of revenue for their school, but I do not agree with the "babysitting" their athletes to keep the troubled ones able to compete in the games the next day. Just because they have the money to do so does not mean they should just splurge the money. I do not believe that it is unfair to them just because other schools can afford to place their troubled athletes in a hotel to have them for the game the next day then so should schools that can not. I honestly believe that all athletes should just stay at their own places and know not to get in trouble the night before competition that's just the smart thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that no athlete or person period would denie to be placed in a hotel and receieve meals before going out & competing the next day. Especially when it is not at their expense.
Shanelle S.
KIN 577
LT 24