Ah, those academic folks . . .

[Bull94]

11 minutes ago, Dave_Glaser said:

Do you think that Bama's prowess on the football field hasn't raised its profile and benefitted the university in other ways?

yeah it's dropped them 60 spots in the us news rankings in the last 10 years

meanwhile ours has risen 73 spots in the last 10 years

they went from being 93 spots ahead of us to 40 spots behind us.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Bull94

[michibull]

Wow, what a conversation. I am of this stand point. Professor and strictly academic people have their priorities (education, research and patents), which brings in money for the school. Athletics departments have their priorities (winning, sponsors, TV) which brings in money for the school. While both bring in money, they both CAN elevate the schools brand and reputation at the same time, which further helps BOTH departments. It’s naive to think one or the other doesn’t help. Like much of this world, it’s a gray area. Athletics can be the welcome mat of the university to get kids interested and excited about the school, provide a fun and enriching experience and lasting alumni and donor ship; academics provides a quality education and value for the future prospects of the student. They are very much both apart of a quality educational experience. 

[Bull94]

12 minutes ago, michibull said:

Wow, what a conversation. I am of this stand point. Professor and strictly academic people have their priorities (education, research and patents), which brings in money for the school. Athletics departments have their priorities (winning, sponsors, TV) which brings in money for the school. While both bring in money, they both CAN elevate the schools brand and reputation at the same time, which further helps BOTH departments. It’s naive to think one or the other doesn’t help. Like much of this world, it’s a gray area. Athletics can be the welcome mat of the university to get kids interested and excited about the school, provide a fun and enriching experience and lasting alumni and donor ship; academics provides a quality education and value for the future prospects of the student. They are very much both apart of a quality educational experience. 

simple thought experiment.

school A invests $200m in academics and $0 in athletics

school B invests $100m in academics and $100m in athletics

school C invests $0 in academics and $200m in athletics

rank them in order of academic standings

people need to stop thinking investing in athletics somehow benefits academics.

Just like investing in academics doesn't benefit athletics.

it's simply not true.

 

[Dave_Glaser]

24 minutes ago, Bull94 said:

yeah it's dropped them 60 spots in the us news rankings in the last 10 years

meanwhile ours has risen 73 spots in the last 10 years

they went from being 93 spots ahead of us to 40 spots behind us.

Their current U.S. News ranking among public universities is tied for #64 - we are tied for #42. That's the apples-to-apples ranking. Whatever, I'm not sure how we got here? I still contend that a strong athletic program is an asset to the entire university and has positive implications beyond the athletic department. You don't agree. That's fine.  

[Bull94]

4 minutes ago, Dave_Glaser said:

Their current U.S. News ranking among public universities is tied for #64 - we are tied for #42. That's the apples-to-apples ranking. Whatever, I'm not sure how we got here? I still contend that a strong athletic program is an asset to the entire university and has positive implications beyond the athletic department. You don't agree. That's fine.  

I was quoting the National rankings. we're 97 their 137

I'm all for strong athletics. don't think it adds much of anything to the academic side though.

[Who'sYourData?]

2 hours ago, Dave_Glaser said:

Do you think that Bama's prowess on the football field hasn't raised its profile and benefitted the university in other ways?

Obviously it has not raised their academic profile.  What "other ways" should a university focus on to get better?  Have killer tailgates?  Learn how to apply better facepaint?

[Who'sYourData?]

1 hour ago, michibull said:

Wow, what a conversation. I am of this stand point. Professor and strictly academic people have their priorities (education, research and patents), which brings in money for the school. Athletics departments have their priorities (winning, sponsors, TV) which brings in money for the school. While both bring in money, they both CAN elevate the schools brand and reputation at the same time, which further helps BOTH departments. It’s naive to think one or the other doesn’t help. Like much of this world, it’s a gray area. Athletics can be the welcome mat of the university to get kids interested and excited about the school, provide a fun and enriching experience and lasting alumni and donor ship; academics provides a quality education and value for the future prospects of the student. They are very much both apart of a quality educational experience. 

Athletics brings in money for athletics.  Not for the school as a whole.  Its naive to think that it does.

Is it fun?  Sure.  Does it help the on campus environment?  Arguably.

Does it benefit academics? The vast majority of the time it is a drain on academics.

[JTrue]

4 hours ago, Rizman said:

I think it helps all of the University just in ways you cannot always measure. 

Sounds like the pitch a professional sports team makes to the city when they fleece them for a $1 billion stadium.

Edited May 23, 2023 by JTrue

[JTrue]

3 hours ago, Bull94 said:

yeah it's dropped them 60 spots in the us news rankings in the last 10 years

meanwhile ours has risen 73 spots in the last 10 years

they went from being 93 spots ahead of us to 40 spots behind us.

Boom goes the dynamite.

[Rocky Style]

2 hours ago, Who'sYourData? said:

Does it benefit academics? The vast majority of the time it is a drain on academics.