Making ends meet, a translation

If you frequent UGA message boards, or have done so over the years, you’ve probably seen data compiled by the prolific AirForceDawg at some point.  I mention this because he’s put me on the scent of some recent financial data that you might find of interest.

The source for the information is the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis (EADA) website.  Visit there, and you can find the relevant financial data, i.e., revenues and expenses, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, for America’s collegiate athletic departments.  As the site itself explains,

This database consists of athletics data that are submitted annually as required by the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA), via a Web-based data collection, by all co-educational postsecondary institutions that receive Title IV funding (i.e., those that participate in federal student aid programs) and that have an intercollegiate athletics program.

For example, here’s a snapshot of UGA athletics expenses:

And here’s one for revenues:

If you can’t make the numbers out, allow me to do the simple math for you.

• Revenues:  $157,852,479
• Expenses:  $110,084,458
• Net:  $47,768,021

In case you’re wondering, football’s net during that period was $56,947,313.  Not exactly what you’d call hard times.  At least if you’re not Greg McGarity.

As far as context goes in the SEC, I’m going to outsource that to AFD, who’s already done the clickwork:

FY2017 (i.e., 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017) Athletics Department Revenue:

1. Alabama: $174,305,613
2. Georgia: $157,852,479
3. Auburn: $147,413,201
4. Louisiana State: $146,934,487
5. Florida: $142,545,938
6. Tennessee: $139,659,550
7. South Carolina: $136,032,845
8. Arkansas: $132,172,997
9. Texas A&M: $130,442,544
10. Kentucky: $122,307,014
11. Ole Miss: $101,857,663
12. Missouri: $90,034,258
13. Mississippi State: $89,696,829
14. Vanderbilt: $80,335,651

FY2017 (i.e., 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017) Athletics Department Expenses:

1. Alabama: $143,634,940
2. Florida: $137,818,468
3. South Carolina: $135,499,095
4. Louisiana State: $131,722,243
5. Tennessee: $128,944,788
6. Auburn: $125,832,608
7. Texas A&M: $122,615,852
8. Kentucky: $121,688,546
9. Arkansas: $116,112,803
10. Georgia: $110,084,458
11. Ole Miss: $92,908,665
12. Missouri: $90,034,258
13. Mississippi State: $77,773,532
13. Vanderbilt: $69,803,910

FY2017 (i.e., 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017) Athletics Department Profit:

1. Georgia: $47,768,021
2. Alabama: $30,670,673
3. Auburn: $21,580,593
4. Arkansas: $16,060,194
5. Louisiana State: $15,212,244
6. Mississippi State: $11,923,297
7. Vanderbilt: $10,531,741
8. Tennessee: $10,714,762
9. Ole Miss: $8,948,998
10. Texas A&M: $7,826,692
11. Florida: $4,727,470
12. South Carolina: $533,750
13. Kentucky: $618,468
14. Missouri: $0

First in net (or profit, if you’d prefer the term) — and by a wide margin.  That was accomplished by finishing second in revenue and tenth in expenses.

Butts-Mehre has no business pleading poverty these days, but I suspect you knew that already.  My question is, since McGarity loves to trumpet his fiscal responsibility, why hasn’t he been shouting these numbers to the skies?  Could it be that he might have to explain why the athletic department doesn’t seem to prioritize spending as a path to excellence the way nine others of his peers do?

And for those of you who have been critical of me or anyone daring to question Butts-Mehre’s financial tactics, tell me, are you really okay with an ostensibly non-profit organization operating like this?

Even moar gap

David Wunderlich shows what a deep, deep hole Dan Mullen has to climb out of on the recruiting front here.

I estimated that UF might have a class with as many as 22 or 23 recruits next year. If it’s 22, they’d need to sign 13 blue chips to get to exactly 50% blue chips signed over a four-year period. Given the composition of this year’s class, that’s doable. If they only sign 20 next year, they’d need to get 12 blue chips. Given that they got 12 blue chips this year with 19 signees, that’s also doable. I suspect most Gator fans would see it as failing to meet expectations if they only sign 12 or 13 blue chips next year given that it won’t be a transitional class anymore.

Merely getting to 50% would still put them a ways behind Georgia, LSU, and FSU, and the blue chips would be most heavily concentrated among first and second-year players. We’re really more looking at 2020 for having a roster with the kind of talent Florida fans expect to see.

I doubt Kirby will be slowing down over the next two years, either.

Promises, promises

TODAY is the final day to contribute to the Hartman Fund for 2018 football season tickets.

Call or go online to renew your gift today.

📞 706-542-9220
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— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) February 15, 2018

Well, unless they need to run a quasi-scam on season ticket holders eager to buy SECCG tickets.  Again.

Thursday morning buffet

I haven’t taken the chafing dishes out in a while, so here goes…

• No matter how you slice it, Georgia’s 2018 signing class is stellar.
• Which makes it no surprise Kirby’s decided he can live with the early signing period.
• Gene Smith bitches about head coaching salaries out of one side of his mouth, but talks a very different game when it comes to assistant coaches.  Again, it’s not what you think your guys are worth that matters.  It’s what your competitors think your guys are worth.
• Looks like Jim McElwain’s got himself a new gig.
• It’s amazing to see the level of navel gazing going on in the Alabama media with regard to the Tide’s 2018 class.  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Kirby’s really got those folks shook up.
• “Who’s been the top recruiting team of the entire internet rankings era? The answer will probably surprise you.”  Number two on the list certainly did.