Financing through football

Last week, Athletic Director Terry Clapacs addressed concerns that a $2 million structural deficit continues to leave the athletic department in the red. Clapacs cited the struggling football program as a reason for lacking revenue. \n Overcoming the deficit is a complex endeavor that will not easily be solved. Short-term solutions may lead to temporary relief, but real progress will require a change that can lead to an increase over time. \n Money won't begin to pour back into the department until the football program is successful enough to generate it. As Clapacs told the trustees last week, "Football drives the success of the athletic department."\n This is true of most universities because the potential attendance -- and potential ticket sales -- is higher in a football stadium than any other athletic venue, such as a basketball arena.\n Therefore, bolstering the football program will have to be IU's answer to climbing out of athletic debt. Right now, IU President Adam Herbert has said IU's athletic facilities are "unacceptable" compared to other Big Ten schools and also has noted that the weight room in Assembly Hall is sub-par. These are the things that will have to be remedied in order to make IU attractive to first-rate recruits. \n Building the football program to what it needs to be will require a true investment. Using money to improve facilities and other aspects of the program might make the financial situation momentarily worse, but it's a hit the department needs to take before it climbs upward again. \n As the saying goes, we need to spend money to make money. \n A former athletic director attempted to do this but was ousted after less than two years on the job, as many could not accept the large deficit he ran. However, this was what IU needed. We need someone who is willing to put money into the football program and take this big risk. If not, then we will be talking about this issue for years to come. \n Clapacs made suggestions for more current solutions, including the possibilities of adding a student athletic fee and requesting donations from former Hoosier athletes. \nTrustee Cora Breckinridge has already refuted the idea of the fee because it would raise tuition. We agree this is a measure to avoid, as the money would have nothing to do with education and should not be applied to those students who do not attend athletic events. Donations would undoubtedly be beneficial if they are acquired, but if this route is unsuccessful, there has to be a more substantial plan.\n Conquering the deficit will take time and patience. Long-term investment and faith in the program will lead the athletic department to better times.