Saturday is Valentine’s Day, and people across the world will be celebrating their love and friendship. But there’s something else that deserves a little love here at Indiana University: non-revenue sports.
The hidden backbone of IU Athletics isn’t found in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall or nationally-televised matchups. It’s in the programs that don’t rake in money or headlines. I’m talking about sports like volleyball, field hockey and tennis: the teams that show up, compete and represent IU just as proudly, without the national spotlight.
At IU Bloomington, nearly every nonrevenue sport operates at zero net profit, meaning they bring in roughly as much as they spend and do not generate a surplus for the athletic department. In contrast, football and men’s basketball produce the majority of revenue for IU Athletics.
Naturally, this lack of revenue leads to less institutional support from the university. That support gap is felt most in the culture surrounding these teams — smaller crowds, quieter game days and fewer students even aware when teams are competing. Wins come and go with little recognition, and seasons end without the campus fanfare. IU swim and dive produced 17 Olympic swimmers in the 2024 Paris Olympics, track and field has 52 team Big Ten Championships and men's soccer is one of the most prestigious college soccer programs of all time with eight national championships. These sports all operate with zero profit yet are some of the most successful programs in the nation.
Behind the quiet game day experiences are athletes whose commitment rivals anyone who plays in a revenue sport. Nonrevenue athletes juggle the same early morning lifts, afternoon practices and full academic course loads, often traveling on weekends while much of campus is focused on free time and partying. There are no packed student sections or national broadcast cameras waiting for them when they step onto the court or field.
Of course, football and men’s basketball fund the majority of IU Athletics, and that reality isn’t lost on anyone. Those programs deserve the time they get in the spotlight. But financial impact shouldn’t be the only thing that earns respect, enthusiasm or campus pride. Supporting nonrevenue sports doesn’t mean taking anything away from revenue ones — it simply means broadening what IU fans cheer for.
You may be asking why supporting non-revenue sports even matters. It matters because attention is a form of respect. When football and men’s basketball are the only sports met with packed stands, loud cheers and constant coverage, it quietly tells everyone else that their work is secondary. You could sit next to a NCAA Division I athlete in class and never know they compete at the highest collegiate level. Their achievements blend into the background, not because they lack talent or effort, but because the campus doesn’t place as much focus on these athletes.
It’s not unheard of for a nonrevenue program to become something the entire school and fan base can take pride in. Nebraska’s volleyball team has been one of the biggest stories in college sports over the last few years. In August 2023, 92,003 fans packed Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, to watch an exhibition match against the University of Nebraska Omaha — setting a world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event. This wasn’t a ranked showdown or a championship game. It was an exhibition. Still, the stadium was full.
How do we replicate that success here? It’s simple. The easiest thing you can do as a student and fan is show up. Show up to a volleyball match in the fall. Watch a tennis match when the weather finally warms up. Support the field hockey team, even if you don’t know every rule.
Attendance and energy alone change the atmosphere. A few dozen more students in the stands can turn a quiet afternoon into something that feels like a spirited sporting event. Energy is contagious, and when athletes feel it, they play with it.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, remember that love isn’t only about grand gestures — it’s about being present. Nonrevenue athletes show up for IU every day, in practice, in class and in competition, representing this university without asking for much in return. The least we can do is be there for them, too.
Jack Davis (he/him) is a junior majoring in media with a sports concentration and pursuing a minor in folklore and ethnomusicology and a certificate in journalism.
