Grip on Sports: Washington State’s athletic department debt may be impossible to eliminate
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Ever been in debt? I mean, really deep in debt? Then you might understand how Pat Chun feels these days. Read on.
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• The new Washington State athletic director is dealing with some debt. How much? How about $67 million? That’s the figure being thrown around in Pullman, as our Theo Lawson reported yesterday. That’s a Cody O’Connell-sized figure to throw around.
It is the culmination of years of trying to keep up with the (Howard) Joneses and the (Akili) Smiths of the Pac-12 at a school without a T. Boone Pickens or a Phil Knight. And with a conference media revenue stream that turned out to be more of a trickle than a flood.
So over the past few years Washington State’s athletic department has made due by spending more than it had. A lot more some years. And it’s added up. And up and up.
We don’t know if former president Elson Floyd told former athletic director Bill Moos to not worry about the deficit spending. We don’t know if there was a promise to cover it from university coffers. And we will probably never know. But it doesn’t matter. Times have changed and current president Kirk Schulz is dealing with a Board of Regents that wants the entire university to be in the black.
The athletic department’s red ink won’t do.
Something has to be done. According to Theo’s story, the Regents will discuss just what next week. But the options are limited. It’s big time math problem.
Consider this. When the bill hits the $67 million mark at the end of this fiscal year, as projected, the Cougars will still be running a deficit.
Cut a couple million out of the athletic department’s budget – WSU already has the smallest budget in the conference – and add a couple more in fundraising may bring the budget back in balance.
So where does the money come from to pay back the university, which has served as the bank the past decade or so? Say it’s possible to run a surplus of $2 million a year and that is sent to the French Administration building by messenger. In 33 years, the debt would be almost gone – without interest of course.
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WSU: Besides the money issue, that Theo covers here, there is the slight problem of basketball players leaving. Another one said goodbye yesterday. Theo has that story as well. … The baseball team got pounded in the opener of its series at Washington. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Utah is losing a player to transfer as well. … Arizona added another basketball recruit. … The Todd McNair trial continues.
Gonzaga: Loyola Marymount pounded out a series-opening baseball win at GU last night. … BYU guard Nick Emery will re-join the basketball team next season.
EWU: The Eagles are going to have a real game today to end spring practice. Or, as Jim Allen explains, as close as the school can get at the end of April. … Larry Weir’s Press Box pod today touches base with Cooper Kupp a year after he was drafted into the NFL.
Idaho: The offense was the dominant side of the ball yesterday as the Vandals ended spring practice with their Silver and Gold game. Peter Harriman has the story from Moscow and we have a photo gallery to pass along as well.
Preps: It was a busy Friday in the prep world, with roundups to pass along from track, golf, soccer, softball and baseball.
Mariners: There is a theory that solo home runs don’t beat you. Except, maybe, when you yield five of them. That was what happened to Erasmo Ramirez and the M’s last night in Cleveland as they lost 6-5. … Edwin Diaz is having a good start to the season.
Seahawks: No Earl Thomas trade, little excitement. That, in a sentence, summed up the Hawks’ second day at the NFL draft. … The Hawks re-signed Byron Maxwell.
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• Have a nice Saturday. I hope it doesn’t rain too much where you are. Until later …