Report Finds NCAA Football Schools’ Spending Increases Again

Brand Does Not Anticipate Continued Disparity

Athletic spending at the 119 Division I-A NCAA schools increased by almost 8% in ’04-05, “the fourth consecutive year of such increases,” according to an analysis of federal reports examined by Brady & Upton of USA TODAY. The NCAA said that the rate of athletic spending is “roughly double the increase in overall college spending, which has been [3-4%] during those years.” NCAA President Myles Brand said, “We have a system under stress. Revenue streams have been increasing as well. But it’s unrealistic to believe (they will) increase at double the rate of the general university for the foreseeable future.” Brady & Upton note that athletic departments at the 119 I-A schools spent $3.8B in ’04-05, up by about $300M from ’03-04. The NCAA’s fiscal responsibility subcommittee, in a draft of a report, said if school presidents are unable to slow athletic spending soon “it will be too late to avoid problems that will seriously threaten the survival of intercollegiate athletics” (USA TODAY, 11/17).