The athletic department does give some money to academics, a million or so. Not much in the overall scheme of things. But, my point is that many folks who support athletics also support academics at UT. I would estimate over $50 million this year, maybe more.

If you're point is that the community as a whole values athletics more than academics, you're probably right. Most in this community did not graduate from UT. Most do not even go to games on campus, but cheer the Vols on TV or radio. So, most people have no connection to the school other than athletics. But, many people who go to games and have connections to the school, some through athletics, do give. As one administrator once said, athletics is the school's front porch to much of the country.

If you only look at the budget line which shows how much the AD gives to the University, you're not seeing the big picture. I once sat on a 10 million dollar yacht owned by a man who has given millions to all sorts of programs at UT. He has no degree from UT. His connection? He's a UT football fan. I know I'm repeating myelf, but athletics at UT is a huge benefit to the academic schools.

We have had this discussion before. But, the cheap shots don't stop. 'Bredesen didn't give the hourly folks enough of a raise...but they have a good football team'. One has noting to do with the other. You could disband the football program (which by the way would nix half the men's sports and most all the women's) and it wouldn't all of the sudden result in money for academics or hourly employees. People in this area wouldn't all of the sudden wake up and say 'gee, I need to give some money to UT since it got rid of that dang football program'. A lot of schools would like to have the athletic program we have, not for the champion sports, but the national exposure.

As for tomorrow, I hope the Vols play well. Fla is a good team. I wasn't treated very nice in Gainesville last year, but hope East Tennesseans show those Gators a little class. Winning or losing tomorrow won't make or break the season. History has shown us that. But, it would certainly help.

Not all donations go to the VASF. Like the VASF, The alumni association uses athletic tickets, parking, etc. as incentives for people to give to academics.

Haslam's $32.5 million and the lady from Cleveland's $10 million were given to academic, athletic and capital programs, not only to athletics. In fact, I believe most all of the $32.5 from the Haslams went to academic programs.

Many other athletic donors give to academics. Walk through the skyboxes sometime. Then compare those companies and individuals to the donors to business, engineering, etc. I personally made a substantial, four figure contribution to one of the academic schools last year. I also give to the VASF. There are a lot of folks out there like me.

I don't doubt that some other schools pay better. But, to point to sports as the root of the budgetary, faculty and similar problems at UT is just wrong. It would be more appropriate to point to members of the General Assembly who don't value higher education or vote for adequate funding. It would be more appropriate to look to state failures like TennCare which have wasted so many millions of dollars which could have been put into higher education. Or how about the lack of leadership in UT administration to go to Nashville, make the case and bring back the money. These are the real problems.

Curious...metulg and Randy, how many football games have you attended at UT in the last 5 years?