Spring Break
Texas Tech athletics lost more than $200,000 on bowl appearance
Alex Ybarra
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Sports
A shortfall in travel allowance given by the Big 12 Conference caused the Texas Tech football team to reach into its financial pockets after the team's trip to the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Bobby Gleason, Tech's deputy athletic director, said while the numbers still may fluctuate, the athletic department spent $202,240 out of its regular operating budget of $44 million, which goes to show that the public can be misled when it sees the bowl payout numbers.
"Most fans read something that says that the Gator Bowl payout is $2.5 million," Gleason said. "Most fans think that goes to us because we're playing in the Gator Bowl, but they don't understand that all that money is paid to the conference."
Gleason said, in turn, the Big 12 Conference disperses a formula-based travel allowance among the teams attending bowl games.
"With (750) people traveling, it gets very expensive very quickly," Gleason said. "So we basically hope to break even on that travel allowance each year. We hope that we spend a little bit less than what it is, but it does take most of that money to travel."
Gleason said because the Gator Bowl is a tier-one bowl - a level below a BCS bowl - the formula provided Tech with a bowl appearance fee of $925,000 and a reimbursement policy that gives $199 per mile traveled.
According to the bowl's financial report, the trip to Jacksonville equaled $239,198 in reimbursement money, so Tech received just under $1.1 million.
To put it in perspective, Gleason said the appearance fee for a BCS bowl is $1.5 million along with the reimbursement policy.
According to the report, Tech subtracted nearly $74,000 after ticket sales did not equal the total price of complimentary tickets used by the university.
Gleason said Tech used about half of the 12,000 tickets that were available to sell.
The financial report indicated that Tech spent approximately 68 percent of its allowance on transportation, meals and lodging, while roughly 27 percent went toward awards and extra compensation for staff.
Bobby Gleason, Tech's deputy athletic director, said while the numbers still may fluctuate, the athletic department spent $202,240 out of its regular operating budget of $44 million, which goes to show that the public can be misled when it sees the bowl payout numbers.
"Most fans read something that says that the Gator Bowl payout is $2.5 million," Gleason said. "Most fans think that goes to us because we're playing in the Gator Bowl, but they don't understand that all that money is paid to the conference."
Gleason said, in turn, the Big 12 Conference disperses a formula-based travel allowance among the teams attending bowl games.
"With (750) people traveling, it gets very expensive very quickly," Gleason said. "So we basically hope to break even on that travel allowance each year. We hope that we spend a little bit less than what it is, but it does take most of that money to travel."
Gleason said because the Gator Bowl is a tier-one bowl - a level below a BCS bowl - the formula provided Tech with a bowl appearance fee of $925,000 and a reimbursement policy that gives $199 per mile traveled.
According to the bowl's financial report, the trip to Jacksonville equaled $239,198 in reimbursement money, so Tech received just under $1.1 million.
To put it in perspective, Gleason said the appearance fee for a BCS bowl is $1.5 million along with the reimbursement policy.
According to the report, Tech subtracted nearly $74,000 after ticket sales did not equal the total price of complimentary tickets used by the university.
Gleason said Tech used about half of the 12,000 tickets that were available to sell.
The financial report indicated that Tech spent approximately 68 percent of its allowance on transportation, meals and lodging, while roughly 27 percent went toward awards and extra compensation for staff.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
DFWRedRaider
posted 4/15/08 @ 9:28 AM CST
"With (750) people traveling, it gets very expensive very quickly,"
My question is who makes up the 750? Does every player get his own trainer? Maybe the vice president of flower planting shouldn't go on the trip on the University's dime. (Continued…)
William A. Mattiford, Jr.
posted 4/15/08 @ 6:48 PM CST
Out of 750 people, how many really needed to go? Being responsible for public funds means you have to say "NO" even if it hurts someone's feelings.
Tyler
posted 4/15/08 @ 11:57 PM CST
Unless the band has their own travel fund, they make up at least 450.
JK
posted 4/16/08 @ 4:22 PM CST
Losing $200K+ after taking 750 on the trip? Are you serious?
Leave some of the Asst Whatevers at home! What a waste of school funds. If it takes 450 for the band ,as stated previously, the band should raise some of the funds to cover their cost or leave them at home too!
The common student struggles to pay for their education while Tech continues to spend like a bunch of drunken sailors. (Continued…)
George Gant
posted 4/17/08 @ 2:46 AM CST
A business doesn't always make a profit on every project. That's life. Texas Tech under Gerald Myers has brought national and international recognition to the University that Fortune 500 companies would envy. (Continued…)
BRaiderCHEN
Breich
posted 4/17/08 @ 4:29 PM CST
The band MEMBERS road on busses, 21 hours on busses. They were also the only ones to do so. Everyone else flew on either charter jets or commercial flights paid for out of that travel fund. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 4/17/08 @ 8:43 PM CST
Some of you need a lesson on how the B12 is ran. First of all, the band is 450 of that number...they are included in Tech's bill for travel expenses (remember when they were all mad because they had to ride a bus?). (Continued…)
silent jay
posted 4/19/08 @ 11:10 PM CST
sounds like another excuse the red raiders can use for not being able to hire a defensive coordinator
William A. Mattiford, Jr.
posted 4/21/08 @ 3:05 AM CST
George Gant and others- We give credit when it is due and criticism when it is due. In this case, criticism is clearly due.
JK
posted 4/24/08 @ 3:13 PM CST
Gant said-"Gerald Myers has brought national and international recognition to the University that Fortune 500 companies would envy." Excuse me? Recognition? His job is to WIN!!!!!
I did not intend to hammer on Gerald, he has done a decent job,BUT, what are you talking about? The TT sports programs need to win SOMETHING SOMEDAY. (Continued…)
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