Every year, the Office of Postsecondary Education in the Deaprtment of Education releases figures on how much money every college in the United States spends on athletics. It's a good resource to see which programs cost the most and which programs bring in the most at each university.
It also helps see which schools are enjoying an edge in expenses/revenue in their respective conferences.
In light of Robert Morris' decision to trim several sports from the school's athletic department in December, as well as the persistent buzz that RMU would be better off in a larger conference, the numbers provided in the annual report tell the ultimate truth. The full data for any institution is available here - http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/
The two money sports are men's basketball and football. They dictate the conference moves and the proper fits for each school. Here's how RMU stacks up in expenses in the NEC by each sport.
NEC HOOPS (In Millions)
SFBK - $1.12
CCSU - $1.24
SHU - $1.24
SFPA - $1.26
RMU - $1.35
Wagner - $1.38
FDU - $1.39
Mount - $1.45
Bryant $1.62
LIU - $1.80
NEC FOOTBALL (In Millions)
SHU - $1.93
CCSU - $1.97
SFPA - $2.05
RMU - $2.19
Bryant - $2.29
Duquesne - $2.52
Wagner - $3.00
NEC DEPARTMENT TOTALS (In Millions)
SFBK - $5.60
Mount - $7.55
FDU - $10.13
SFPA - $11.82
CCSU - $11.97
Wagner - $12.12
Bryant - $13.84
LIU - $14.48
RMU - $15.30
SHU - $16.30
Notes: St. Francis-Brooklyn sponsors the fewest sports in the NEC, while Sacred Heart sponsors the most (31). Along with St. Francis-Brooklyn, the Mount, FDU and LIU do not sponsor football, one of the most expensive sports to fund.
The numbers seem to bolster Robert Morris' contention that despite spending a lot of money on athletics compared to conference foes, they're middle of the pack in the two major sports. That was part of the reasoning behind RMU's reduction in sports in December; the school argued it could spend more money on its revenue sports and making them regularly competitive. More money doesn't guarantee success, but improved resources can increase the odds, or at least improve the attractiveness of the program to recruits and potential coaches. There certainly seems to be some merit to RMU's arguments.
The other argument that's surfaced is RMU belongs in a more competitive league than the NEC. Here's what some other schools of note spent on their respective sports.
Duquesne - $3.55 million on hoops (A-10) and $16.50 million total
DEPARTED NEC SCHOOLS (in millions)
Monmouth - $1.63 on hoops, $2.96 on football, $16.73 total
Albany - $2.19 on football, $15.87 total
Quinnipiac - $2.33 on hoops, $21.58 total
Albany went 1-11 in its move to the CAA, while Monmouth went 6-6 as an independent in football, beating mostly former NEC schools. The Hawks are also struggling in their first year in the MAAC. Quinnipiac is doing well in the MAAC in basketball, but that likely would have been the case no matter what.
BASKETBALL PROGRAMS (in millions)
Siena (MAAC) - $2.67
Cleveland State (Horizon) - $2.19
Drexel (CAA) - $2.54
Davidson (SoCon) - $2.05
A basketball move - which would leave the football program without a defined home - would require an increase of about $1 million, almost the entire amount of the savings generated by the planned cuts. Additional revenue would have to come from somewhere to truly finance a competitive move.
FOOTBALL PROGRAMS (in millions)
Youngstown State (MVC) - $3.73
Morgan State (MEAC) - $2.67
Rhode Island (CAA) - $3.56 on football, $21.97 total
Towson (CAA) - $3.56 on football, $21.11 total
Stony Brook (CAA) - $4.40 on football, $20.454 total
YSU and Morgan State are included because the Penguins are the closest full FCS program in proximity to RMU and Morgan State plays in the weakest FCS conference that offers full scholarships. But the most discussed football move has been to the CAA. Ignoring the league's arena and football stadium requirements, finances would require an increase of about $1.5 million to match teams at different tiers in the league. Rhode Island is at the bottom, while Towson was in the FCS championship game.
In conclusion, a move isn't out of the question at some point. But Robert Morris would have to improve its resources - and its facilities - for it to happen. Like it or not, money dictates nearly everything in college sports. From my conversations with Robert Morris administrators, RMU wants to keep growing. But short of a massive donation earmarked solely for athletics or something happening to the NEC, any growth is likely going to be a multi-year process that slowly bolsters the resources and funding.
It also helps see which schools are enjoying an edge in expenses/revenue in their respective conferences.
In light of Robert Morris' decision to trim several sports from the school's athletic department in December, as well as the persistent buzz that RMU would be better off in a larger conference, the numbers provided in the annual report tell the ultimate truth. The full data for any institution is available here - http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/
The two money sports are men's basketball and football. They dictate the conference moves and the proper fits for each school. Here's how RMU stacks up in expenses in the NEC by each sport.
NEC HOOPS (In Millions)
SFBK - $1.12
CCSU - $1.24
SHU - $1.24
SFPA - $1.26
RMU - $1.35
Wagner - $1.38
FDU - $1.39
Mount - $1.45
Bryant $1.62
LIU - $1.80
NEC FOOTBALL (In Millions)
SHU - $1.93
CCSU - $1.97
SFPA - $2.05
RMU - $2.19
Bryant - $2.29
Duquesne - $2.52
Wagner - $3.00
NEC DEPARTMENT TOTALS (In Millions)
SFBK - $5.60
Mount - $7.55
FDU - $10.13
SFPA - $11.82
CCSU - $11.97
Wagner - $12.12
Bryant - $13.84
LIU - $14.48
RMU - $15.30
SHU - $16.30
Notes: St. Francis-Brooklyn sponsors the fewest sports in the NEC, while Sacred Heart sponsors the most (31). Along with St. Francis-Brooklyn, the Mount, FDU and LIU do not sponsor football, one of the most expensive sports to fund.
The numbers seem to bolster Robert Morris' contention that despite spending a lot of money on athletics compared to conference foes, they're middle of the pack in the two major sports. That was part of the reasoning behind RMU's reduction in sports in December; the school argued it could spend more money on its revenue sports and making them regularly competitive. More money doesn't guarantee success, but improved resources can increase the odds, or at least improve the attractiveness of the program to recruits and potential coaches. There certainly seems to be some merit to RMU's arguments.
The other argument that's surfaced is RMU belongs in a more competitive league than the NEC. Here's what some other schools of note spent on their respective sports.
Duquesne - $3.55 million on hoops (A-10) and $16.50 million total
DEPARTED NEC SCHOOLS (in millions)
Monmouth - $1.63 on hoops, $2.96 on football, $16.73 total
Albany - $2.19 on football, $15.87 total
Quinnipiac - $2.33 on hoops, $21.58 total
Albany went 1-11 in its move to the CAA, while Monmouth went 6-6 as an independent in football, beating mostly former NEC schools. The Hawks are also struggling in their first year in the MAAC. Quinnipiac is doing well in the MAAC in basketball, but that likely would have been the case no matter what.
BASKETBALL PROGRAMS (in millions)
Siena (MAAC) - $2.67
Cleveland State (Horizon) - $2.19
Drexel (CAA) - $2.54
Davidson (SoCon) - $2.05
A basketball move - which would leave the football program without a defined home - would require an increase of about $1 million, almost the entire amount of the savings generated by the planned cuts. Additional revenue would have to come from somewhere to truly finance a competitive move.
FOOTBALL PROGRAMS (in millions)
Youngstown State (MVC) - $3.73
Morgan State (MEAC) - $2.67
Rhode Island (CAA) - $3.56 on football, $21.97 total
Towson (CAA) - $3.56 on football, $21.11 total
Stony Brook (CAA) - $4.40 on football, $20.454 total
YSU and Morgan State are included because the Penguins are the closest full FCS program in proximity to RMU and Morgan State plays in the weakest FCS conference that offers full scholarships. But the most discussed football move has been to the CAA. Ignoring the league's arena and football stadium requirements, finances would require an increase of about $1.5 million to match teams at different tiers in the league. Rhode Island is at the bottom, while Towson was in the FCS championship game.
In conclusion, a move isn't out of the question at some point. But Robert Morris would have to improve its resources - and its facilities - for it to happen. Like it or not, money dictates nearly everything in college sports. From my conversations with Robert Morris administrators, RMU wants to keep growing. But short of a massive donation earmarked solely for athletics or something happening to the NEC, any growth is likely going to be a multi-year process that slowly bolsters the resources and funding.
