Gymnastics is another money losing minor sport
All sports at UT lose money other than football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. I have been told softball is getting close to being self supporting...I don't know how many dollars equals 'close'.
Women's sports are primarily funded due to Title IX requirements...want to have a football team, you
will have women's sports.
Why other men's sports are funded I do not know: history, college atmosphere, whatever reasons. If all at once the AD decided to drop the baseball team, for example, I believe there would be a public outcry...losing money not a consideration.
With all of that said, all sports at UT other than the two basketball teams are primarily funded by the AD (football), some doners, some entry fees.
I believe gymnastics would get much more attendance than rowing, but I do not know what the difference in costs would be or the number of athletes participating. If costs were the same, and one had a higher number of athletes, that would give it a more favorable chance of being funded.
I doubt community interest was a strong factor in any decision as to what team to fund.
And yes, madtown, you are correct. I knew Jenny too. If she expressed a concern as to injuries it would have been as information to be considered in determining what UT needed to do to protect its athletes in a given sport. Jenny was impressive; her leaving was a real loss to the well being of our athletes.