As if the mission of the athletic department is to turn a profit?
Well, that may not be the "printed" mission, but.....
Consider that almost everyone agrees that the only real obstacle to a Division I-A playoff system is the truckloads of money that the current bowl system generates for the schools.
Consider the NCAA-sponsored mass marketing of NCAA football, March Madness, Women's BB tourney, the College World Series, etc.
Consider the money spent on upgrading athletic facilities, sometimes over academic facilities, with the goal of drawing better athletes, which leads to a better program, which leads to more fans, more exposure, bowl games, and....presumably...more money.
I could be wrong, but it would seem to me that every athletic department would WANT to be profitable. More profit = the ability to field what is commonly known as "non revenue sports", such as the ones TVA mentioned.
As for those non-revenue sports, my vote would be that if the conference you're in has a "league schedule" for that sport, and you have enough athletes, and enough money, field the team. As for associated scholarships, that mess belongs squarely in the lap of the NCAA. Like most everything else they get involved in, it's a wreck. Make 'em fix it. Line up enough AD's at the NCAA doorstep, and watch things happen.
No, I've never been to a UT swim meet, or rugby match, or soccer match...but I'll bet we've graduated some fine alums who participated in those sports.
Hell, back in my day, I was quite the "FrisBeer" player. (And what I would have given for a scholarship to UT for that sport)
Go Vols.
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