[yupper32]

It's exhausting to have to remind people in this thread that I'm talking about way more than the money maker sports.

There's not "far too much money" in professional swimming or track & field. Killing the college sports, subsidized by the money maker sports, may very well kill the professional leagues for many sports.

D1 basketball athletes be able to be paid. Absolutely. That doesn't change my opinion that college sports benefit society and are often worth the extra cost.

[triceratops]

If professional swimming or track "benefits society", why doesn't the government fund it directly? That's how it works in most other countries. Why are universities shouldering that burden?

[yupper32]

If you think "benefiting society" is how the US government chooses to fund things, I've got a bridge to sell you :)