SEC still No. 1 moneymaker in college sports

July 4, 2002
SportsLine.com wire reports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A big jump in football TV income helped the Southeastern Conference take in more than $100 million last year to maintain its position as the richest college sports league.

The SEC's take from regular-season football games increased 38 percent to $49 million during the tax year that ended Aug. 31, according to Internal Revenue Service records reviewed by The Associated Press.

With $35 million in assets and no liabilities, the SEC's total revenues for the year were $100.8 million -- well ahead of the second-place Big 12 Conference, which reported $85.6 million in revenues, $4 million in assets and $293,833 in liabilities.

The IRS documents are open to the public because of the conferences' status as tax-exempt, educational organizations.

The SEC's executive associate commissioner, Mark Womack, said Wednesday that conferences report their finances differently, so it is hard to make exact comparisons between leagues.

But the SEC, with 12 member schools and a multiyear football contract with CBS-TV, appears in a dominant position nationally as Mike Slive takes over as commissioner from Roy Kramer, who retired.

Slive said maintaining the league's steady growth in revenues depends on several factors, including television contracts and postseason play.

"We are not going to wait for very long before we sit down with our staff and put together a task force to begin to prepare what the SEC's position is on these issues," he said Tuesday at a news conference announcing his hiring.

Slive formerly headed Conference USA, which reported only $18 million in revenues -- less than 20 percent of the SEC's income.

The SEC gave member schools a total of $79 million last year, with the money allotted through a formula that takes factors into account including television appearances, bowl games and tournament appearances.

Kentucky received the largest share, $7 million, and Florida received the lowest, $6.2 million. Womack said Florida's number was lower because the league's payments to schools do not include money that goes directly to universities for bowl appearances.

I just have to ask...can someone please explain this? I don't get how they split the dough.

Anyone know?
WPS

SEC Finances-Schools

The Associated Press
7/4/02 3:38 PM

A breakdown of the Southeastern Conference's payouts to member universities during the 2001 fiscal year:

Kentucky: $7,013,375

Mississippi State: $6,988,250

Alabama: $6,987,345

Tennessee: $6,954,559

Mississippi: $6,926,609

Georgia: $6,851,618

Auburn: $6,815,173

Arkansas: $6,803,500

Louisiana State: $6,777,561

South Carolina: $6,724,761

Vanderbilt: $6,559,215

Florida: $6,223,220

ACC = $9,000,000 per team

Highest in the nation.

So why you're taking in all that money - the schools still see less than others. In fact I think the Big 10 or some other conf. has the SEC beat as well with $7,000,000 per team.

Josh, although I am not aware of exactly how the earnings are divided up. I do know that the following piece of information has a factor in it. The numbers which you quoted per school do not count money that was paid directly to universities for bowl games. Therefore, Fla made a heck of helluva lot more than the article stated. I was given the impression from reliable sources that the dividends are somewhat divided in an attempt to help to evenout the $$ field in the conference so as to not give anyone an unfair advantage (or some such bs).

Anywayyyyyyyy, that's my 2 cents, for what it's worth

Hotty Dayum Toddy 4ever

I hope it's like that...that's insane...

It's not like UA needs it..we are one of very few NCAA programs that actually stays in the black. Never hurts when track and field is your 3rd largest moneymaking sport, lol.

WPS!

that's a lot of money..