The comments on that article make me roll my eyes. Even the little tech school my son is going to figured out sports make a difference in getting kids in the door. They brought back athletics a few years ago, after a 50+ year absence. It caused a huge uproar apparently, but it's been one of the best decisions for them.

For some students, the difference between the same degree at two schools is the sports offered. Even I would have had a tough time attending a school that didn't have at a minimum a competitive basketball program and I didn't even play! The athletic department does double duty as a marketing tool for the school. Like it or not, that's just how the world works people.