It is a draw to many schools, so why not? Where it is not a draw I question the existence of the programs altogether.
I can tell you this, I damn sure don't go to South Alabama because of their football team. While I admire the idea that perhaps I should boycott on that basis, I don't have that many local options.
Yes, I question the existence of their program, repeatedly, and loudly. They try to distribute the bill in such a way that no one feels the pain, but almost everyone pays.
Students pay, ok that's somewhat voluntary but there's no check box on whether or not I want to give my money to the football team. Then the city and states often pay, once again that's not usually something voters have direct say in (no referendum). Then... once you consider that the university/students gets federal aid, truth is some of this money indirectly comes from the federal government as well.
The problem? The majority of the funds should come directly from the fans (if they have any at all...). There's little accountability. Within this state there are three football programs that lose millions every single year. A big chunk of that comes from people that have no interest in said football teams, and it keeps happening year after year because people with enough power have the means to reach into the pockets of others to get what they want. How many people not wearing a football uniform go to UAB, Troy, or South Alabama because of the football team?
These people with influence at universities get to play owners of a sports program, without actually paying the bill of owning a sports franchise. I'm not going to go all the way out on a limb and say they should make it 100% self-sustaining, but it shouldn't be along the lines of get 20 million, lose 10 million, and then ask the city to build you a stadium because like, you have a lot of fans just dying to go to your games.