Non-donor revenue for the athletic department for the last year I am aware was something like 140 million.
The last numbers I saw for the athletic department showed basketball as profitable, to the sum of millions (a sizable chunk of that 40 million dollar SEC payout also comes from basketball revenue). Alabama has spent tens of millions on the hiring/firing/salary of Grant and Avery. They have 115 million earmarked for Coleman renovations, I think the last major renovations cost 24 million.
So, I somewhat understand the complicated world of athletic department finance, Title IX compliance, etc... but what I see is a rich athletic department, with a ton of revenue, which for much of the time has actually siphoned money from the basketball program. Money has been spent, but aimlessly and wastefully, instead of enacting better, more purposeful long term plans. The program never actually got the kind of investment (and I mean more than just money, things like time, patience, and unwavering support) worthy of it's part as one of two revenue sports in the richest athletic department in the SEC.
I can't tell big donors what to do, they're going to do what they want. But I can say that the basketball program needed not just more money, or a new coach, but a much better long term plan. I hope Oats is the guy to sell everyone on it, but someone needs to.
Last edited:
