5th&Bagby said:TexasScientist said:5th&Bagby said:TexasScientist said:
Right. I heard it then, and intended to post about it, but just now got around to it. If you listen closely, it's pretty clear Baylor doesn't have the alumni support or financial strength to compete in the upper tier of the Big 12. 3:06 - 8:45 of the interview is particularly interesting. His comments essentially are there has to be a salary cap for schools like Baylor, TCU and SMU to compete. As it is now he says there are 30 or so large state universities with big stadiums that can afford to play at a higher level than smaller schools like Baylor. It's noteworthy that he didn't say, when given the opportunity, that the major donor alumni, like McLane, Hurd family or Fudge family would provide enough money to make sure Baylor would have enough to compete.
This isn't an accurate characterization so far as it regards state Universities. Whether that's Drayton's comment or interpretation is not really the point:
There are many factors at play, it will definitely be a bumpy ride, but the assumption that the evil state schools have infinite funds is incorrect.
When he says there are 30 or so large state universities with big stadiums that can afford to play at a higher level than smaller schools like Baylor, I don't think he is saying they have infinite funds. I think what he is saying is that their size, being 30 or so large state universities, in scope of budget, stadiums, and alumni donor base provides an very large access to funding gap that smaller schools like Baylor can't bridge.
Like I said, if that were true, schools like Kansas wouldn't show a deficit. I hate the evil state school as much as anyone but state schools have constituents that will cut their athletic programs if it means a fight for survival. And right now, there are schools facing serious shortfalls that won't be made up. More to the point, the sport won't survive without some measure of parity. Fans won't watch rigged, pay-for-play games and shell out big bucks.
https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-03-03/ku-pay-athletes-general-fund-faculty-union-pay-negotiation-girod-kansas
It should be easy to name these 30 schools, but no one seems to be able to do it.
I don't think anyone here claimed that Mr. McLane's words were the Gospel truth...we've all just offered interpretations of what he said in the interview. So that said, per the article, Kansas was already running a deficit before revenue share started.
To your point, College athletics has been struggling for years now - with schools like Kansas, Iowa State and Cal all facing major debt (extant and/or accumulating) over the next decade. I agree with you, without regulation of the labor market (not just players, but coaches too) college athletics won't survive in anything even approximating it's historical form(s).
I personally took Drayton's comment about '30 schools' to mean not just their alumni/fanbase sizes, but that major state schools have support resources including massive dedicating funding streams like the PUF (supports the uni systems of UT & TAMU, and soon Tech too!!!) as well as active legislative support both in-state and in Congress. Schools from smaller states (i.e. Kansas and ISU) and private schools won't have all of those same massive resources to draw on as things get sorted out.
