In a report that was disclosed in the press today, U.C. Berkeley looks like it will be forced to make a decision that general funding cannot underwrite losses in the athletic department, to the extent it has been done before.
In brief, athletics is losing $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 per year. That deficit is being under written by non-sports funding. At the same time, educational departments are losing phone service due to cost savings efforts and buildings are in disrepair/leaking roofs, etc.
What is being recommended is that athletics be underwritten but not to exceed $5,000,000 and that 5-7 sports be eliminated.
The criteria for elimination include the following:
"The committee's report did not recommend specific sports to be eliminated but said the criteria for keeping teams should be based on a record of success on the field and in the classroom and an ability to become self-sufficient financially."
Each of us can probably develop our personal views on what that might mean for baseball.
Of greater significance is whether Berkeley is the norm or exception for athletics in the future, with large losses continuing to be underwritten, in effect, by the students/taxpayers and alumni support, or whether cuts will be made unless the sport is self sufficient.
Without TV revenue, baseball programs will be challenged to become and remain self-sufficient. As public universities and colleges, especially, have increasing financial challenges, which football largely creates and does not underwrite, a sport such as baseball might be vulnerable if similar depending on the criteria applied to the decision making.
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