Finally, college football is back! The season for questionable body-paint decisions and flying team colors from moving vehicles, is officially upon us. College students and alumni across the nation will be flung into an exciting season where anything can happen. However, while many beers and cheers may suggest that football is king on campus, it is clear that universities are choosing a different starter – R&D.
Having gone to an SEC school (Anchor down!) the conference has a special place in my heart. The following table shows SEC universities, by division, with their corresponding per student expenditures on research and development and football.
SEC FOOTBALL AND R&D EXPENDITURES PER STUDENT, 2010
Source: Equity in Athletics Data, U.S. Department of Education; AUTM U.S. Licensing Activity Survey, 2010
The overarching story is that even though SEC schools are known for their athletics, every school spends more on research and development than on football. On a per student basis, Vanderbilt expenditures on both research and development ($72,161) and football ($2,423) are the largest of all SEC schools. The only other school with football expenditures exceeding $2,000 per student is Auburn, and they won the national championship in 2010 (the year of the data). The University of Alabama has the most parity between per student R&D and football expenditures, with R&D about three times as high as per student expenditures (Auburn had the largest football expenditure in 2010 in the SEC, $39 million).
Just so my colleagues who also attended Division I FBS schools don’t feel left out, the following shows the corresponding figures for Georgia Tech, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and Florida State.
SELECT ACC FOOTBALL AND R&D EXPENDITURES PER STUDENT, 2010
Source: Equity in Athletics Data, U.S. Department of Education; AUTM U.S. Licensing Activity Survey, 2010
The economic development implications of R&D and football expenditures underscore the importance of universities in economic development. University spending on R&D is integral to American innovation, technology commercialization, and creation of new economic opportunities. Cities and towns that have universities are much more able to attract knowledge-intensive companies and talented workers. University spending on football, while having fewer national implications, improves quality of life, strengthens community, and attracts droves of people each year. The economic stimulus from nonresident dollars sustains many small operations through a consistent customer base.
So, even though those in the lab may not wear pads or team colors, let’s be sure to give them a shout – and then head to the stadium.
