the fact they can supplement the tuition (of a partial scholarship) on their own does not reduce program costs....The programs at the ACC level are still exhausting their full scholarship costs......the remaining payments to families are not part of the program costs. Both men's and women's lacrosse offer more scholarships than baseball. So the program at VT fully funds 12 women's scholarships and 11.7 baseball scholarships. Most years, the out of state ratio for lacrosse is higher than the baseball roster also, making that scholarship (on average) more expensive for lacrosse.

Also, not sure on the popularity of lacrosse versus baseball at the major college level. The NCAA lacrosse championship last year drew something like 295,000 viewers on tv, while the NCAA baseball championships averaged almost 2 million viewers each of the three nights it was on. That's almost ten times the difference and it wasn't even a one game/winner take all scenario....

ACC baseball is very popular in person and on tv........The ACC tournament is also a much bigger event than the Lacrosse championships. They are much more of a social event on weekend series' also. While, you are correct, it costs more to take a baseball team on the road for a three game weekend series (most of the weekday travel at VT they do not stay overnight), they also offer a much higher revenue model to offset costs than lacrosse does. The premium seating alone takes care of that. That is before regular tickets and concessions.

If VT were to cut a sport, swimming (certainly the men) would be the first here (not an endorsement on my end). 9.9 scholarships for men and 14 for women is expensive. Plus, we don't have a facility on campus to maintain and our obligation to Cburg ends fairly soon. Maybe the least amount of interest in the department. Then, men's soccer would go next .......Have to watch to see if the Tennis facility gets built. That will tell you a little as to the long term future of that here......Track would not be cut here.....

Good discussion!!