Some institutions actively try to use academic money to help boost a couple marquee (for that school) sports - like lacrosse at Johns Hopkins. Of course, it doesn't hurt that a lot of the best lacrosse players come out of private prep schools and quite a few of those players could qualify for an academic scholarship even without the sports incentive.

At some other universities, the academic offices are not as committed to supporting athletes, preferring to give academic money to help bring in top tier students, thus boosting the school's average SAT/ACT and GPA numbers.

I understand and respect both approaches.

But having been at Boston College in Doug Flutie's class, I also know first hand that high profile sports can help the school's academics (the school becomes more desirable and starts to attract more/better candidates) and financial bottom line (alums happy about a sport at their alma mater donate more money). The Wall Street Journal or New York Times - so long ago, I can't remember which - even ran an article about it, dubbing the phenomena the "Flutie Effect."