People complain about high coaching salaries but fail to understand that for the majority of programs, football revenue and donations cover not only those salaries but the operating budgets of almost every other sport.

The school is not hurt because of those budgets, in fact they are greatly enhanced due to strong football programs. National recognition is not just promotion for the team, it's branding for the entire school. Awareness and desire to attend a nationally recognized school generates increases in applications, which further fuels greater competition for acceptance - resulting in ability to charge higher tuition and getting better candidates. This then leads to people with higher earning potentials attending the school, and once graduated those individuals remain connected to the school through.... none other than FOOTBALL. Football is the largest component of alumni relations and reinforces people's life-long connection to the school (resulting in donations to athletics and academics and completing the circle).

So before people start spouting off on things they don't understand, take a look at the larger picture and you will see the academic value of football.