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2 COMMENTS

Comments

3:57 AM
November 20, 2009
Duke Duke and M...

Fact Checker here. This is an excellent report, a service to all who care about Duke and Duke Athletics.
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The details that are presented bring to life the words of the new Trustee chair, that we are in "dire financial strait." They make me wonder why our President and others have not communicated all this more clearly, why not one of the financial reports that they have issued even mentions the word "athletics."

The news story includes numbers that I have not seen before -- the exponential growth of Duke athletics. Whether you agree or disagree with the appropriations, you are entitled to know information like this. Knowledge is power.

It is my understanding that the athletics department has developed a six-stage plan to trim back -- with some pretty dire news possibly coming through the pipeline. We are fortunate that Kevin White is at the helm, and yes I will give credit to President Brodhead for bringing him here from Notre Dame.

Oh boy, I read a sports column the other day that griped that there have been cutbacks in the free food for media covering basketball. It ain't going to be pretty, folks. Not at all.
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4:24 PM
November 20, 2009
DumpyMcStumpkins

"Duke is not the only Division I school whose athletics department is showing signs of strain in confronting a new financial reality. Facing layoffs and a $8-million budget cut, Stanford University’s athletics department is considering doing away with one or more of its 35 teams. Athletics at the University of California, Berkeley also finds itself in turmoil with some faculty demanding more oversight of the department’s budgetary operations and an end to institutional subsidies."

This may be a bit misleading. It feels like comparing apples and oranges.

According to GoDuke.com's homepage, Duke has 20 teams.

Meanwhile, Stanford has 35 teams, which is second most in Division I, behind Ohio State's 36. Both schools are already well over what most schools might have.

Also, any University of California campus is dealing with heavy cuts that are out of line with what other colleges and universities might have to face.