Since the NCAA was founded in 1906, institutions have never directly paid athletes. That will now change with the passing of the House v. NCAA settlement on June 6, ushering in the revenue-sharing era of college sports.
Beginning July 1, schools will be able to share $20.5 million with athletes, with football expected to receive 75%, followed by men’s basketball (15%), women’s basketball (5%) and the remainder of sports (5%). The amount shared in revenue will increase annually.
With this colossal change in the college sports landscape affecting everyone from the top down, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was asked by 105.5 WNSP Friday morning about what this case will do to non-revenue sports. Specifically, Byrne was asked if Alabama would have to discontinue some of those programs at the university.
“We’re gonna try everything we can to have that not be the case,” Byrne said, per Mike Rodak. “We have one team that makes a healthy profit in football. We have one that turns a profit in men’s basketball. However, we have 19 that don’t. Football has been the sport that has historically supported the department, and the investments we’ve made in the young men in our football program I’m very proud of, both from a revenue-sharing standpoint but also what we do holistically with the young men.”
“As far as how many sports we have, it’s a hard model. There’s no doubt about it. But at the same time, too, I believe in the model and I think it’s something worth investing in and we continue to plan to do so here at the University of Alabama.”
Byrne gets into the weeds to discuss Alabama’s plan
Earlier this week, Byrne explained Alabama‘s plan for dividing revenue sharing in the near future. Along with football and men’s basketball, the university supports varsity teams in women’s basketball, baseball, women’s soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, cross country, swimming and diving and track and field.
That’s not all, though. Alabama also supports club sports in crew, cricket, cycling, disc golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, racquetball, rugby, soccer, team handball, tennis, Ultimate, wheelchair basketball, water polo, water skiing and wrestling.
“The House settlement gives us a number, $20.5 million, we’re gonna get in the weeds here a little bit. Every SEC school program has committed to $2.5 million in new scholarships. That gets taken off the 20.5. So that means we have $18 million to work with in rev share, and we as an institution decide how we will distribute that to our teams,” Byrne said.
“We have taken the approach that it’s based off of revenue generation. We think that’s a solid approach and that its one that makes sense for our program. As you’ve heard me say many times, football is the engine that pulls the train. At the same time too, our two sports that turn a profit are football and men’s basketball.
Byrne believes the Crimson Tide are in a good spot
“So they will have the highest percentage of that rev share and then we’re splitting up the remaining dollars with our sports who are ticketed,” Byrne continued. “We have four sports who are ticketed – softball, baseball, gymnastics and women’s basketball. Those are the six sports that will have some type of rev share.”
“I’ve heard all over the yard how schools are doing it, and how many sports. I know one we compete against all the time is only doing three sports. I know that some schools are doing a little bit for everything. I’m not sure how much of a difference that will make at the end of the day when you just carve off a small sliver for a sport, but we have a plan. I’ve told our coaches it’s fluid. We’re doing the best we can to make decisions we are with the information that we have right now.
“I do think we’ve put ourselves in a good position, not only for the individual sports but for the department as a whole to make sure we’re staying healthy long term.”
On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report.
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