Let's Talk Sports: Money a threat to purity of high school football

Let’s talk football.

There is big money in football.

You may have heard or read about (in the Mount Vernon News) Bishop Sycamore, the Columbus-based school that is not a school, but is a football factory. So far, we aren’t sure that B.S. earned a lot of money from that game or what its end-game financial benefit plan is. The Columbus-based team played for money, and while it didn’t get much money from ESPN, the exposure and its Go Fund Me Page was developed to make thousands, and the players received national recognition for potential college scholarships, until their game was uncovered.

Here’s the money deal. Looking at college, throw out 2020 and NCAA football programs, and the 20 most profitable college football programs made $925 million combined after expenses. The SEC is the leading conference on the field and on the balance sheet, as it has nine schools in the top 20.

The top-seven includes a college that may be familiar:

1. Texas – $92 million
2. Tennessee – $70 million
3. LSU – $58 million
4. Michigan – $56 million
5. Notre Dame – $54 million
6. Georgia – $50 million
7. Ohio State – $50 million

Turning to high school football, one big game between traditional high school community rivals can bring in more than 10 percent of a school’s athletic revenue for a year. A poorly attended game can cost the school money. Schools often depend on profitable football programs to help finance other sports. Football funds help defray costs of baseball and softball equipment, track uniforms, basketballs, hockey equipment, soccer balls and field maintenance.

There is money in football, but how do you feel about colleges that are football factories, or high school programs – Bishop Sycamore notwithstanding – that are football production lines? B.S. and some major high school programs attack the purity of high school ball but should never take away from the innocence, enthusiasm, community pride, school spirit, student excitement and family fun of legitimate high school programs.

The KMAC and Ohio Cardinal Conferences are filled with traditional and prideful community football programs and count on your support. In this bruised time, go on out there and cheer your boys on. Show them your pride … show them the community is behind them.

Local ace

I received a report that local golfer Brooke Sapp had a hole-in-one on No. 4 at Hiawatha Golf Course. It was witnessed by Bonnie and Wilxio Infinte, Tyler Marsell and Lucas Massa.

Congratulations, Brooke. I applaud you. I find the water on every course I play. If you are thirsty, follow me around. The last course on which I had a hole in-one had a windmills, a pirate ship and a revolving clown.

Your assignment for the week

Do you like or dislike your hometown team’s nickname? Do you favor a change? If so, please let me know about it. Do you know the history behind your local school’s mascot? And what college or pro mascots make you laugh or cringe? Let me know at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com and I will publish some of the best or funniest, with your name as the contributor.

See you next time.