Well Bowl Me Over

Florida State football...in the red and staying that way

I'm printing this little item if for no other reason than it is Earth Day and after reading it, my first comment was "Why on God's green earth........"

Florida State's victory in the 2014 BCS national championship game came with a price.
According to a report by the Tallahassee Democrat, the Seminoles' trip to Pasadena, Calif., to take on Auburn cost the school $2.82 million -- and left Florida State with a $500,000 loss.
University officials aren't worried, however, because the school expects to recoup the money. And then some. Thanks to Florida State's share of the ACC's bowl revenue, sales from merchandise and increases in ticket prices, the Seminoles expect to work their way out of the red.
The largest expense for Florida State was travel. The school sent 237 people to California as part of the team's travel party, which includes players and staff. An additional 416 people, many of them band members and cheerleaders, were in Pasadena for four days. Another 46 representatives from the school's faculty and athletics department also made the trip. In total, the Seminoles dropped $1.73 million on travel. 

(just as an aside, the team and coaches aren't included here - the 237 folks who went as part of the 'teams travel party'  are at best 'hangers on' who went at University expense.  And by the way, every person cost the University about $2,500)

The university also bought more than 2,000 tickets for band, faculty and other purposes, which amounted to $710,385. (I'm sure you did the math in your head but that's about $350/ticket --- ahh the cheap seats!)  While the university says it will make back this money, this amounts to the second straight game for which Florida State posted a loss of a half million dollars.