By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek
October 26, 2012
Money isn’t everything… at least according to Texas football coach Mack Brown. Despite the Longhorn Network generating $300 million in revenue over 20 years for the school, Brown doesn’t like the channel because he feels it gives opponents a competitive advantage. Brown says he spends at least six hours a week away from his team because of LHN commitments, and their televised practices provide opponents with special film to analyze.
Meanwhile, the University of Southern Cal posted a school record $84.2 million in athletic department revenue during the 2011-12 academic year. Increased donations and corporate sponsorships were cited for the revenue growth, which came despite NCAA sanctions and a football bowl ban.
USC may have just posted record athletic department revenues of $84 million, but that pales in comparison to the $150 million Texas generated last year. Brown may not like the Longhorn Network, but it’s one of the main reasons his school is the highest-grossing athletic department in college sports.