Is Cal’s Football Program Really Losing Money?

Some UC Berkeley faculty are upset that the university spends millions each year to subsidize its athletic department at a time of academic cutbacks and rising student fees, according to the Chron. Some point to Cal football coach Jeff Tedford’s $2.3 million annual salary as an example of an over-the-top expenditure. But their anger may be misdirected, because it’s not at all clear whether Cal’s football program requires an operating subsidy from the university, takes money away from professor salaries, or forces students to pay higher fees.