While there is precedent for it, this is the kind of money grab that can make college football fans uncomfortable. It's one thing for someone like Navy to take a seven-figure paycheck to get trampled by Ohio State, but then there is the concept of selling off a conference home game.Indiana has become the latest to do this, giving up a home date with Penn State in the 2010 season. That game will be played at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., home of the NFL's Washington Redskins.
Off a last-place season, at what is predominantly a basketball school, the Hoosiers aren't exactly a big draw. Their home games in 2008 averaged just 31,782 fans per game in a 50,000-seat stadium.
According to Crimson Quarry, the Hoosiers are going to make $3 million on this move, but doing so means they've basically given Penn State an extra home game (or at least a non-road game), while relegating their own program to three total home games in the 2010 Big Ten season. While many would scoff at the notion of IU being even a bowl contender, this is still a big deal.
As mentioned, there is precedent for this type of move. Duke sold off home games against Florida State in 1995 and 1999, but this doesn't happen often. Texas A&M and Arkansas are playing a series of games at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium, but both teams are giving up home dates over the course of that contract. Texas Tech and Baylor will both give up home games to play each other in that stadium in 2009 and the Cotton Bowl in 2010.
You have a hard time finding schools willing to sell off conference home games, though.
In this economy, it's understandable why a school would look favorably on a $3 million deal, no matter the public relations mess it may cause. However, it's obvious that Indiana's inadequate attendance played a role. If they were selling out Memorial Stadium every week, this would probably not be a serious consideration.
Official Claims White House Wasn't Involved In IRS Scandal
Huge Savings Predicted From Immigration Bill
Mika Admits 'Hypocrisy' Over NSA Scandals
U.S. To Start Talks With Taliban
Same-Sex Couples Face Significant Housing Discrimination, Historic Government Study Says
PHOTO: Brazilian Officer Pepper-Sprays Female Protester In The Face
Bobby Jindal Has Had It With All The Self-Reflection That He Demanded
Hadiya Pendleton's Parents Discuss Addressing Chicago Gun Violence
Gang Of Eight Senators Shrug Off John Boehner
Senate: Don't Build The Danged Fence
Anti-War Bomber Says Obama Should Be Tried For War Crimes
NSA: 50 Terrorist Plots Were Foiled Thanks To Surveillance Program
GOP: Sick Leave For Me, None For Thee
'We Can Just F*cking Ignore Her'
High-Speed Trading Bad For Everybody: Study
Man Faces Felony Charge For Allegedly Sending Death Threat To Cruz
Funds Pour In For Hacker Who Helped Expose Steubenville Rapists
GOP Congressman: I Oppose Abortion Because Male Fetuses Masturbate
Italian Court Explains Why It Ordered Knox's Retrial
41 Busted In Child Sex Sting
NYPD Sued Over Muslim Surveillance Program
Allen West Unleashes Sexist Rant, Wants To Keep Women Out Of Combat
LOOK: Westboro's Chilling Response To Child's 'Lemonade For Peace' Sale
Study: World's Richest People Got 10 Percent Wealthier In 2012
Judge Urges New Approach For Guantanamo Detainee Cases
Jack Lew's New Signature Is Really Pretty Boring
Bachmann Slams 'Bizarre' Rove, Obama 'Insanity'
Obama: Bernanke Has 'Stayed A Lot Longer' Than He Wanted
