Article:Stanford Considers Cutting Sports

As the economic recession continues, the effects are being felt throughout collegiate athletics. It is hitting large and small colleges alike. The impact may be greater on smaller schools with limited budgets that are ill equipped to absorb the substantial increases in travel and other costs together with a large decrease in revenue, but large athletic programs at Division I (excuse me, Bowl Subdivision) schools are feeling the pinch as well.

The latest and most telling example of that is the perennial Division I Directors Cup winner Stanford. Winner of the last fourteen Directors Cups, the Cardinal now finds themselves facing a $5 million loss in revenue over the next three years. The athletic department is cutting salaries and considering layoffs to meet the revenue deficit. Department officials are hopeful these measures will be sufficient to balance the budget, but dropping sports is on the table. Stanford currently fields 35 teams, 19 women's, 15 men's and one coed.