Maybe you should re-read your post.  Let me do it for you:

"but swimmers do not have the allure of the 'pot of gold' that football players do to focus on achieving athletic success."  But you say that money does not drive elite performance?  Pot of Gold is not money?...and it does not drive elite performance but it does focus on achieving athletic success.  Huh?

If woman are at their physical peak at 40 and if they have the best opportunity to win an Olympic Gold medal, you are actually arguing that no one would pursue that objective?...simply because college ends.  Give me a break.  Woman are not at their physical peak at 40, especially for an intense sport as swimming. Yes, I am arguing that your logic is flawed.

EVERY private organization wants to earn money / return on their investment and the NFL is no exception.  That is a far cry from being driven by money and as a result being successful.