So what this is really telling us is that UH is pretty fiscally responsible, given that Cal athletics outspends its revenue in one year by about the same amount as UH atletics has outspent its revenue over the past 15 years.

The reality is that university athletic programs -- even at the so-called "power conference" schools that get paid big TV bucks -- typically outspend their revenue and must be subsidized by the university.  And flagship universities everywhere in the country are willing to pay that subsidy because they understand it's an effective marketing investment.  Successful athletics helps build a school's brand image and increase the enrollment of tuition-paying students, and tuition revenue is a school's financial lifeblood.

Anyone who doubts that athletics helps market a university probably didn't notice that the most-read article in yesterday's online Star-Advertiser was about a UH women's volleyball coach.