And oh that pesky Title IX. It was based on the claim by administrators that the participants in their major-money sports events were not, in fact, indentured servants in every other aspect, professional athletes, but that they are student-athletes and that their sports competitions--especially those that require regularly missing classes, are just as educational as actual classroom participation.  So the authorities that be said "fine. If it is not about money, then you should offer as many opportunities to women as to men."  Then the institutions said "but we can't afford that! Women's sports don't make as much money!"

This is why winning college coaches can negotiate such outrageous salaries--they really are professional coaches and not teachers.