Thought this
article was timely. Kind of scary to think that while one school is attempting to reduce budget deficits, another one can pull 200-400k out of thin air.
OSU has the flexibility to offer salary/bonus as a way to retain athletics department staff because it typically generates an operating budget surplus. I think in 2008-09 only 14 of 120 FBS institutions did so.
Dan Fulks of Transylvania University did the study. Here is his formula for an athletics department surplus: Selling lots of tickets + large alumni/booster donor base + right conference = chance at operating surplus.
The scary part, as noted on this thread, is what's coming.