Money game: UGA-Florida Atlantic pays off for both sides
Florida Atlantic is assured of setting one Sanford Stadium record Saturday night: The Owls will pocket the largest paycheck of any visiting team in Georgia football history.
Georgia will pay Florida Atlantic $1 million for making the trip to Athens — a reflection of the rising cost of scheduling presumed easy victories against FBS nonconference opponents that don’t require a return engagement on their campus.
UGA scheduled the game and agreed to the seven-figure payout after canceling a two-year, home-and-home series with Louisville to accommodate last season’s opener against Boise State in the Georgia Dome.
“We were fortunate [FAU] was available to play on this date,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said this week. “But to make the date work, there was an expectation we had to pay a million dollars. That has kind of become the going rate.”
He isn’t complaining. Even after the record payout, UGA will clear about $1.7 million from the game, according to figures in the school’s athletics budget.
The game, which gives Georgia seven rather than the formerly customary six home games this season, is budgeted to bring in about $2.7 million in ticket revenue, $160,000 in concessions profits and $7,500 from novelty sales. After the FAU payout and about $200,000 in other game expenses, the rest flows to the bottom line.
Even for a UGA athletics department that expects to generate $92 million in revenue this fiscal year, the night’s windfall will be significant. It is more than enough, for example, to cover the annual budgets of the soccer ($667,000) and softball ($790,000) programs.
Georgia will have only six home football games next season, when it plays at Clemson in a tradeoff for a 2014 game in Athens. “We’ll have to be creative in the budget next year to make up that difference,” McGarity said.
FAU won’t sympathize.
To help balance its budget, the school is playing road games against highly ranked SEC opponents on back-to-back Saturdays — this one against No. 7 Georgia and next week against No. 1 Alabama, which will pay the Owls another $1 million.
Payouts have increased because of a supply-demand imbalance: fewer mid-major FBS teams looking to play for pay than big-budget teams willing to pay for play. Two seasons ago, Georgia got Louisiana Lafayette to play in Athens for $875,000. But this season’s opener against Buffalo required a $975,000 payout, UGA’s highest until this week.
(Georgia doesn’t pay SEC schools or Georgia Tech for playing in Athens because those games are reciprocated when the Bulldogs go on the road. Also, FCS opponents — such as Georgia Southern, which plays at UGA on Nov. 17 — command much smaller payouts than the likes of Florida Atlantic. Georgia Southern will get $475,000 for the game in Athens.)
Economics may explain why the paycheck games are scheduled, but the scoreboard and the attendance usually reflect the arguments against them.
Florida Atlantic, a Sun Belt Conference team that went 1-11 last season, is a 43-point underdog to Georgia. And although such games occasionally backfire on the home team (see: Appalachian State over Michigan in 2007 and Louisiana Monroe over Arkansas last week), they usually produce unsavory results (see: Oklahoma State 84, Savannah State 0 two weeks ago) and diminished crowds.
“I don’t think it’s good for college football, but I understand the reality of why schools have to play those games budgetarily,” FAU coach Carl Pelini told the Associated Press.
Georgia has sold out 92,746-seat Sanford Stadium for Saturday, selling the last few hundred tickets early this week in the aftermath of the victory at Missouri. It won’t be a surprise, though, if a noticeable number of students and season-ticket holders are no-shows.
McGarity’s scheduling philosophy, which he brought with him when he returned to Georgia in 2010 after 18 years at Florida, generally is to have seven home games, only occasionally dipping to six in order to play a marquee opponent on a neutral field or in a home-and-home series. With eight SEC opponents and Georgia Tech on the schedule each season, McGarity believes that playing the other three games at home against lower-level opponents — two from an FBS mid-major league and one from the FCS level — best positions Georgia to make a run for the SEC Championship game.
It is uncertain if that philosophy will stand in the coming era of a four-team national playoff, where strength of schedule will be a factor in selecting the field. Georgia’s next opening on a schedule is in 2015, and McGarity is awaiting clarity on playoff criteria before filling it.
Money games are nothing new to Florida Atlantic, which has played — and lost to — Florida, Michigan State, Auburn, Texas, Nebraska and South Carolina in the past few seasons.
Pelini wants FAU to find value beyond dollars in the trip to Athens.
“I want our players to share my vision, and I want my administration and school administration to share my vision,” he told reporters in Boca Raton, Fla. “To go up and play a team that is perennially a top-20 team and see not just [what’s] on the football field but the organization itself [and] how their players act on the field, how their players prepare, how they execute and how their athletic staff administration as a whole conducts the game-day experience — all those things are positive for a school like FAU [to see] because that’s what my vision for this program ultimately would be.”
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199 comments Add your comment
dmr
September 14th, 2012
6:47 am
I know Florida Atlantic is supposed to be the proverbial cupcake. But ask Arkansas and Its fans if they were more embarrassed before they played ULM or after!
Craig
September 14th, 2012
7:25 am
This is a bunch of crap…..we pay money to this institution and this is what we get??????? I am fed up with this total waste of money for what?????? FAU at niight??? BS total BS….Mr. McGarity- you had really better start paying attention to what your donors are trying to tell you or you will have to do more than schedule 7 home games to make up for lost revenue……this is my last year of buying season tickets to watch CRAP
Craig
September 14th, 2012
7:32 am
oh….and yes- that is exactly what this game will do. Build Murray’s stats so we can put him on a higher pedistal. Earth to UGA team…..THE ONLY reason we beat Miz was our defense! Dont get real full of yourselves yet.Our offense showed up for MAYBE 18 minutes of the entire game. BUT yet again, we will continue to tout Murray as the savior….and the all SEC QB that still looks like a deer in headlights when we play a decent team
@eidsonb
September 14th, 2012
7:44 am
@What About Bob? Georgia Gauntlet of SEC Sch’d? Really…..really….Dont even play the only two really good teams in the conference….
It cuts both ways, Old Dog Class of 80...
September 14th, 2012
7:45 am
…the last “snoozer” at UGA where I left at halftime was the beatdown ‘Bama put on the Dawgs in that infamous “blackout game” back in 2007 – UGA ain’t been the same since – and I haven’t been back since then, either, though I do continue to fund Hartmann and buy season tickets –
And this year even the ticket broker would not buy my tickets, citing the schedule as the reason – had to sell them on Craigslist…
TY
September 14th, 2012
7:46 am
Dawgs need to spend the whole ball game working on the running game with all four of the backs just to give the OL and backs more experience and give the WRs more blocking practice. That will help the team more than running up a score.
Seajayn
September 14th, 2012
7:47 am
Yes, we need another gimme game in order for our convict players to return from suspension. $1mil is chump change for UGA football.
Gulf Coast Rising News | Money game: UGA-Florida Atlantic pays off for both sides – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
September 14th, 2012
8:02 am
[...] Money game: UGA-Florida Atlantic pays off for both sidesAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Florida Atlantic is assured of setting one Sanford Stadium record Saturday night: The Owls will pocket the largest paycheck of any visiting team in Georgia football history. Georgia will pay Florida Atlantic $1 million for making the trip to Athens …Florida Atlantic-Georgia Preview CapsuleWashington PostGeorgia Football: 5 Keys to the Florida Atlantic GameBleacher ReportFootball Notebook: Starters will not rest against Florida Atlantic, no kicking …Red and BlackMarietta Daily Journalall 139 news articles [...]
Paddy
September 14th, 2012
8:05 am
Fair and Balanced……UGA shoud play 7 home games every year and not schedule any cupcakes, you say. It s safe to say you will not be advancing to the ‘lightning round’!
Mobile Dawg
September 14th, 2012
8:18 am
Thanks for the correction kingdaddy, good thing the players don’t wear Roman Numerals huh.
dawgfan
September 14th, 2012
8:22 am
FBS teams can only play on FCS opponent and have that win count for towards a bowl win, so teams like GA southern and GA state are FCS opponents and the demand for them are low. That is probably why GA state plans to become a FBS team next year, bigger paychecks for the beat downs. GA southern likes to win and the only place they can do that right now is in FCS leagues, they have a decent fan base that brings in the money that way. Famous quote from Oh brother, where art thou… “Its all about the money boys”
202dawg
September 14th, 2012
8:25 am
‘very bad people’, the difference in payoff is due to flying vs taking a bus. Ga St bussed to Tuscerlooser, and Knoxvegas too I am sure…
Paddy
September 14th, 2012
8:37 am
202dawg……. good point. Bet FAU took the bus to Athens also. That makes for an even better bottom line for them.
Drago
September 14th, 2012
8:43 am
Ya know, It gets really tiring to keep hearing about UGA’s schedule. UGA plays the same schools everybody else plays, but UGA gets the grief. UT can play Ga State, Bama can play a directional LA school, tek can play Samford—and very little is said. Everybody wants UGA to play MIchigan, Oklahoma, and Penn St or the like every year as out of conference games. But no thought is given to whether these teams will play UGA.
Come on into the real world, it’s about the money and keeping programs viable.
ls54
September 14th, 2012
8:47 am
Cmon people this is football Alabama has there fair share of these games also Florida and Texas this game is short notice after louisville pulled out all major school had made there schedules already UGA will be fine the money is not a issue to them so why should it be to you its not your money support them dont down them these are kids we talking about they dont get paid for this
kingdaddy
September 14th, 2012
8:52 am
Mobile Dawg
I know you knew, bro. I screw up all the time and will never be perfect no matter how hard I try. You sir are now and will forever be a DGD!!!
Boise Dawg
September 14th, 2012
8:54 am
I don’t have as much an issue with the scheduling philosophy of Garity than I do… why are we paying FAU $1M? It seems excessive… I thought the whole idea behind paying the teams to come here is because we aren’t going to give them a return game…. so I don’t understand why you would pay an FAU so much.
Also, if we are going to schedule 2 lower tier FBS programs, can’t we find something a little more exciting than Buffalo and FAU? Especially if we are willing to pay $1M. At least step it up slightly and look for FBS programs that have some level of respectability. There are probably FCS schools that would be tougher than Buffalo and FAU. Why not look at an East Carolina, Southern Miss, or Tulsa? At least find a non-BCS conference team that is respectable in their own conference.
KBP
September 14th, 2012
8:56 am
I like the idea of playing lower division schools as we have no preseason games to work the kinks out. Not even scrimmages against opposing teams. The NFL has 4 cupcake games every year to work out the kinks before the games matter.
Orlandodawg
September 14th, 2012
9:03 am
Quite whining! Go to the game and ENJOY the game day experience…McGarity knows what he is doing and as said before, it worked at Florida! Just back the Dawgs! Quite whining!
DawginLex
September 14th, 2012
9:10 am
WAH!! WAH!!!
What a bunch of whiny babies.
If you don’t want to go, then stay home but otherwise, shutup about the schedule.
And the comment about “no team playing 3 cupcakes should play for the national title”, shows ho wbig an idiot you really are.
Who is Bama playing this week?- WKU
Who is LSU playing this week-Idaho.
UGA’s schedule for 2012 is plenty tough given that SC, Fla and UT are all ranked and GT could end up there.
Good lord
kingdaddy
September 14th, 2012
9:11 am
I’m proud of my school no matter who we play. Do I want them to play Louisville or Fla. Atlantic, hmmmmmm. I’ll take Ol Louie anyday, but I won’t cry like a baby when my AD schedules an “easy” game. We need to support our Athletic Dept. You have every right to complain about the scheduling, but do you really need to? There are enough whining trolls on these blogs that try to make UGA look lame. As a “fan”, you can find a way to do it without tearing your school apart if you give constructive criticism instead of barbs. Let the trolls throw the barbs…
Bob
September 14th, 2012
9:16 am
USC plays on average, 6 home games a year. How is it they can afford to run 30 or so sports teams with that income and my Dawgs need 7 home games to support 10 less sports? And half the SEC feels they have to have 8 games at home to pay for those sports?
kingdaddy
September 14th, 2012
9:17 am
What’s up Lex?
I keep seeing ESPN3 listed on the game, but I’m seeing it listed on CSS @7:30…
Jim
September 14th, 2012
9:21 am
We only have one off week between games and that doesn’t come until late in the season. A poster pointed out that he guessed we do need a breather after Buffalo and Missouri (sarcasm). Well, Jarvis Jones looks like he could use a breather (no sarcasm). If he plays against FA his snaps will be limited. I would sit him down and not risk further injury to his groin, an injury that is hard to get rid of. I know any player can get hurt in any game, even against lesser opponents. But, for those nursing injuries we can use FA as an off date. If we are to win the SEC East and become SEC champs, we will have to have Jarvis in the lineup in critical games.
All of our competition have their fair share of cupcakes. If we schedule fewer easy wins than they we will be the worse for it.
dale
September 14th, 2012
9:37 am
Hopefully we catch the Owls looking ahead to next week.
DawginLex
September 14th, 2012
9:47 am
king
It’s computer only where I live and I won’t be home. I hope the hotel where I will be has good WiFi……………..
Boise State's Schedule
September 14th, 2012
9:51 am
Just follow our lead; 1 tough non conference opponent + 11 cupcakes = mainstream media pundits’ sympathy vote into the BCS NC discussion every year.
aprilglaspie
September 14th, 2012
10:01 am
Novelty sales? Keep Rambo and Tree away.
Tulane and Johnny opened a novelty shop
Back under the counter, was the cream of the crop
Games of this sort are crucial to funding Title IX teams, but I don’t suppose you purists care if women get to play soccer and softball because of them. Those are some stupid, phony excuses for sports fans.
aprilglaspie
September 14th, 2012
10:02 am
Boise, and wear home uniforms the same color as the field.
WDE
September 14th, 2012
10:05 am
Well at least we didn’t stoop to playing the Blue Hose….
gdawginkalamazoo
September 14th, 2012
10:09 am
drbasic1, ditto. As an alumnus that lives far from Athens, the game day experience is what I miss.
Boise State's Schedule
September 14th, 2012
10:16 am
@april. Good call!
Georgia Football vs. Florida Atlantic: Low Suspense, Big Money - Georgia News Feed
September 14th, 2012
10:18 am
[...] What the visiting team will be expecting for its trouble, though, is a big paycheck: UGA has agreed to fork over $1 million for the privilege of hosting Florida Atlantic without a reciprocal visit. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that’s the most Georgia has ever paid a visiting team. [...]
Ga Dawg81
September 14th, 2012
10:22 am
It does not matter who we play. If you love UGA you will be there. Trust me, it matters to the players who look up and see the stands full. To all those complaining about the schedule, do you o know what all is involved? Half of you were probably complaining when we had a tougher schedule wanting to know why we did not schedule cupcake teams. When Title IX went into effect, football became about economics. The revenue from the football team is supporting almost every sports team we have less gymnastics. If the gymnastics team goes into a downwards spiral then the football revenue will support them as well. Do not get me wrong I am for equality but I think every sport should be some what self sufficient. Why should our money we donate and tickets we buy support the equestrian team? The weather will be great and the team needs our support after a big win last week. Go and support your school.
Go Dawgs!!!!
DIT
September 14th, 2012
10:24 am
“Hopefully we catch the Owls looking ahead to next week.”
_______________
L.O.L. – That was funny right there!
damngooddawg!
September 14th, 2012
10:26 am
drbasic1 Re: your 8:23 post. Why are you getting so hostile towards people who express their point of view? The fact that you are an alum who lives in Texas and wants to attend more games does not give you the right to attack people personally on this or any other blog. Hey, Dude, God don’t like naughty, so…lighten up.
damngooddawg!
September 14th, 2012
10:28 am
As Obama would say, “Let me be clear”. I don’t want UGA scheduling more than 1 cupcake game per season. There….I’ve said it…and I’m not apologizing!
UGA Insider
September 14th, 2012
10:37 am
I would like to know what $ McGarity paid Samuel Jackson? I would also like to know if McGarity also wished that Hurricane Issac would have hit innocent people in Tampa just because the GOP Nat’l Convention was in town. McGarity will have a new boss soon and I am anxious to see if he keeps his job. Word is he is an Adams puppet and Adams if fully in charge of suspension. MB won’t tell the team or the player the length of the suspensions as well which is why the suspended players show up on the depth chart. Commings didn’t know he was out until last Thursday.
Do your homework
September 14th, 2012
10:38 am
You idiots keep spouting off about schedule. Here’s an idea..do your homework and quit repeating what you hear somebody else say or what you’ve seen in another post. Print off Alabama’s schedule and then print off Georgia’s schedule. Lay them side by side and compare. You’ll find they aren’t that much different. Each team plays 3 “cupcake” teams. Each team plays the teams in their division. Georgia adds in Auburn (rival) and the Nerds (rival). Guess what team was on the schedule in the Missouri slot before the SEC changed the matchup….drum roll…..Alabama. Geez. You people call yourselves Georgia fans. You fill these posts with all that you hate about Georgia football. I’ve watched the Dawgs for 30 years and do my best to stay away from people like you. If you hate Georgia so much, here’s an idea, there is a team that plays at Bobby Dodd. It’s on the corner of North Avenue. I’m positive they will have an extra ticket you can buy for any game of your choice, of course except for every other year when the real Dawg fans show up and take over.
glsjunior
September 14th, 2012
10:39 am
Yep…we at GSU have gone from street walker like Ga Southern, to high class call girl in FBS. You gotta pay to play…
UGA Insider
September 14th, 2012
10:39 am
MA, sorry.
UGA Insider
September 14th, 2012
10:41 am
OrlandoDawg,
Adams has just about ruined the gameday experience. Just look at the students who stay away now. That is our point… it’s hard to enjoy.
Alphare
September 14th, 2012
10:41 am
“annual budgets of the soccer ($667,000) and softball ($790,000) programs”.
If that’s the case, why don’t UGA football team simply play against UGA soccer team or softball team?
That way, soccer/softball team will get the expenses paid for for the year and with some leftover.
damngooddawg!
September 14th, 2012
10:45 am
Hey, you alums…are you saying that your opinions count more than us poor guys who are just fans? Nobody gives a rip whether you are an alumnus or not. It doesn’t make your point more important to anyone but you. I’m just sayin’.
damngooddawg!
September 14th, 2012
10:48 am
I used to attend “In Service Training” on the Athens campus. Does that count? I know a guy who drives past the front entrance every day…how about him? Is his point as valid as yours?
Truthiness
September 14th, 2012
10:52 am
This isn’t about the playing of sports. It’s about the business of sports. That’s why it’s called entertainment. As long as fans buy tickets and spend their money, playing cupcake teams to bolster the winning record makes perfect business sense. The one thing that guarantees lost revenue is losing. As long as the entertainment value of whipping up on weak teams has no financial downside, you’d be a foolish AD not to take advantage of a few more checks in the win column.
Carly
September 14th, 2012
11:03 am
UGA (the dog) has been emasculated, but is equipped with glass gonads!!!
WDE
September 14th, 2012
11:04 am
Hey I woke up this morning and realized the worst of the heat of summer has passed, the football season has started and we are 2-0 ! Man it is Great to be a Georgia Bull Dog !! Go Dawgs !
Alphare
September 14th, 2012
11:18 am
WDE,
your team still hasn’t beaten a top-25 team in 3 years if I remember correctly. BTW, for 3 quarters you guys seemed to be losing to an un-ranked team last week.
Just want to pour some cold Autumn water in there. LOL.
golfDawg
September 14th, 2012
11:51 am
Funny the idiot “Sunny Cloisters” doesn’t get it that “example: Alabama” plays the FAU next week just like “example: Georgia” does this week? I live in Alabama and am exposed to these idiots on a daily basis. Will return to Georgia in 16-1/2 months. Thank, God.