I found a database for athletic department revenues and expenses on the USA Today website.
Say that we do start paying the athletes- a school such as..... lets say.... Iowa State..... WHERE DOES THIS MONEY COME FROM?
The 2009-2010 school year ISU took $46,871,554 in revenue- they paid out $46,656,014 in expenses- which leaves $215,540 left for the bank.
The 2008-2009 school year ISU took $45,813,189 in revenue- they paid out $45,768,048 in expenses- which leaves $45,141 left for the bank.
The 2007-2008 school year ISU took $38,621,346 in revenue- they paid out $38,642,012 in expenses- which leaves a deficit of $20,666.
The 2006-2007 school year ISU took $32,675,180.61 in revenue- they paid out $42,123,352.78 in expenses- which leaves a deficit of $9,448,172.17.
The 2005-2006 school year ISU took $32,437,040 in revenue- they paid out $33,341,962 in expenses- which leave a deficit of $904,922.
The 2004-2005 school year ISU took $28,913,009.56 in revenue- they paid out $28,227,581.54 in expenses- which leaves $685,428.02 left for the bank.
The total for the 6 years that are listed in the database, at the end of all those years ISU has a DEFICIT of $9,427,651.15. Who is going to fund the extra pay for these players?!?
Many other schools are better off than ISU is and can fund paying athletes, but if we all want ISU to succeed and be equal and win national titles and preform the way that we want to paying athletes cannot happen!!!
USA TODAY database: What NCAA schools spend on athletics - USATODAY.com