With a prize of $5.31 million, the benefits of the Badger football team's success in the Capital One BCS bowl game extend beyond a boost in team morale.
UW-Madison Athletics not only gained nearly $2 million for its program, but because the winnings were shared among the Big Ten schools, the win also bolstered the athletic budget of the entire Big Ten conference.
Vince Sweeney, UW-Madison senior associate athletic director in charge of external relations said the positive impact of the game may be felt years down the line.
'More doors are opened as a result in sponsorship,' he said, 'and more people will renew season tickets.'
UW-Madison Assistant Athletic Director in charge of Athletic Business John Jentz said within the Big Ten conference, money awarded to a victorious team exceeding the costs of travel and participation in a BCS bowl game is put into a pool to be distributed within the conference.
These bowl games include the FedEx Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl and MasterCard Alamo Bowl with winnings decreasing respectively.
'Even if [the Badgers] don't make a bowl game we always make the same amount,' Jentz said.
'With somebody like Notre Dame who isn't in a conference, it's incumbent upon them to make a BCS bowl game to make that extra money.'
According to Jentz, the projected revenue brought in by BCS bowls was $1.84 million, but because a second Big Ten team played in a BCS bowl game, the UW-Madison athletic department received an additional $224,000 to be added to the '05-'06 athletic department budget.
Predicted to lose the Capital One bowl, the Badgers were not held in high national regard before the game.
'To not only win the game, but to actually dominate the game left a really good impression on fans.' Sweeney said.
Sweeney said the victory represented more than a football game, and was a ceremonious transition between head coaches.
'It was important to go out like that in Barry's last game and to pass that torch to [Badger Football head coach Brett] Bielema,' he said.
'The game had a positive impact across many landscapes.'
According to Doug Beard, UW-Madison associate athletic director in charge of administration, the Athletic Board will discuss the athletic department budget further Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. in the Kohl Center.
