But even if Auburn didn't make money, the financial gain is not the point. The tangibles, of course, are dollars. They're certainly going to be watching because of Michigan, but the fact that Michigan is playing Auburn provides us an opportunity to promote our school at the same time. It isn't just selling football. Statistics have proved that schools benefit from winning football teams.
Enrollment goes up, as does alumni financial contributions.
That allows us to point out that it's not just athletics, but we can showcase the academic side as well. Still, this is about football. Michigan is celebrating its 100th anniversary of its first bowl game. They expect to go to a bowl game every year, and do. So this, for Auburn, is a measure of the solidarity of the football program.