GoGuins2010,
One more thing. You might want to get your facts straight in regards to OU Football, especially if using OU football as an example. The Idaho Potato Bowl in the 2011 season was NOT the first bowl game in program history.
And, here is something else to consider. In OU's effort to become a major player in 1A/FBS football, it has resulted in the school cutting down to only 6 sports for men. The school offers 9 sports for women. So, an argument could be made that OU's large financial investment in football has NOT helped the athletic program, and while the football team is improved from the 80's, 90's and early 00's, they are far from becoming the next Boise State, or even a dominate team in the MAC. OU has essentially plateaued as an 8-9 win program in a good year, that goes to a bowl game most people do not have much or any interest in watching.
Here is the OU Bowl Game History, with the 2012 bowl game listed last:
1962 OU played West Texas State in The Sun Bowl...OU lost 15-14 and finished 8-3
1968 OU played in the Tangerine Bowl...OU lost 49-42 to Richmond, and finished 10-1
2011 season, OU beat Utah State 24-23 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and finished 10-4
2010 season, OU played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and lost 48-21 to Troy State ...OU finished 8-5
2009 season, OU played in the Little Ceaser's Bowl and lost to Marshall 21-17... OU finished 8-5
2006 season, OU played in the GMAC Bowl and lost 28-7 to Southern Miss...OU finished 9-5
2012 OU played in the AdvoCare V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL, and beat LA-Monroe 45-14..OU finished 9-4
OU averaged just over 21,000 fans per home game in 2012. Yes, better than when they were at the bottom of the MAC, but nothing special for a 1A/FBS program
Sorry for taking the discussion off topic. I just get irritated when people use facts that are FALSE in a discussion when trying to make a point. It's not that hard to check info in the year 2013 when one has access to the internet... SMH