<p>I'm writing an essay about athletics in colleges and I wanted to get it from current student at UFL. </p>
<p>How does athletics affect the school? I know that UFL has a really really good athletic program so do you ever feel like it overshadows or gets more attention than the other programs such as academic programs?</p>
<p>Is there a lot of school spirit? Are athletics a big part of the student life?</p>
<p>Actually the University of Florida's Athletic Association (UAA) is it's own seperate non-profit Corporation, they pay for the coaches salaries, facilities, and athletic scholarships. UF really has very little jurisdiction over this organization, and it's mostly "Bull Gators" that pay for their overall operating expenses. In my view any money from the UAA is good money (most athletic departments are a black hole to their respective universities, whereas ours is the 2nd strongest in the country).</p>
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<p>"Is there a lot of school spirit? Are athletics a big part of the student life?" --Yes and Yes!</p>
<p>Dude, UF is a jock school!! Everyone knows that...Have you ever looked at Princeton's Review??</p>
<p>Does that mean that the UAA has to come up with the money all on its own? or does it get help from the school? If it does, does it get a lot? </p>
<p>Thanks so much for this info on the UAA it greatly helps my essay!</p>
<p>I dont know if the school gives any money to the UAA but I do know that the UAA makes plenty of money on their own. Football draws in lots of money and thats what helps fund basketball, volleyball, etc. </p>
<p>And I do know that everytime we play in bowels, national championship games, etc, we get money from the NCAA. </p>
<p>Athletics are really big here. There is always someone going to some sports game. I go to the Volleyball games a lot but I have friends that go to soccer matches. And of course the whole town stops for Football. Which is how it should be, lol.</p>
<p>"Does that mean that the UAA has to come up with the money all on its own? or does it get help from the school? If it does, does it get a lot?"</p>
<p>NO, the UAA is it's own private non-profit Corporation. That means that it has autonomy from the university. The UAA has a $86 million budget, that is 100% paid by the Boosters, ticket Sales, merchandise, etc.</p>
<p>In fact the UAA is so successful that they actually give money back to UF to help support academics (something in the neighborhood of $40 million). Overall UF & OSU have the 2 strongest athletic departments in the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.uaa.ufl.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.uaa.ufl.edu/</a></p>