Michael Oriard contributed a column to today’s Slate comparing the economics of college football to professional football.

“We’ve been hearing for years that big-time college football is becoming indistinguishable from the NFL. I disagree: College football is much more cutthroat and competitive. On account of pro football’s revenue sharing—most importantly, nearly $4 billion in television money gets split up between the 32 NFL clubs each year—it’s hard for even a lousy pro football team to lose money. NFL clubs do not constantly have to upgrade their facilities in order to attract players. Instead of recruiting wars, pro teams take turns selecting the best college players, whom they pay a fixed percentage of the league’s revenues. NFL clubs also don’t steal one another’s coaches, and what they pay the men on the sidelines is not governed by fear of losing a successful coach to another team.”

In 2009 we will publish a paperback edition of Michael Oriard’s classic The End of Autumn: Reflections on My Life in Football.