WSU weathers economic woes better than some

THE ATHLETICS department at Washington State University has the smallest budget and market in the Pacific-10 Conference, but the Cougars seem to be weathering this battered economy better than some of their richer rivals, the Associated Press’ Nicholas Geranios wrote in a lengthy story that ran Sunday.

Reductions in ticket sales and investment income, coupled with rising costs, have some Pac-10 schools dropping sports or slashing their budgets. Washington State, by contrast, plans some modest belt-tightening, the AP said.

WSU officials say the Cougars simply live within their means, spending frugally on coaches, travel and facilities. They receive no state tax money for athletics, and have not run up a deficit in years, the story reported.

"There are no gold-plated limos," Anne McCoy, vice president for finances of the WSU athletics department, told the Ain a lengthy interview. "We feel we can be efficient, yet excellent."

To read the full story, click to the SeattlePI.com