From the Tennessean: A look a finances and big-time college athletics in the article, "Football success fuels UT athletics survival."

From the multimillion-dollar practice facility to a $200 million face lift of Neyland Stadium, the UT athletics department has opened its checkbook in a big way, doing whatever it takes to attract top-tier athletes who can win on the field and help drive the UT brand.

And UT's money machine begins and ends with football.

The fortunes of the entire athletics department hang on the success or failure of Tennessee's football team, and losing — even for a little while — is just not an option.