Jon Wilner takes a look at the Pac-12 financial state and finds WSU wanting

Last week, Pac-12 writer Jon Wilner took a look at each school’s athletic financial situation individually. The Cougars are running the highest reported deficit of the conference schools. Here is what else Wilner has to say about the Crimson and the Gray.

Washington State

The ledger: $10.6 million loss (projected)

Nitty gritty: This is the fourth-consecutive year WSU has run a deficit greater than $10 million. (Note: Figures cited by the Seattle Times are more up-to-date than those I obtained.)

Comment: School officials are reportedly working to implement a plan to make the Cougars solvent by 2020. Limited income from campus fees adds to the challenge — as does $9.2 million in debt service.

Health rating: At the request of concerned physician, the Cougars have hired a personal trainer, cleared out their fridge and spent $500 at Whole Foods.

Coming in a close second to the Cougars was Oregon State, who was running a 9.9 million deficit in the past year. This again shows just how critical it is for the Pac-12 took make a deal with DirectTV to show the conference network, as the Cougars and Beavers in particular could really use the cash.

Football

Pac-12 financial projections: School-by-school breakdown
Breaking down the financial state of athletic departments at public universities.

Basketball

Gene Conley, MLB and NBA champion, dies at 86
Gene Conley, who won three NBA titles with the Celtics and a World Series with the Braves, died at age 86. He was one of the few players in history to win championships in two major professional sports.