Football, Manziel credited for record Texas A&M fundraising windfall

Texas A&M raised a school-record $740 million in the last fiscal year, beating its previous year’s total by $300 million and leading the school chancellor to credit the windfall in large part to the Aggies’ move from the Big 12 to the SEC, according to a report on Tuesday from the College Station Eagle.

The Eagle reported that the total dwarfs the previous state record of $453 million set by Texas during the same period.

“Everything about A&M is hitting exactly at the right time and people want to be part of a winning program and, right now, A&M is winning with faculty and students and winning in football,” Chancellor John Sharp said in an email to donors.

Texas A&M Foundation President Ed Davis also credited football in general and Johnny Manziel in particular for the huge numbers.

“People ask me all the time if you have a winning football team, do you raise more money,” Davis said. “In normal times, the statistical data wouldn’t support that, but in an era where we are in, effectively, in the news everywhere and you have a young man like our quarterback who has been a media magnet and you have the success you have, I do think that euphoria does spill over into success in fundraising. I’m hoping we can keep it up.”

At least part of the money will be used to finance a $450 million upgrade to Kyle Field.

If there’s any further question about how important football or an honor like the Heisman Trophy can be to a university bottom line, just look to Texas A&M as Exhibit A.