Utah athletics: New drive has many athletes giving back to the U.

By Dirk Facer, Deseret News

Published: Monday, June 25 2012 10:12 p.m. MDT

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Summary

Many former Utah athletes donated large sums of money after making it big in the pros. Those athletes were the precursor to the new drive that has raised approximately $1.3 million for the cause, which aims to close the funding gap between Utah athletics and other teams in the Pac-12.

Brian Johnson (football) — $50,000

Sione Pouha (football) — $50,000

Keith Van Horn (basketball) donated $1 million to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in 2001.

*Deceased. Donation made in his honor by sons Gary and Lonnie Deland.

SOURCE: University of Utah

How do the Utes compare?

Operating budgets for Pac-12 athletic programs in 2010-11, prior to Utah and Colorado joining the conference.

School — Millions of dollars

Stanford — $81.1

Oregon — $76.3

USC — $75.7

Washington — $67.9

UCLA — $66

California — $64.5

Arizona — $60.3

Colorado — $59.2

Arizona State — $57.1

Oregon State — $49.9

Washington State — $40.6

UTAH — $36.8

Source: University of Utah

For more information on "Invest in Excellence: The campaign for Utah athletics," go to www.InvestInUtahAthletics.org.

Email: dirk@desnews.com Twitter: @DirkFacer

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Featured Comments

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GoRed

WEST VALLEY CITY, UT

A great article about some of the classy U of U alumni and their generous contributions to their alma mater. The U has really turned out some great guys, as listed in this article. Thanks you guys! You really do all of us proud.

Go

10:55 p.m. June 25, 2012
Top comment

Go Utes!

Springville, UT

Love reading about this, U of U athletes are extremely high character, thanks to our coaches for picking up this kind of athlete. lets keep it up, seeing these athletes donate like they are sure helps encourage me to donate more.