Raising money is interesting for schools with wealthy alumni. Vanderbilt started a campaign 18 months ago to raise 3.2 billion for a number of non-academic initiatives. We raised that much and more within 18 months, 20 months before the campaign was supposed to end. I use the term "we" loosely - I donated $100 while some fraternity brothers from my class and year gave $10 - $50 million. Schools with people like that can quickly get the money.
My fraternity class—26 guys—was one of 40 Greek organizations for just one year. It has one billionaire and at least five guys who are worth more than $100 million. Off the top of my head, I know our entire class has at least four billionaires. Ross Perot, Jr. was one, and he has two other siblings who went to Vandy, all of whom are also billionaires. Getting that kind of money is not a problem. It's a different world in which those people live.
SMU was able to tell the ACC it didn't need TV money for 10 years because one billionaire raised half a billion dollars in 2 weeks to cover the TV revenue shortfall.
I do not doubt that if Michigan needs to raise money, it can.
