Unfortunately, academics don't bring in billions of dollars.

From: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Finances/Revenue

Originally Posted by NCAA
The most recent estimate from the NCAA research staff is that college athletics programs annually generate about $6.1 billion from ticket sales, radio and television receipts, alumni contributions, guarantees, royalties and NCAA distributions. Another $5.3 billion is considered allocated revenue, which comes from student fees allocated to athletics, direct and indirect institutional support, and direct government support.

Hey, isn't it lovely that the taxpayers and the academic students get to subsidize a billion-dollar industry?