Football is a moneymaker for many universities; A season at Alabama or Michigan produces millions of dollars for the school. Salaries of coaches at larger universities may be more than $1 million a year.
Players with exceptional skills are contracted by professional teams, they become millionaires upon graduation or even before.

Successful athletes, in their role as models for youth, are idolized by wannabe high-schoolers and smaller fry all over the country. It becomes important for high schools to have good athletic programs (emphasis on football) or citizens will complain loudly that students are being denied the fundamentals of citizenship and their urge to become leaders in their city and country.

I could continue, but I don't know whether to laugh or cry.