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College sports in Utah are a step closer to another infusion of public money. And some lawmakers expect this new trend to stick.

Weber State University and Southern Utah University athletics are poised to share at least $1.3 million after winning early approval in a Friday legislative panel. It's the second year university athletics will gobble up a share of state money — that's as long as lawmaker adhere to recommendations from the Higher Education Appropriations Committee.

"Athletics a lot of times is the front porch. It really represents the curb appeal" of universities, said committee member Dan McCay, a Riverton Republican. "I think it is important to be good to our student-athletes. They provide a lot."

The sentiment was embraced by the Utah Legislature last year. In 2015, lawmakers injected $1.5 million into Utah State University recruiting just weeks after the NCAA allowed athletes to receive annual stipends of up to $6,000.

Still, the move has opponents at the Utah Capitol, where some say Division I sports bring in plenty of their own money — and don't need taxpayers' help.

"I think we ought not to be in that business," Rep. Kay McIff said Friday. The Richfield Republican sought to knock the colleges' athletics request to the bottom of the heap of budget priorities, but his motion failed without enough support. 

The proposal is currently No. 14 out of 18, behind a scholarship for high schoolers and a program to expand health care options for rural Utahns.

Sen. Stephen Urquhart, the committee's chairman, defended the placement.

"Weber State came forward and made a great case," said the St. George Republican "Better than the other institutions."

The Ogden school believes its request this year is palatable. It wants to use the money to help women's and men's teams graduate faster by providing them with free summer classes, said Athletic Director Jerry Bovee. Each player will be able to take at least two courses if the school receives its full ask. Many of his athletes, Bovee said, already are searching for financial aid to knock out class prerequisites in June and July.

"For us, it's all going back into tuition," Bovee said. "We want to keep the money in the system."

But the Wildcats likely will be forced to share that pool with the SUU Thunderbirds. The panel agreed Friday with Sen. Evan Vickers, of Cedar City, who argued that both of Utah's Big Sky competitors should receive legislative support in 2016.

Utah institutions need to stay competitive by "attracting the best student-athletes," Urquhart said after the meeting, "and then once we get them, making sure they have the resources they need to succeed."

He believes sports programs will "probably, unfortunately" have a permanent place in the state budget.

Last year, Senate Budget Chairman Lyle Hillyard successfully pitched the USU measure as an economic development tool. If they Aggies play well, he said, the community benefits.

The USU boost, suggested Sen. Ann Millner, established a precedent.

"We got the ball rolling last year," the Ogden Republican told the budget committee.

Lawmakers were spurred to scrutinize the role collegiate sports in Utah, Urquhart said, after the University of Utah decided to put its basketball rivalry with Brigham Young University on hold, and the proposal to help Weber came after Urquhart and other lawmakers met with coaches and athletic directors around the state.

Urquhart also mentioned Friday that a legislative audit of the University of Utah Athletics Department is underway.

The higher education budget requires approval from the House, Senate and governor before it can go into effect.

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