Texas A&M Forced to Lay Off 17 in Athletic Department

It's no secret the economy has had an adverse effect on most industries.

Initially athletics seemed like they might be insulated from the strife. But more and more we've heard of professional teams struggling, big-time donors having to give less and athletic departments having to monitor copy machines.

Texas A&M, one of the premiere schools in the Big 12, announced Friday that it's having to cut 17 positions from its athletic department in order to balance the budget. Facilities director Billy Pickard, 75, apparently is one of the casualties although he is the lone remaining link in the department to legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from the 1950s.

Apparently, A&M athletic director Bill Byrne was given the directive from the University to cut his athletic budge by $4.5 million for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Byrne was able to initially slash $3.5 from the budget without losing staff, but ultimately had to let 17 from the department.

"Our goal was to make spending cuts that would not impact the competitiveness of our teams and to ensure that our student-athletes have a good experience here," Byrne said in a released statement. "The cuts came across the entire spectrum of the athletic department."