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The Eastern Michigan University Eagles huddle before taking on Northern Illinois University at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Saturday, Oct. 25 2014. Patrick Record | The Ann Arbor News

Howard Bunsis is keeping the heat on Eastern Michigan University, recommending the school drop Division I football and join the Horizon League.

Bunsis, accounting professor and treasurer of the EMU-AAUP, suggested the university consider making the switch during Friday's Board of Regents meeting, in the wake of HBO's airing of "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" last week, which shined an unpleasant national spotlight on the university's funding of its athletic department.

Bunsis pointed to the fact that EMU must subsidize 80 percent of its budget, or around $27 million of the $33.9 million it spent in 2014-15 - the highest percentage of any school in the Mid-American Conference - according to data provided recently by USA Today.

"Culturally and geographically, EMU football will simply never succeed from an attendance and financial standpoint," he said during his remarks to the board. "It is a losing proposition - always has been, and always will be. We hardly raise any money for football, and our attendance is the lowest in the country."

The HBO special and USA Today report re-opened the discussion at EMU about athletic spending last week, but the university's financial landscape also has been called into question by a student and faculty report on the university budget issued by members of the Faculty Senate Budget and Resources Committee, the EMU-AAUP and the student body.

The study point to an increase in the total full time equivalent athletic staff from 64 in 2006-07 to 85 in 2015-16, doubling staff salaries from $3.2 million to $6.4 million as the department saw 10 more coaching positions and more than 11 "athletic personnel" added during the same time period. During that same time period, the report indicates EMU's entire faculty increased by just 15.78 full-time equivalent personnel.

The report shows that EMU has been subsidizing the vast majority of its athletic budget for the past decade, paying more than 80 percent of its athletic budget every year since 2005. Among MAC schools, EMU spent the highest subsidy in the conference, while only Western Michigan spent more in total budget at $34.68 million.

Bunsis suggests those costs can be cut by moving EMU to the Horizon League, which would mean switching to lower division such as the FCS or Division II, would cut athletic costs by $15 million to $20 million per year. The report suggests EMU drop football from its athletic program entirely.

"This has nothing to do with our performance on the field, or the quality of our coaches," Bunsis said to the board. "Our coaches are good people and dedicated professionals. They are fighting a losing battle that cannot be won. Each and every one of you needs to reassess why you are here. If you have any sense of what is right for EMU, you will drop EMU from Division I football as soon as possible. How can you sit there and justify throwing millions of dollars away?"

Only one school currently participating in the Horizon League, Youngstown State, is a FCS scholarship program member, while Valparaiso also is an FCS member, but has a non-scholarship football program competing in the Pioneer League.

Making a possible move more difficult Board of Regents chair Mike Morris said, is the fact that universities can't compete in Division I basketball and Division II football. In addition, the MAC requires that all of its members participate in football.

"I think it's safe to say we're satisfied where we are," Morris said Monday. "We're asking all of the departments to look at their budget, and that includes athletics.

"Football is integral to our involvement with the MAC and we all feel very strongly about that," Morris said. "We have no intention of leaving the MAC -- it's not one of those things where you can just say 'thanks, see you later.' We need to participate in football to be a member of the conference."

EMU administrators and Morris have shown support for its football and athletic programs, issuing a statement late last week, noting it is taking part in an ongoing evaluation of all operating areas, including athletics.

"Participating in Division 1 Athletics is a substantial financial investment - not only at Eastern, but also at every university that offers a Division 1 program," the release notes. "It is an investment we are committed to because of the benefits Athletics provides our institution and students. At the same time, the University is committed to an ongoing evaluation of the best possible use of resources in all operating areas, including Athletics."

Morris came out in support of the program late last week and is optimistic regarding the future of football at EMU.

"While a review of budgets in all operating areas of the University is underway, there is no active plan among the Board of Regents to specifically evaluate football," Morris said last week. "On an overall level, the Board has high regard for our current football program, its outstanding coach and its success going forward. The opinions expressed by an individual Regent do not represent the position of the full Board. We expect to have a great season in 2016."

Martin Slagter covers higher education for MLive. Reach him at mslagter@mlive.com or on Twitter.