I wonder what insights social anthropologists and historians will make of the following map and what it says about our society in a future analysis of American culture. Probably that we should have passed more.

Considering the business that college athletics is, I don't see much wrong with this map. Who should be ahead of them?

(05-11-2013 10:15 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Considering the business that college athletics is, I don't see much wrong with this map. Who should be ahead of them?

You ask an interesting question....one that rather begs the issue of what is the "business" of public Higher Education?

My take is that the college president should be ahead of the football coach, but of course, he or she is the person that goes out and pays the football coach.

College athletics have become way over blown. While I contribute to this mess as a fan, this bubble will burst at some point.

Nick Saban is College Football's highest paid coach at 5.62m per year.

http://tracking.si.com/2013/04/16/alabam...aid-coach/

For what he's done that's an absolute bargain, IMO.

(05-11-2013 11:19 AM)smudge12 Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 10:56 AM)DooX Wrote:  Nick Saban is College Football's highest paid coach at 5.62m per year.

http://tracking.si.com/2013/04/16/alabam...aid-coach/

For what he's done that's an absolute bargain, IMO.

I imagine he's the highest paid public employee in the nation.

If you don't count donations, bribes, and kickbacks, that's probably true....

The entertainment industry is what it is and to most people, that's what college athletics is....entertainment. No different than the crazy amounts of money that go to the top actors, bands, rappers, TV stars, etc. Nobody is turning on the TV on Saturday afternoon to watch the House Assembly in Richmond. People pay for entertainment and those who deliver it get compensated accordingly. Now, we could get into the subject of whether college athletes should get paid but that's a whole other can of worms for another thread.

supply and demand. To me, the map is a good illustration of what we already know. Universities use high profile athletic programs to enhance their overall university status. If it wasn't worth it, universities wouldn't pay it.

(05-11-2013 10:19 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 10:15 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Considering the business that college athletics is, I don't see much wrong with this map. Who should be ahead of them?

You ask an interesting question....one that rather begs the issue of what is the "business" of public Higher Education?

My opinion may be very unpopular but college athletics, over the last few decades, has become a business and has little to do with higher education other than helping improve the branding of institutions and thus allowing them to benefit.

The other unpopular side of my opinion is that there is way too much money in higher education (non-athletics side). I think compensation is too high for faculty and staff, I think too much is spent on the atmosphere, and at the end of the day, the debt being racked up by students isn't worth it.

I would do anything to go back to college again and loved every moment I was at JMU. But my JMU bill totaled around $80,000 when all was said and done and, other than having a blast in college, I don't think the investment is worth it.

Again, my opinions may be unpopular but I havent been the favorite on this board ever so I'll take whatever opposing views may come

(05-11-2013 10:53 AM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  College athletics have become way over blown. While I contribute to this mess as a fan, this bubble will burst at some point.

It is not overblown. It generates dollars that justify paying those kinds of salaries. Plain and simple. You want Urban Meyer or Nick Saban? Whip out your checkbook! And they deserve every penny. They make it happen. Plus, as a result they have a rock star following. Name brand contributes to that salary too. The bubble will not burst unless we are suddenly victim of electronic warfare that renders all of our computers, TVs, phones, etc. unusable.

(05-11-2013 01:17 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 10:19 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 10:15 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Considering the business that college athletics is, I don't see much wrong with this map. Who should be ahead of them?

You ask an interesting question....one that rather begs the issue of what is the "business" of public Higher Education?

My opinion may be very unpopular but college athletics, over the last few decades, has become a business and has little to do with higher education other than helping improve the branding of institutions and thus allowing them to benefit.

The other unpopular side of my opinion is that there is way too much money in higher education (non-athletics side). I think compensation is too high for faculty and staff, I think too much is spent on the atmosphere, and at the end of the day, the debt being racked up by students isn't worth it.

I would do anything to go back to college again and loved every moment I was at JMU. But my JMU bill totaled around $80,000 when all was said and done and, other than having a blast in college, I don't think the investment is worth it.

Again, my opinions may be unpopular but I havent been the favorite on this board ever so I'll take whatever opposing views may come

I agree with all of that! College sports have become nothing more than semi-pro.

(05-11-2013 11:48 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  If it wasn't worth it, universities wouldn't pay it.

word... Are coaches tenured?

(05-11-2013 08:48 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 11:48 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  If it wasn't worth it, universities wouldn't pay it.

word... Are coaches tenured?

They wish!

I would say that the "business of a public higher education" is to make money. Making money is the goal of each state school. Though it be cloaked as academia....it's all about the state institution making....... $$$$.

(05-11-2013 01:17 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 10:19 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 10:15 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Considering the business that college athletics is, I don't see much wrong with this map. Who should be ahead of them?

You ask an interesting question....one that rather begs the issue of what is the "business" of public Higher Education?

My opinion may be very unpopular but college athletics, over the last few decades, has become a business and has little to do with higher education other than helping improve the branding of institutions and thus allowing them to benefit.

The other unpopular side of my opinion is that there is way too much money in higher education (non-athletics side). I think compensation is too high for faculty and staff, I think too much is spent on the atmosphere, and at the end of the day, the debt being racked up by students isn't worth it.

I would do anything to go back to college again and loved every moment I was at JMU. But my JMU bill totaled around $80,000 when all was said and done and, other than having a blast in college, I don't think the investment is worth it.

Again, my opinions may be unpopular but I havent been the favorite on this board ever so I'll take whatever opposing views may come

I understand your point and in the information age that we live in, in some professions it's practical to develop skills on your own (some require hands-on education). However, I bet you learned a lot outside of the classroom that you don't even realize down to the point of just taking care of yourself independently. And, if you had a blast, that's actually important too. I'm sure you did some dumb stuff (as we all did) but you realize your limits, you become socially enabled, your personality evolves, etc. Beats the hell out of sitting in your parents' basement with an ipad.

The most humorous might be Nevada, a plastic surgeon. Must pay to be in charge of silicone near Sin City.

(05-12-2013 12:55 PM)South Carolina Duke Wrote:  I would say that the "business of a public higher education" is to make money. Making money is the goal of each state school. Though it be cloaked as academia....it's all about the state institution making....... $$$$.

It's interesting you think something has been "cloaked"...or that there is a difference between "academia" and a real-world payoff. Investments in public Higher Education have always served as an engine of economic development. If pursuing a "higher" education did not benefit (in tangible ways) those who support and acquire it universities and colleges would quickly cease to exist. I'd add that States that support strong public university systems have done so in an act of enlightened self-interest. States with superior universities generally reap greater economic benefits.

However, let's not conflate the idea of Higher Ed's "business" to mean its "mission"... a university's mission is not "all about the Benjamins." Indeed, there is a financial benefit to be generated...but I think JMU's mission statement says it best: "We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives."

I'd suggest the map of public salaries isn't so much a comment about the ongoing purpose of American universities as it is about our cultural values. I'm a great fan of college sports, but if they all went away the original "business" (i.e "mission") of our state schools would remain.

Our cultural values are just fine. We like to be entertained and have fun. Nothing wrong with that.

(05-13-2013 11:06 AM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  Our cultural values are just fine. We like to be entertained and have fun. Nothing wrong with that.

Spoken like a good Roman, just before before the fall.