re: Insight into what F King Alexander things about college athletics.....

I understand were Alexander is coming from to some extent. At many schools, some degree of athletic expenditures come out of the same pool of money that is used to pay for the academic expenditures. If you are continuing to raise coaches' salaries then you could arguably taking more money from the academic side which, let's be honest, should be the primary focus of a university. Contrary to what some might think (especially those who didn't take a class there) LSU is not just a football program who also offers educational services.

HOWEVER, LSU is different that most other schools in that the athletic side is funded separate and apart from the academic side. Paying the football coach $5 mill a year is not "taking money away" that could be used for the educational pursuits of the school. Hell, the AD gives money to the academic side every year.

F. King needs to acknowledge that LSU (athletics) is its own multi-million dollar business. LSU (academics) is a separate (largely) state funded service. On a basic level it may not seem "right" or be a good example of proper priorties that more money (relatively speaking) is spent on athletics. But 100k people aren't willing to pay $100+ to watch 60 kids take a math test. Athletics generates outside revenue. It's a source of entertainment for which people will pay.