Submitted by patrick flandreau, May 30, 2007 16:35

The author of the article took a few unwarranted shots at "big time" NCAA football. Since New York (SUNY) is unable to produce a state university better than 86th in the last US News and World Report listing, maybe SUNY shouldn't be throwing stones at other universities? The vast majority of the flagship state schools that annually beat SUNY are BCS schools ("big time sports"). Florida, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Michigan, Virginia, Texas and Cal all beat the pants off SUNY. SUNY would be so lucky to even be in the room when those schools are mentioned. Athletics brings alumni support and donations. Athletics brings national name recognition. Athletics draws students and faculty who want more than a commuter school... just ask the thousands of New Yorkers attending out of state schools. Athletics won't cure SUNY's problems but it certainly would help. Athletics would build the sense of pride, common to other state's flagship campuses. Another point, don't think just because your D-III your somehow immune to the problem... it's just that know body knows and nobody cares.

The problem is that the governor's panel is made up of private school insiders. They do not have an interest in SUNY's success. Why help your competitor? They want New Yorker's thinking that the only good education comes with a $30k a year price tag. In most of the states around the country, the public university is the university of choice. It has the best academics... and oh yeah, best athletics. I'll take UCLA and their "big time" athletic program any day.

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