the powers that be ( especially the NCAA ) are corrupt and driven solely by dollars. All in a short sighted way. They ignore the long view. Its all about networks and ad dollars and has become a system of catering to the big name programs....from the rule makers to the content directors at the espns of the world. Their mentality is the metrics show we can get more page views on todays segment talking about Bama and the SEC so we will spend 90% of the time doing that. Good for the daily revenue sheet but again short sighted.
The overall idea that this is supposed to be an amateur sport with equal opportunity to compete across a whopping 120 or so schools has been lost. TV contracts, 50 coaches on staff, absurd facilities arms race, 17 yr olds who prioritize those locker room waterfalls, the NIL....all this does is separate the haves and have nots. Success has to be bought. Some of that has always been in play but 15 years ago an underdog program could still compete if they put the right formula together. Now its evolved to where you will see the same handful of teams in the championship hunt every year and every new development only advances that further. Not a good thing.
On the positive side, VT has plenty going for it. More than some realize even if its not raw dollars flowing in. We will keep a place at the table but VT, along with about 100 other schools, need a break to happen in the structure of the whole thing. There will be shake up and hopefully new leadership will realize they can not just cater to the Bamas and OSUs else the business model will start to topple. Diminishing returns are about to come into play. Millions of fans and viewers out there want their schools to have a chance to compete rather than watch the same few at the top every year.
VT needs its supporters to show up and tune in and donate and wear the gear. When all that is in play, a program will keep relevance