I think it takes a focused commitment to a particular sport or sports that would enhance the school’s national profile.

For example, I doubt it is pure happenstance that UVA has been able to recruit so well for baseball, soccer and lacrosse. While they are “non-revenue” sports, national championships in those sports help raise the school’s profile. Think Johns Hopkins and lacrosse too. While I don’t have any inside information, I would be shocked if admissions and financial aid at those schools don’t work closely with the coaches and AD to help get better players.

I’m pretty sure the Tech Athletic Department has that focus. The tougher part is getting the school’s President and Board to buy in, and then pushing instructions down to admissions and financial aid to make it happen. It only works if everyone moves in the same direction. Yeah, I know, not an easy answer.

It’s also a little more complicated at a state school, where the school may need some level of state approval on how they allocate resources.

The silver lining is the following: Can you think of any other Virginia Tech sport that is positioned better than wrestling to compete for individual and team national championships over the next decade? Or stated another way, is there any sport at VT (besides maybe men's basketball) more likely to reach the next level if it receives an extra boost of support?

Someone needs to lead that charge. I don’t know who that would be. Maybe we need to study how UVA got to that point with baseball, soccer and lacrosse.