I see little reason the schools shouldn't/wouldn't spend some money on that.

Actually, VPI&SU should appreciate bigtime athletics more than most. VT would be known to most of the rest of the world for something else if it were not for VT Football. Quick question. What do you think about when you think of Kent State? So, it was tremendous to have a guys like Tyrod and Beamer being the face of the school in that 2007 to 2010 range. If not for them, somebody else might have been who people thought of when they thought of Virginia Tech. A little bigger picture, but I think it's kinda relevant to the discussion.

Additionally, I've read that the NRV economically benefits over $5 million for each VT home game. So, the region and the state benefits a ton from VT athletics. Heck, every other year Hokies spend millions in Charlottesville too. Something that should be factored for a state school.

I see little reason for austerity when it comes to these things, especially for VT football and basketball. I would consider cutting nonrevenue sports. Just little to no benefit from them. However, money spent on football and basketball is money well spent.