Texas Tech University seems to be sending a rather curious message about its priorities. Faculty members are objecting after the administration froze faculty salaries for the entire university but then gave Texas Tech football coach Tommy Tuberville a $500,000 a year raise.
Texas Tech wiped out $3 million in faculty raises for 2011 and then turned around and approved an obscene five-year, $11 million contract for Tuberville. That is an increase from $1.5 million to $2 million a year.
The University has bragged that this year “According to [U.S. News and World Report], Texas Tech sits at 159 out of the top 191 schools ranked in the National University category. Texas Tech also is listed in the A+ Schools for B Students category, which is alphabetical and not by rank.” The Texas Tech president clearly believes that the key to moving the school up in academic ranking is to improve its football program rather than its academic program. This “let them eat football” approach to learning is truly distressing but it is not unique. Presidents love the revenue and alumni support that is generated by football. However, it turns an educational institution into little more than a sport franchise.
Source: NBC
Jonathan Turley
pardon me?
1, February 22, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Maybe the coach’s wife has the biggest hair.
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Best one!
If I’m not mistaken, the story about negotiating a bed price with the socialite woman involved George Bernard Shaw, not Churchill.
As for the outrageous salary for the football coach at Texas Tech – well, the faculty and students could go on strike if they were sufficiently outraged. They’re not, and their silence is effectively consent.
“Many sports in college do not generate revenue, like womens volleyball, but it still cost money to fly the athletes all over the country. Not to mention paying their coaches, and paying for the scholarships of those athletes.”
Why is it presumed that this something you want?
The school I went to in Scotland had no athletic scholarships.
The sports teams played teams which were close enough that you could drive there in a coach, play the game, then drive back. Occasionally they would play futher away, in which case they would probably be staying at the homes of the opposing team. The people who played in them enjoyed themselves, but it was always a hobby compared to their academic studies.
None of the coaches were full time coaches, they would be already getting paid to teach, if you coached a team you would get less other teaching requirements.
Maybe the coach’s wife has the biggest hair.
Elaine,
Both good ones. Especially the last one!
rafflaw,
Here are two of my favorite Churchill quotes:
Nancy Astor said to Churchill: “If I were your wife I would put poison in your coffee.” Churchill’s reply: “Nancy, if I were your husband, I would drink it.”
Bessie Braddock said to him: “Winston, you’re drunk!” He replied: “Madam, you’re ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober.”
Mespo,
I love that Churchill quote!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3719726
AY:
“mespo….. I took an elective that was mostly attended by girls… It was not your ordinary elective…. It was called “The Origin and Theory of Country and Western Music…..USA” not something you’d expect females to attend…. I was talking to the professor after class one day…. and asked about the high number of females…. he said pretty much Oh…this is a jock course and they are taking notes for the football teams….
Next…roll a head a few years…. I hired a female graduate from Michigan…. She was ok in my book…not a stellar beauty…. she got through the University with a free ride…catch this… 1) by attending functions that new recruits would attend….. 2) going to High Schools where they were talking with recruits… 3) Going to class for a select few recruited…. 4) Going to after game party’s with the team….. 5) I don’t know if she ever got down with any of them….”
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Churchill: Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?
Socialite: My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we would have to discuss terms, of course…
Churchill: Would you sleep with me for five pounds?
Socialite: Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!
Churchill: Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.
It is a national tragedy that we can cut academic salaries and programs and increase football coaches salaries without limitations. I have no problem at the few schools that actually run their athletic programs at a profit, but the rest should be paid or reduced with the rest of the faculty and staff. How can a state supported school pay more for sports than for academics? I would think that the Tea Party would be screaming.
Mespo is right. When was the last time that a star football player won the Nobel prize for medicine?
No he left Texas.
I suppose SWM that he did not go to Sam Houston State?
I played several “State of the University” dinners at UNCo. The only people that seriously looked at UNC were either getting degrees in teaching, music, or other arts or couldn’t get into another school, however the President kept shoveling funds away from the arts and into the laughable business school.
AY I told my son if he made too many B’s he would end up at Texas Tech. It helped keep his grade point up.
SWM,
Why do you think that Tech was not even on the list of considerations…… lol…..
mespo….. I took an elective that was mostly attended by girls… It was not your ordinary elective…. It was called “The Origin and Theory of Country and Western Music…..USA” not something you’d expect females to attend…. I was talking to the professor after class one day…. and asked about the high number of females…. he said pretty much Oh…this is a jock course and they are taking notes for the football teams….
Next…roll a head a few years…. I hired a female graduate from Michigan…. She was ok in my book…not a stellar beauty…. she got through the University with a free ride…catch this… 1) by attending functions that new recruits would attend….. 2) going to High Schools where they were talking with recruits… 3) Going to class for a select few recruited…. 4) Going to after game party’s with the team….. 5) I don’t know if she ever got down with any of them….
The pay off….1) No student loan debt….2) Free travel all over the country….. 3) lots of parties….. 4) Side line tickets to all football games…. 5) Team travel…. 6) Some friendships maybe for life with the players…. and one hell of a job with me…… That was until she got a job in her field that she interviewed for from my office….
I suppose it was a dream job for her….. Now I could tell you about the girl that was a Budweiser Rep on campus….but that is on another thread….lol