VT going to a 225 million dollar budget, is not exceptional its the requirement baseline to compete at the top tier. Every year. Its requiring unviversities to adjust how they raise money, (corporate, naming rights (and not local), real estate development etc, to operate basically a professional program). Folks augue where is purpose of universities. Universities are major corporations too. Schools like VT 35k and higher, huge R&D engines that supported by industry and Federal and State investment, and education. There is a gap between the smaller schools and the major state schools and national private univerisites. THese universities budgets are in the billions. Athletics create the branding and inational interest to invest in not only sports, but national recognition. Its culturally foreign to many older alumni Simply schools like VT are not the same in 1973 and now. For those who say enrollment is going down; its more to the small schools, schools like VT UVA have record number of applications and huge waiting lists. WHile the smaller schools are challenged. It; market driven.,.