[QUOTE
"And it's just not as nice as the top programs we supposedly like to think of ourselves as being in the same company as, or aspire to return to again".[/QUOTE]
Silly me....I thought "we" aspired to:
1 - Bringing in quality STUDENT ATHLETES
2 - Providing them with the resources to compete successfully - both on and off the field
3 - As a result of #1 and #2, winning often - but always doing it with integrity.
4 - Doing so in a financially responsible manner
I fail to see how engaging in frivolous and irresponsible spending in order to "pimp out" offices, locker rooms, and lounges is congruent with those goals?
I didn't look through ALL of the photos you linked (but I did open several of them). Correct me if I am wrong - but I didn't see ONE THING that could be positioned as enhancing the student-athletes ability to succeed on or off the field.
Do you?
I did see a TON of stuff that would feed the egos of coaches and administrators and chest-thumping fanboys.
Or, do we have a different set of values in play here?