Frank Splitt maintains that presidents cannot stand up to lead an effort to change the status quo in any meaningful way without risking termination driven by a storm of protest about economic impact and assorted tradition-based arguments by trustees/regents, boosters, alumni, and rabid fans. Presidents are pressured by their boards and boosters to approve costly football and basketball palaces, athletic scholarships, exorbitant coaches’ salaries, professional-class training facilities, eligibility centers, and more. They are then under pressure to approve extortion-like seat taxes, an extension of the football season by the addition of a 12th game, and other revenue-enhancing mechanisms to help service the incurred debt.
