ask for charity to be competitive or grow? I've owned several businesses and that's not how it works. Maybe I'm just nitpicking terminology. I'm probably in the minority, and that's okay, but I have a real problem with the expectations and money in college athletics.The truth is it took many, many years before I even had the money to consider club or season tickets. I'm someone that grew up with very little so I have a conservative approach to my money. I paid my own way through VT and am proud to be a Hokie. It was hard but I didn't ask anyone for a handout. I appreciate my education more because of it.

I have a hard time donating money to the club because I don't trust that it's being spent wisely. Is it scholarships, facilities, coaches salaries, paying players (under pending NCAA rules of course), or just a frivolous new jersey combination? I've been on the fence several times and was about to purchase season tickets before we had some major collapse at Boise St., JMU, etc. When I see turmoil in the locker room or coaching changes, I see risk. That's just how I'm wired. We pay a fairly competitive wage for a program that can't consistently hit the top 25. That's unfair to the shareholders and they have little leverage. I certainly don't feel compelled to contribute to this arms race. I have no desire to give charity to a multi-millionaire so we can win a football game and/or subsidized higher education. I envy those of you that find a way to do it. I get too emotionally invested and then it ruins the game for me. It's ego driven.

I realize that VT's Athletic Dept budget is separate from the school, but colleges are making a MINT off of increased enrollment and tuition (they are asking for money too). IMO, they need to use more of those proceeds for athletics. I'll continue to support VT sports in ways that I enjoy like traveling to support the team and the Blacksburg economy, attending away games, buying tickets, and apparel. I respect that many of you give so much of your money to the program. And I know that it's a necessary evil in today's sports world. But it'll take more from the university to convince me that this is a priority for me right now. Just shooting straight.