Paragraph 1 comes from a lot of various articles. You can read those same thoughts echoed in many articles when Maryland cut programs. You can read them when Clemson cut swimming and the same perspective can be found in many other articles where schools chose to cut programs. Yes, sometimes it is necessary to cut programs but, it better be for the proper reasons or the school's image gets skewered publicly which can have negative impacts for fundraising, conference affiliation, etc.. Cutting already existing programs merely to funnel revenue to the remaining programs is rarely seen as a good idea without a more compelling underlying reason.

Your math is pretty fuzzy as it ignores any necessary increase in cost to compete in a conference change before even considering your assertion that it would easily net $10 million a year in donations. Your contention that $5 million for FSU is conservative just doesn't add up in any way giving the incremental increase in ticket sales. The original discussion wasn't the multiplier effect for the surrounding community before relating how that translates to bumping VT revenue which is what you contend is the goal. You don't have any evidence that VT isn't already working behind the scenes with all those schools to push the ACC in a particular direction. A "guru" claiming more money is needed to compete is not breaking news or surprising but, does fit nicely with the increasing emphasis on fundraising at VT. I have no doubt VT is in much better position now than they were in the last big realignment shift to find a secure landing spot, however, the willingness of particular conference members to play a game in Blacksburg or to even consider VT as an option is far different from a conference membership offer in hand.

As far as your last paragraph, Weaver and Steger both did some very good things as far as VT and the ACC, however, they were both in the twilight of their careers from longevity and health aspects so being "all over it" carries a much different focus than the leaders currently employed. I am sorry if you think they were insults but, they were my opinions of your thoughts and plans, without the colorful language you choose to employ to try and bolster your point.