A matter of priorities

There was a time when college football coaches considered themselves educators who also coached an athletic team.  Admittedly, most of them probably preferred to be called "Coach," acknowledging their role with the team, but most had prepared themselves to be teachers/coaches.

A Mississippi friend shared this map with us, and we found it to be quite interesting.  Not surprising, however, since most people these days realize that college sports is big business.  It's football coaches who are overwhelmingly the highest paid public employees in states across the country.  There are   only a few exceptions.

And it's not just in the biggest and most famous institutions of higher education.  It might be that small college across town, wherever you live.

Essentially, the data shared by Reuben Fischer-Baum and reflected in the above map identifies the jobs held by the highest paid public employees in each state. There's no date on the map, but it appears to be a couple of years old -- probably from about 201213.  You can click on the map to see a larger version.

Rather than my trying to make a case for re-prioritizing the role of college athletics within higher education, let me suggest you visit the website whence this map came.  It's called Deadspin.

See you at the game.