Wow, right on, Lou Nanne — I could not agree more with what you said in your Star Tribune interview regarding funding for the University of Minnesota (" 'There's no reason why we can't. …' " Jan. 15). I am a Southern transplant and still an avid sports fan of my Southern alma mater. However, after living in Minnesota for many years, I am a true Gopher fan for all sports.
If you look at any successful university, you will see successful sports teams. Lou said it best: Successful athletics drives academics. Good athletic teams bring in more students, and together they bring in more revenue for the university to grow — in athletics and in academics. You need both. But you need top-notch facilities, whether study halls or sports facilities, for that growth.
As a transplant to Minnesota, I recognize the wonderful quality of life we have here, and to have the university facilities lagging in the Big Ten is not good — it restricts good recruiting. And as Lou said, we are all affected if we live in this beautiful state. It was refreshing to read his passion for the University of Minnesota.