Academics vs athletics at Marshall

First, the introductory paragraphs of a news released issued by Marshall University today:

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Proceeds from the Dec. 12, 2006 premiere of “We Are Marshall” in Huntington were distributed today in presentations at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, Inc., in downtown Huntington.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III, Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp, former Marshall University Foundation Inc. interim Chief Executive Officer John Kinzer and Curtis McCall, president and CEO of Marquee Cinemas, presented checks totaling $431,500.

The $400,000 in proceeds from the premiere event at the Keith-Albee were split evenly between the Keith-Albee and Marshall scholarships. The Keith-Albee received $200,000, and Marshall received $100,000 for academic scholarships and $100,000 for athletic scholarships.

My first thought was one of disgust. Money for scholarships being split 50-50 between academics and athletics. But then I realized I was looking at it all wrong. Academics have finally reached parity with athletics at Marshall. All right!

You see, I remember back in the 1980s when The Herald-Dispatch had a special section of some sort about Marshall's 150th anniversary. At least half of it dealt with athletics. That's mostly what Marshall had to talk about back then. I remember when I started working here and people found out I had graduated from Ohio U., about half the Marshall graduates wanted to talk about sports, sports and more sports between the two schools. They liked talking about Marshall victories. I had to resort to lines like, "Okay, but our engineering Ph.D. students will take on yours in basketball any day." And they were quiet after that.

But 50-50 between academics and athletics. Balance has been reached at last.