This graph of per-athlete/per-student funding is rather striking.

It’s simply not true that academic spending was “flat,” as asserted — it grew a rather astounding 20 percent from 2005 to 2008 — but athletic spending grew twice that much (and started at a higher level).

The graph covers only SEC schools; I don’t follow sports closely, so there might be an explanation for the trend lurking in that fact that I’m not aware of. If you have thoughts, e-mail phibetacons * nationalreview * com.