John Mackovic, the new UA football coach, has a big name and an even bigger prospective salary. Today, the Arizona Board of Regents will decide whether to approve his $800,000 salary offer.

Mackovic should earn the proposed amount.

However, the efforts of 1,352 UA professors who earn an average $69,870 - less than 10 percent of Mackovic's proposed salary - should be financially recognized as well.

The UA should attract the best in sports, administration and academics. Unfortunately, university priorities usually rank in that order. When the UA proposes $800,000 for a coach, it makes a statement that sports deserve more money than academics.