Sac State to get a New Stadium I stand by entitled as a possible description. I believe when you pay your college tuition you are making an investment in yourself and not so much the university. The university in turn invests in you by allowing you to make use of its limited academic resources. It's more of a transaction. And when you are done with your studies and no longer have any official role with the school you shift to being an external customer. An external customer can participate by spending or donating money.
But does an external customer have any right to tell a university how to conduct its business ? They can withhold or threaten to withhhold business (to include donations)if they don't like something the school is doing. Or maybe complain about it on social media or go protest. Does a customer have a right to influence how an athletics dept is run beyond voting with their wallets ? A question that has multiple answers. I say no. You can spend or donate money to support the success of the program but beyond that it's none of our busineß
When we attend athletic events are we going more to support the student-athletes or because we enjoy the experience ? Both can simultaneously be reasons but despite what people might say, probably the 2nd choice. Would you go to UCD football games if you didn't enjoy the experience ?
I would also disagree that being a top university requires being top-notch in sports. Obviously don't make the football team play at the old Toomey Field, but UCD has a fine football stadium. There isn't this huge untapped market of people who would support UCD athletics except that their opponents are uninteresting.