The Chronicle of Higher Education has an eye-opening piece on the latest arms race in major college athletics:

 Investing in academic support.

 According to a survey conducted by the publication, more than half of the 73 largest athletic departments in NCAA Divison I-A doubled their spending in academic services from 1997 to 2007.

 Wisconsin ranks 13th on that list, going from a budget of $726,000 to $1.4 million and increasing its full-time staff from 10 to 16.

 Oklahoma and Texas, from the Big 12 Conference, spent the most on academics and $2.92 million and $2 million, respectively.

 Rounding out the top 10 were UCLA (Pacific Ten Conference) at $1.855 million; Tennessee (Southeastern Conference) at $1.750 million; Kentucky (SEC) at $1.7 million; Ohio State (Big Ten Conference) at $1.6 million; Florida (SEC) at $1.525 million; Auburn (SEC) at $1.5 million; Texas A&M (Big 12) at $1.422 million; and Penn State (Big Ten) at $1.414 million.

 Believe it or not, the 92.8 percent increase in spending by UW Athletics isn't even close to the biggest upgrade in the Big Ten.

 Of the schools offering comparable data, Michigan State boosted its spending 225 percent ($400,000 to $1.3 million) and Ohio State bumped its investment 194.7 percent ($543,000 to $1.6 million).

 UW Athletics plans to invest even more. One of its top priorities in the next cycle of capital projects is an athletic performance complex -- to be built near the north end of Camp Randall Stadium -- which will house academic services, sports medicine and strength and conditioning.

 The preliminary pricetag for such a project is $70 million.

 I'd provide a link, but the Chronicle of Higher Education is a paid subscription website.