is it time for the Belt to ask members to make a minimum (Maybe $15,000,000) $$$ athletic budget committment ? If members are just treading water, it doesn't really help in building a healthy conference. What are your thoughts ?

I'm sure that with a few extra dollars thrown at an accountant, any school can find a way to report $15 million if that's what they're required to report.

IMO, regulations like this only lead to more money invested in ways around the regulations rather than actually rising to meet the standards.

Yes, but I think it needs to be a minimum of about $18 million. I think an increase could lead to higher quality coaching. SMU stank for 25 years. Then they paid June Jones $2 million a year, and won a bowl game within two seasons. I don't think it is a coincidence that non AQ teams and conferences that spend the most money, have the best coaching and the most success on the field.