There's little doubt Bill Moos will do great things for Washington State University athletics. For what he's being paid, he'd better. Moos' name was first on the list for Cougar fans far and wide after former athletic director Jim Sterk unexpectedly departed for the same job at San Diego State - and for good reason. Moos has deep ties to Pullman and did wonders during a highly successful 12-year stint as athletic director at the University of Oregon. He's experienced, affable and highly capable of turning WSU into one of the elite athletic institutions in the Pac-10 Conference, if not the entire country. But the timing couldn't have been worse as far as his pay rate is concerned. Moos and President Elson S. Floyd negotiated a seven-year deal worth at least $455,000 per year - or roughly $150,000 more than Sterk was earning on an annual basis/Doug Bauer, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. More here. (AP photo/Dean Hare of Moos during press conference this week)

Question: Few would question that Washington State got an excellent new athletic director in Bill Moos. But should it be paying him $455,000 in such a bad economy when the college has been slashing its budget everywhere else?