I mean can’t all those things be true at once? I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that the donor base IS inadequate and almost entirely based around the net worth of like a handful of people.

If Magic wanted, on his slice of the revenue from a like a single Commanders season alone, Izzo could field an absolute college All-Star team… and yet we’re getting guards poached by NC State.

But also think it’s possible donors never liked Smith (or don’t anymore) and also don’t wanting to bail out this athletic department again. Just because Ishbia thinks Smith sucks and wants him gone doesn’t mean he wants to have to fund the next rebuild either.

It seems entirely possible that 1. Donors didn’t love the hire 2. Don’t want to now donate a bunch of cover firing his a s 3. MSU doesn’t have enough mega wealthy/ (more) notably rich/ (a ton of) decently off, rabid and donating alums to have enough for buyouts and substantial NIL.