The coach of the Oregon State University football team has resigned to become the new coach of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League.

He leaves behind disappointed players and fans, and his OSU compensation package of nearly $1 million a year.

That's right, an employee of the cash-starved public university system making $1 million a year. Obscene, isn't it?

Please don't click on my e-mail link to tell me that a great coach recruits great players, has a winning team, and raises countless millions from ticket sales and alumni donations to pay for women's sports and academic programs. I've heard all the arguments before.

I'll say it again: For any employee of this state government to be making $1 million a year is absolutely obscene.

As we search high and low throughout the land for a new head coach, let's find one who can somehow manage to get by on, say, $300,000 a year.