Washington State University wonders if it needs a new football coach as it begins spending $80 million to remodel Martin Stadium.

Both efforts are emboldened by the Pac-12's new TV contract, which is expected to funnel $21 million to each school.

And this comes as the state Legislature will hold a special session in Olympia to address the state’s budget deficit.

Across the country, the University of Maryland announced last week that it is gutting its athletic program. The Terrapins will cut eight of their 27 varsity sports.

Sports falling by the wayside are men’s indoor track, outdoor track and cross country, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s water polo and their competitive cheer team.

There appears little chance of saving any of those sports because administration said the fundraising must cover — by June 30 — the eight-year anticipated cost of any sport. In the case of men’s and women’s swimming, that’s $11.6 million.

That would leave Maryland with 19 varsity sports, just below the Atlantic Coast Conference average of 21 varsity programs per school.

There are 15 varsity programs at WSU. The University of Washington has 19 varsity sports, while the University of Oregon has 18, and Oregon State funds 17 sports.