This is an enjoyable conversation and relative to the talent retention v. acquisition problem in business. The paradox is when you start paying/promoting new employees the same, or more, for acquisition purposes than you are currently paying/placing in a higher pay-band your loyal, productive (especially high-achieving) employees. Overwhelmingly, your exceptionally talented employees start looking elsewhere, as they have been effectively working hard, and smart, for years just to have unproven talent, within the role, within your business, hired at a higher pay band and title.
Harvard Business Review, beyond just the experience of anyone involved in organizations' talent retention and acquisition, has written about this previously. Tenured employees are very acute to this paradox. Why would this unfamiliar environment in CFB be any different in the perception by players and managing your organization's talent?
If this is what IOWA is recognizing, then I would consider it a very smart strategy if they were evaluating the VALUE of talent retention v. acquisition, FOR THEIR ROLES, in THEIR ORGANIZATION, given what THEY KNOW THEIR BUDGET AND PRIORITIES are currently. If an organization were to spend endlessly on everything they want, and not focus on what they need, they would go broke. Conspicuous consumption tempts all consumers and some evaluate accordingly what can be, while others place themselves in a cycle of debt and additional frustration, limiting future opportunities.