With all the dysfunction in the Missouri Legislature, one topic — sports — tends to unite the body like no other. You want unanimous support on a resolution? Pass one honoring the Missouri Tigers. Better yet, have the coach and a few players show up in the Capitol.

On Wednesday, all it took to fire up the House was three letters.

D-G-B.

Those are the initials of Dorial Green-Beckham, the Springfield, Mo., high school football player considered the top college recruit in the country.

Within minutes of DGB deciding to attend the University of Missouri and help fill Memorial Stadium on Saturdays, House members of both parties were singing the praises of the 18-year-old who spent his early years in St. Louis.

That's nice.

But it is ironic that later that day university presidents from all over the state testified about their need to raise tuition as much as 7 percent or more because of proposed 12.5 percent cuts in state aid.

That means that students without a quality 40-yard dash time will have to pay more next year. A lot more.

Those are the 18-year-olds who lawmakers should be worrying about.