All the *fuss* is only because the football team is *too good*.
Actually, Professor Fleming's argument is a lot more "in-depth" than that, but winning at the D1 level plays a huge part of his argument.
It has much to do with his seeing D-1 football players taking and re-taking remedial-level courses that other plebes/mids are not taking, some being allowed to stay an extra year to graduate.
It has much to do with his seeing revenue-generating D1-caliber football players admitted with SAT scores that are far below the norm, thus taking the place of an otherwise more qualified candidate, for the sake of winning football game$.
It has much to do with a two-tired punishment/honor system where the misdeeds of the varsity D-1 athlete are given chance after chance, in circumstances where the non D-1 athlete would be shown the gate.
USNA releases (or at least they used to) the profiles of SAT scores and class rankings. I believe the class of 2012 was the latest to have the data published. Take a look at the number of plebes who were ranked in the bottom 40% of their class - how many do you think were not D-1 athletes?
How many non-D1 athlete applicants with ~520 math and ~520 verbal SAT scores do you think were admitted to the USNA? I'd like to see that data.
How many non-D1 revenue-generating athletes at USNA have ever been allowed to stay after 300+ demerits and a positive drug test? (I'd guess zero - if you're on the sailing team and you test positive for drugs, I'd guess you're out the door without ever having your case appealed from the Dant to the Supe). You can swim fast? You can pin you man? You can dive well? None of that will keep you there after popping up + for reefer. However, 7.3 yards per carry gets a free pass. Go Navy, Beat Army!
Interestingly enough, reading the comments form current USNA mids, USNA alumni, and USAFA cadets (who are seeing the same issues out in CoSprings), you find that none of them are disputing Professor Fleming's statements. Those who protest Fleming usually raise other issues and/or red herrings rather than dispute the core of his argument - two tierd admissions, two-tiered punishments.
PS - wrestling is not a revenue-generating sport. I'm pretty sure Professor Fleming is talking about NCAA D1 Football and Basketball (the ones that generate revenue) when he mentions D1 "athletes" at USNA.