Another alternative is that our heroes were pursuing the noble goal of academics everywhere--tenure.
( ( Another alternative ) ( ( is ( that ( ( our heroes ) ( were ( pursuing ( ( ( ( the ( noble goal ) ) ( of ( academics everywhere ) ) ) -- ) tenure ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT Another) (NN alternative)) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS heroes)) (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBG pursuing) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ noble) (NN goal)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS academics)) (ADVP (RB everywhere))))) (: --) (NP (NN tenure)))))))) (. .)))
Academics are a good goal to strive for. 
( Academics ( ( are ( a ( good ( goal ( to ( strive for ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Academics)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (DT a) (JJ good) (NN goal) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB strive) (PP (IN for))))))) (. .)))