UL Presidential Selection Process

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Back in the days when Glynn Abel was dean of men and Ray Authement was vice president, their offices were across the hall from each other.

Abel would kick me out of school and I'd go across the hall to Vice President Authement and get reinstated - but not without the lecture.

"Jim," he'd say, "you really ought to try to go to class more often. You'd be surprised what you might learn around here."

I've liked Ray Authement ever since those days.

Jim Oliver, the other man considered with Authement for the presidency, was the godfather of my daughter and a man I remember with huge respect and admiration. I sometimes wonder how UL would have been different had the choice gone the other way.

But that's speculation. Authement's record speaks for itself.

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070429/BLOGS09/704290342/1002/NEWS01" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

Jim Bradshaw
Acadiana Diary
289-6315
jbradshaw@theadvertiser.com
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I know - and, by the way, so does he - that he was not always the most popular man on campus. He had to make some tough decisions during some tough times.

But he had a vision - not a dream, a vision - of where UL should go, and a plan to get there. Importantly, he also had the will and the political savvy to make it happen.

Aside from the recent business about the horse farm and his insistence that the Ragin' Cajuns play a 1-A football schedule, there's not a lot that I've disagreed with him about.

And there are so many pluses.

People who were not here during the darkest days of the oil bust in the 1980s will never appreciate how he became a driving force in keeping Lafayette alive.

He made certain UL was not only a center for educational excellence, but also an economic engine for the area - developing ways and tools and techniques to use Acadiana's skills and products and people to diversify our economy.

Much of the basis of the vibrant economy that we see in Lafayette today came not only out of his vision as president of the university but also from his leadership at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce and in working with the oil and tourism and health care and other industries to create new jobs and train people for them.

There's a lot of brick and mortar and concrete on the UL campus that are a testament to Authement's tenure, but I think two ideas are the most important of his accomplishments.

The first is in the name change to the University of Louisiana. Say what you will, even someone as tradition bound as I am has to admit that the change elevates the university in the eyes of anyone who knows nothing more about it.

The second idea was to turn land once used to graze dairy cattle into an Idea Park, a technological center developed around wetlands research and high-tech processes coming from Abdalla Hall and LITE illumination that will become more important in our history and economy than even the building of the Oil Center.

That park is the place where future vice presidents will point when students like I was sit across from them. They'll say: "Son, check it out. You'll be surprised what you might learn around here."






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&nbsp; Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips echoed the thoughts of many Friday when he was informed that Ray Authement is stepping down as UL's president.

"It won't be the same," said Phillips, who served as UL's athletic director from 1983 to 1988, during a crucial time in the school's growth in major college athletics.

"He's absolutely one of finest presidents, and men, I've ever been associated with," Phillips said. "I honestly can't say enough good things about the man. He could have gone to a lot of universities in the country, but he chose to live and work there at UL and stay with that community simply because of his tremendous love and passion for Lafayette and the university."

Phillips arrived at a time when the NCAA created Division 1-AA for football, recognized as a step below Division 1-A in both funding and aspirations. Other members of the Southland Conference elected to become a 1-AA league, but UL balked, leading to a departure from the conference.

Authement was willing for the school to be independent for a few years in order to pursue its larger goals.

"Dr. Authement saw athletics as a way to expand the horizons of the university and make people think beyond the regional concept with the university, and provide opportunities for exposure beyond which the university had historically experienced," Phillips said.

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070429/NEWS01/704290354/1002/NEWS01" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com
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"At that time, going Division 1-A in football was a bold step, very bold."

The Ragin' Cajuns program was derided by some for that decision, and competition remains fierce in 1-A football. The football program has had nine winning seasons since 1983 and one break-even 6-6 mark last fall, with no bowl game appearances.

But UL also has produced Super Bowl-caliber NFL players in Brian Mitchell, Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokley, as well as Pro Bowl honoree Orlando Thomas.

"Certainly, you learn not to be afraid of competition," Phillips said. "You learn that it doesn't hurt you to step outside your comfort level. When you do, you learn to deal with cynicism and skepticism because people don't understand the whole picture.

"You have to put those things behind you, and in some ways it gives you a little thicker skin. We did step out of our comfort zone at that particular time."

Phillips was followed by head football coach Nelson Stokley and then Nelson Schexnayder in the A.D. office, with longtime UL figure David Walker now handling athletics.

"Athletics is going to lose the biggest supporter we have," Walker said of Authement's departure. "It's going to be a tremendous loss to athletics, regardless of what people have said or thought. He has done everything humanly possible to support athletics."

The vacuum will be larger than in just Cajuns athletics, Walker noted.

"He's the type of president that everybody goes to for advice," he said. "... He's well-respected across the state. And throughout the Sun Belt, there is tremendous respect."




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Some may not realize that when Authement took over in the early 70's the athletic budget was around $800,000

One of the very first things he did was bump it to over a million dollars.

Now if he had only kept pace with inflation the 2006 budet would have been just under $4 million ($3,847,123.73)

Somehow without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall, the athletic budget has been able to stay ahead of inflation at around double the pace.

If this is a reality, then its a sad reflection on our community.

If athletics takes a step backwards, Im done.

Very, very few places have the opportunity that Lafayette has. We have seen this reflected in the numerous business related stories about Lafayettes economy.

I have any number of things that I can do on a Saturday afternoon in the fall, and it will cost me a hel.l of alot less.

The internet banter is fun, definitely......but I can get alot more accomplished without it.

We screw this up....I guarantee I wont be the only one bailing out.

"Athletics is going to lose the biggest supporter we have," Walker said of Authement's departure. "It's going to be a tremendous loss to athletics, regardless of what people have said or thought. He has done everything humanly possible to support athletics."

<<<Anyone want to explain that amazing Baldwin hire? That set us back 12 years.>>>>>>>

Academics is always #1 priority....ALWAYS!

unfortunately in this day and age you are judged by your athletic programs.

Thank heavens we have The Lotiefs and Robe! I believe they are so entrenched in this community that they have decided to put up with NO, NADA, NONE, ZERO, funding.

NO WAY in this community...this vibrant, healthy oasis, that we should be the second to lowest funded athletic program in the nation.

We know these boards are monitered by Martin Hall. Take heed cats...make the best possible decision for this community, or this ship will sink.

I will be on the first life boat waving goodbye to all you guys.

Z.

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Originally Posted by Zeebart21

_ If this is a reality, then its a sad reflection on our community.

We know these boards are monitered by Martin Hall. Take heed, cats...make the best possible decision for this community, or this ship will sink.

I will be on the first life boat waving goodbye to all you guys.

Z. _

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Yep.

The spin machine is in full gear right now. The true litmus test will be if the new president will allow a PRIVATE athletic foundation similar to the TAF.

If they don't, nothing will change, and our future will be sealed in defeat.

I will be in the boat right behind you.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

_ Some may not realize that when Authement took over in the early 70's the athletic budget was around $800,000

One of the very first things he did was bump it to over a million dollars.

Now if he had only kept pace with inflation the 2006 budet would have been just under $4 million ($3,847,123.73)

Somehow without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall, the athletic budget has been able to stay ahead of inflation at around double the pace. _

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College inflation and the CPI are nowhere near the same. And athletic inflation vs college inflation again are not in the same ballpark. Your stance is not relevant because of those two facts. In addition the real deal is that UL has fallen behind it's competitors and that is the only thing that matters. That is not to say it is his fault this has occurred, only that we are where we are.....

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Originally Posted by Cajun Express

_ College inflation and the CPI are nowhere near the same. And athletic inflation vs college inflation again are not in the same ballpark. Your stance is not relevant because of those two facts. In addition the real deal is that UL has fallen behind it's competitors and that is the only thing that matters. That is not to say it is his fault this has occurred, only that we are where we are..... _

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You know what makes it relevant?

"without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall"

Now the windfall could have been (should have been ) of his own making but still he doubled up on inflation without reinventing the wheel.

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Originally Posted by Zeebart21

_ If this is a reality, then its a sad reflection on our community.

If athletics takes a step backwards, Im done.

Very, very few places have the opportunity that Lafayette has. We have seen this reflected in the numerous business related stories about Lafayettes economy.

I have any number of things that I can do on a Saturday afternoon in the fall, and it will cost me a hel.l of alot less.

The internet banter is fun, definitely......but I can get alot more accomplished without it.

We screw this up....I guarantee I wont be the only one bailing out.

"Athletics is going to lose the biggest supporter we have," Walker said of Authement's departure. "It's going to be a tremendous loss to athletics, regardless of what people have said or thought. He has done everything humanly possible to support athletics."

<<<Anyone want to explain that amazing Baldwin hire? That set us back 12 years.>>>>>>>

Academics is always #1 priority....ALWAYS!

unfortunately in this day and age you are judged by your athletic programs.

Thank heavens we have The Lotiefs and Robe! I believe they are so entrenched in this community that they have decided to put up with NO, NADA, NONE, ZERO, funding.

NO WAY in this community...this vibrant, healthy oasis, that we should be the second to lowest funded athletic program in the nation.

We know these boards are monitered by Martin Hall. Take heed cats...make the best possible decision for this community, or this ship will sink.

I will be on the first life boat waving goodbye to all you guys.

Z. _

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Of course I'm new but EVER since I started to read and participate on these forums ALL I have ever heard is complaining about Dr. A. I know nothing about the man and have no opinion. It just seems like people are never satisfied. Everyone wants him to retire, I constantly read he is the reason the athletics are behind. Now I read he is the reason they are not? Which is it?

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Originally Posted by MissingMandy

_ Of course I'm new but EVER since I started to read and participate on these forums ALL I have ever heard is complaining about Dr. A. I know nothing about the man and have no opinion. It just seems like people are never satisfied. Everyone wants him to retire, I constantly read he is the reason the athletics are behind. Now I read he is the reason they are not? Which is it? _

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In my ever so humble opinion . . .

Authement did more with less . . . but (for the most part) was boxed into less by his own doing.

UL has the most efficient program in the country and I will argue that with anyone.

ps athletically speaking

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Originally Posted by MissingMandy

.... I constantly read he is the reason the athletics are behind. Now I read he is the reason they are not? Which is it?

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I really do believe here lately there has been some REAL caring going on. In other words, you're coming on board at a great time. The hope right now is that the next president "sets the world on fire" - so to speak - with Cajun athletics

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Originally Posted by Turbine

_ You know what makes it relevant?

"without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall"

Now the windfall could have been (should have been ) of his own making but still he doubled up on inflation without reinventing the wheel. _

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I am talking WKU, FIU, FAU, UNT as the group that have passed us up. I am not talking about the BCS schools.....

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Originally Posted by MissingMandy

_ Of course I'm new but EVER since I started to read and participate on these forums ALL I have ever heard is complaining about Dr. A. I know nothing about the man and have no opinion. It just seems like people are never satisfied. Everyone wants him to retire, I constantly read he is the reason the athletics are behind. Now I read he is the reason they are not? Which is it? _

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Everything on boards is exaggerated. We only complain about things we don't have instead of appreciation of the things we do have. That is a very common malady of all fans.