The Jerry Baldwin Saga: 1998-2020

The really sad part is if I'm a member of the Uof L community, I am seriously looking more carefully before I hire minorities....sad, but hey folks, we have a business to run.

I know Baldwin personally, and I hate to say this but it is true...he was always about the 'black' thing. Always carried it on his shoulders, always took more time with the black players, talked up the black card when recruiting, used it to the best of his ability whenever possible. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but when you're the head coach of a program, you need to be above that, everyone needs to be on an even keel...

Having said all of this, when he was fired, I saw this coming, from a mile away. It's a shame.

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Originally Posted by Hammer58

Count me in.

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Im in. what a crock- O -c.r.a.p...

Z.

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Originally Posted by Hammer58

_ It was reported on BEV that almost $1 million was for lost past wages and lost future earnings because the jury bought his lawyer's argument that had he not been fired JB would by now be either an SEC head coach or an NFL coordinator. _

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This is where passionate lawyering might have made a difference.

All he had to do was show the downward spiral Baldwin's career was already in when Authement hired him.

His digression at LSU . . . Assistant Head Coach . . . Defensive Coordinator . . . Line coach . . . position coach. His next stop if UL had not hired him was Ruston.

Having said that I was willing to give him year 4, go figure :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by showdog

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I've heard stories of some of the goings on at Losing State University that would make your hairs stand on end, and they for the most part have gotten away with it.
_

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Here is where the money thing comes into play,,, Ever notice whenever a "situation" comes up at A&M@BR, it quietly goes away...

1. "Mr. Me" is arrested at a casino.... A kid from an impovershed background going into a casino.... While the issue was him being underaged, where did he get the $$$ to be playing in a casino.... Reported once.... goes away

2. The legacy of Skip is about to be tarnished by players receving subsidized housing in apartments HE owns... Reported once... goes away

3. Two teachers tesitify that they were fired because they would not change grades..... A little payola.... and they go away

We give away T-shirts for off-season work-out accomplishments.... Front page HEADLINES by our LOCAL news rag and it goes on and on until we receive an NCAA sanction

Want to talk about $$$ fellows... This is where it matters....

Now we know Jerry Baldwin was Mr. Positive on the outside and Mr. Negative on the inside.

count me in as well

Tuffguy

He's laughin all the way to the bank. Wonder how much of his "ministries" will see this cash or if he'll use it as a non profit to avoid taxes. People who deserve to be compensated for a loss in their lives I truely have nothing against but this guy ...it is just shameful.

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<table bgcolor=#eaeaea> <td> <font color=#000000> <blockquote> <p align=justify>
&nbsp; UL plans to challenge the jury decision that awarded $2 million to former football coach Jerry Baldwin for claims he made against the university.

According to UL's attorneys, the plaintiff didn't have the nine votes needed from jurors on some claims he made, and some jurors couldn't recall how they voted.

"A new trial is another avenue that's open to us, and that's something we're going to pursue because of the lack of evidence supporting any of the claims," said Larry Marino, one of the attorneys handling the case for UL.

UL's attorneys are preparing to file motions that challenge some of the jury's votes in the case. Marino said that an appeal to a higher court would be a last resort.

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071031/NEWS01/710310340/1002" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com
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Earlier this month, a Baton Rouge jury voted to award Baldwin $2 million in his lawsuit against the university. Among Baldwin's claims were emotional distress, breach of contract and discrimination after he was fired by the university in 2001.

While nine votes are needed for a judgment, the claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress had four "no" votes from the 12 jurors with some jurors uncertain which vote they cast, Marino said.

On the claim of intentional interference of Baldwin's contract, seven "yes" votes were made and two jurors could not recall how they voted, he said, adding that the response from jurors on discrimination claims was conflicting.

Marino said jurors found that Baldwin was not terminated because of his race; however, jurors answered yes to a second question that asked if race was a determining factor in his termination.

It's too soon to tell if the jury's decision will have any impact on how the UL System advises its universities to handle future terminations, said Kay Kirkpatrick, UL System vice president for administration and general counsel.

"We need to take a look at the jury verdict itself and get a better understanding of it," she said. "It's premature to talk about changing policies until we get a final judgment."




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This can't possibly hold up under appeal. I wouldn't be surprised to see his attorney request a settlement (undisclosed), in order to shut this thing down. If Baldwin risks taking this the distance, he isn't going to see a dime for years, mount some hefty attorney fees, and put a substantial portion of this award in jeopardy.

I do agree, however, to join in a class action lawsuit against him, should he be awarded more than $150k in the end. I cannot imagine a jury able to withstand the tearful tale of the agony, heartbreak, sleepless nights, loss of appetite, emotional distress, embarassment, disalusionment, pain and suffering, lost wages and opportunity, marrital strife, mental torture, physical agony and more... that Baldwin's football program put me thru.

I would have been POTUS by now... I would have defeated Iraq with a near perfect democracy set up in the aftermath, ended global warming, eliminated terrorism, cleared up the traffic issues in Lafayette, there would be no pepper on any UL clothing, and the remodeled 100,000 seat Cajun Field would once again be serving large portions of alcoholic beverages from its open bar concessions (the bathrooms would be clean and have an ample supply of paper towels to boot).

The world simply does not know what chain of events Baldwin's horrible coaching prevented or caused.

But, after he gives up the suit... I wish him well.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

I would have been POTUS by now...there would be no pepper on any UL clothing,

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You've got my vote for anything you'd run for.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

But, after he gives up the suit... I wish him well. _

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I can't say that I do. you're a better man than me.

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Originally Posted by MissingMandy

_ He's laughin all the way to the bank. Wonder how much of his "ministries" will see this cash or if he'll use it as a non profit to avoid taxes. People who deserve to be compensated for a loss in their lives I truely have nothing against but this guy ...it is just shameful. _

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HE AIN'T GOT IT YET, REMEMBER, WE ARE APPEALING THIS. NOW IF IT IS APPEALED IN BATON ROUGE, MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD AND GIVE HIM THE MONEY.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

_ This can't possibly hold up under appeal. I wouldn't be surprised to see his attorney request a settlement (undisclosed), in order to shut this thing down. If Baldwin risks taking this the distance, he isn't going to see a dime for years, mount some hefty attorney fees, and put a substantial portion of this award in jeopardy.




I do agree, however, to join in a class action lawsuit against him, should he be awarded more than $150k in the end. I cannot imagine a jury able to withstand the tearful tale of the agony, heartbreak, sleepless nights, loss of appetite, emotional distress, embarassment, disalusionment, pain and suffering, lost wages and opportunity, marrital strife, mental torture, physical agony and more... that Baldwin's football program put me thru.

I would have been POTUS by now... I would have defeated Iraq with a near perfect democracy set up in the aftermath, ended global warming, eliminated terrorism, cleared up the traffic issues in Lafayette, there would be no pepper on any UL clothing, and the remodeled 100,000 seat Cajun Field would once again be serving large portions of alcoholic beverages from its open bar concessions (the bathrooms would be clean and have an ample supply of paper towels to boot).

The world simply does not know what chain of events Baldwin's horrible coaching prevented or caused.

But, after he gives up the suit... I wish him well. _

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BRAVO ..... BRAVO. I am laughing my *ss off.

Class action suit against Baldwin. Where can I sign up?

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Originally Posted by NewsCopy

"Baldwin also claims...cut the football equipment budget and took $25,000 donated to the football program to use for other purposes in the athletic department."

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I was once told by a UL person with authority that the Pepper cost of the UL Athletic Department $25,000

The logo/mascot effort was to raise moral and attitude which is often the 1st step needed to get support for a program, any program.

The cost came up in a conversation about why I thought they should get rid of the Pepper as a mascot. In the course of the conversation the main reason given for keeping the pepper not wanting to have to claim a wasted investment. The $25,000 already spent was the reason given for keeping it, plus not having the money to do it again.

Whether this was for the entire hot wheels, flame, pepper logo, and pepper mascot project I was not told. $25,000 sounds like a lot for just the mascot but sounds very reasonable for the entire concept.

Whether or not the pepper was a good move is almost not debatable to say the least. HOWEVER if you look at the goal they were trying to accomplish, boost image, school spirit, identity, rallying point, coordinated clothing, unique numbers etc. ... and on and on . . . it seems to me they were attempting to give coach Baldwin a HUGE gift.

To me this effort during the Baldwin regime was a gift, an endorsement, a promotional item, like no coach has gotten before or since.

Now it may have been done with a totally different $25,000 but the fact remains that this internal promotional effort all went down during the Baldwin tenure. that fact alone sort of undoes his clams of total neglect.

jmo

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Originally Posted by Turbine

_ I was once told by a UL person with authority that the Pepper cost of the UL Athletic Department $25,000

The logo/mascot effort was to raise moral and attitude which is often the 1st step needed to get support for a program, any program.

The cost came up in a conversation about why I thought they should get rid of the Pepper as a mascot. In the course of the conversation the main reason given for keeping the pepper not wanting to have to claim a wasted investment. The $25,000 already spent was the reason given for keeping it, plus not having the money to do it again.

Whether this was for the entire hot wheels, flame, pepper logo, and pepper mascot project I was not told. $25,000 sounds like a lot for just the mascot but sounds very reasonable for the entire concept.

Whether or not the pepper was a good move is almost not debatable to say the least. HOWEVER if you look at the goal they were trying to accomplish, boost image, school spirit, identity, rallying point, coordinated clothing, unique numbers etc. ... and on and on . . . it seems to me they were attempting to give coach Baldwin a HUGE gift.

To me this effort during the Baldwin regime was a gift, an endorsement, a promotional item, like no coach has gotten before or since.

Now it may have been done with a totally different $25,000 but the fact remains that this internal promotional effort all went down during the Baldwin tenure. that fact alone sort of undoes his clams of total neglect.

jmo _

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I had heard something a little different. I had heard that it was the UPC that was doing the purchasing of these costumes, or at least picking out what they looked like. I heard that they bought one, used it for about a year, and that it costed in excess of $8k. The they bought a new one that may have cost about double that amount. I think now, they are on #3, and that one also cost in the $15k range. I don't ahve any sources to back this up, but this is what I "heard".

I'm telling you guys, use that nice fleur de lis as our main logo, sans fire. and use it as as Ut does with the longhorn. Its no wonder why the powers that be don't want us to succeed, they are too concerned with us winning and using our pepper BS, and representing the state as some sort of Bush League gimmick thing (some sarcasm inserted for effect). And, if we need a mascot to walk around and play with the kids, then dress up someone in a red gator costume.

(pardon my negativity on this afternoons posts, Its been a long day and I'm in a poor mood)

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Originally Posted by rhineaux

_I'm telling you guys, use that nice fleur de lis as our main logo, sans fire. and use it as as Ut does with the longhorn. Its no wonder why the powers that be don't want us to succeed, they are too concerned with us winning and using our pepper BS, and representing the state as some sort of Bush League gimmick thing (some sarcasm inserted for effect). And, if we need a mascot to walk around and play with the kids, then dress up someone in a red gator costume.

(pardon my negativity on this afternoons posts, Its been a long day and I'm in a poor mood) _

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RIGHT ON !!!!!.~..~.


Everywhere we have a flaming vegetable, it should be replaced with a red and white fleur-de-lis or an interlocking UL.

The more we junk everything up with the flames, and the yellow, the more bush league we look.

Some people need to remember we are THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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&nbsp;

Lawyers for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette say since some members of the jury can not remember how they voted when they awarded former football coach Jerry Baldwin $2 million last year.

<center><p><a href="http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=7602921" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
KATC

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<table bgcolor=#eaeaea> <td> <font color=#000000> <blockquote> <p align=justify>
&nbsp; A judge on Monday shot down an effort by attorneys for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to attack the $2 million verdict awarded to former football coach Jerry Baldwin.

Baldwin, UL’s first black head football coach, won the verdict last year in a lawsuit alleging he was fired in 2001 for racial reasons.

The university has maintained the coach was let go because of his losing record of 6-27 in three seasons.

UL attorneys had hoped to call into question the verdict because two jurors could not recall their votes on all of the more than 20 questions the jury was asked to answer when deciding the case.

Nineteenth Judicial District Judge Don Johnson ruled in Baton Rouge on Monday that regardless of whether each juror remembered how they voted on each question after deliberating 10 hours, the jury’s agreement with the overall decision seemed clear.

Baldwin’s attorney, G. Karl Bernard, had noted that all the jurors remembered their vote on the $2 million damage award when questioned by the judge after trial.

<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/17179106.html?showAll=y&c=y" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>

By RICHARD BURGESS
Advocate Acadiana bureau
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In an unusual move, the judge had subpoenaed the jurors to Monday’s hearing, but they were not questioned again about their answers to specific questions on the jury verdict form.

A ruling in UL’s favor would not have overturned the $2 million damage award but would have raised one more issue to pursue on appeal.

“We are going to contest coach Baldwin’s claim at every step in the process,” ULL attorney Steve Oats said.

Johnson also ruled Monday that ULL should pay Baldwin’s legal bills.

Baldwin’s attorneys have asked for $800,000 in fees, arguing that the case was complex and time consuming.

Johnson put off a decision on the amount of attorney fees until after appeals have been exhausted in the case.

Bernard said Monday he was “satisfied” the issues of the verdict form and attorneys fees have finally been resolved, allowing the case to move on step closer to an end.

A jury of six white people and six black people voted 10-2 in October to award Baldwin $500,000 for general damages and emotional distress, $600,000 for past lost wages, and $900,000 for future lost wages.

The jury voted that race was not the sole reason for Baldwin’s termination but it did play a role in the university’s decision, according to answers given on a lengthy form that queried the jury on several facets of the case.

Johnson has yet to hear arguments on another request filed by ULL to overturn the jury’s verdict or grant a new trial.



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How is this possible? THe guy was one of the worst coaches in UL history, he plays the race card and is now going to be a millionaire.

WOW. What has this country come to.

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Originally Posted by UL_Cajuns

_ How is this possible? THe guy was one of the worst coaches in UL history, he plays the race card and is now going to be a millionaire.

WOW. What has this country come to. _

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"The jury voted that race was not the sole reason for Baldwin’s termination but it did play a role in the university’s decision"

This is something I will never understand. by this statement, they are agreeing that the school had reason to fire him. Yet, they think he deserves some sort of restituion anyway?

Maybe I'm missing something...maybe one of the attorney's out there could enlighten me. Turbine??? :-)

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Originally Posted by UL_Cajuns

How is this possible? THe guy was one of the worst coaches in UL history, he plays the race card and is now going to be a millionaire.

WOW. What has this country come to.

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Not so fast my friend.

The TRIAL court denied the motion for new trial.

UL still may appeal the decision to the First Circuit in B.R.

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Originally Posted by AstroCajun

_ Not so fast my friend.

The TRIAL court denied the motion for new trial.

UL still may appeal the decision to the First Circuit in B.R. _

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If they have to they will go to the La State Supreme Court. That's an awful lot of money plus interest hanging out there. Can you compute the total amount to date?

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Originally Posted by DestinCajun

If they have to they will go to the La State Supreme Court. That's an awful lot of money plus interest hanging out there. Can you compute the total amount to date?

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From the state bar judicial interest rate calculator

http://www.lsba.org/newintcalc.htm


08/19/2007 - 12/31/2007 $ 70,273.97(135 days @ $520.55/daily @ 9.500%/year)
01/01/2008 - 04/01/2008 $ 42,732.24(92 days @ $464.48/daily @ 8.500%/year)

For a total of $ 113,006.21

Don't worry about the money. Season ticket holders are going to be charged a fee for season tickets each of the next five years. You've heard of the Ragin Cajun Club dues. We all get Baldwin Club Dues. (Jerry has agreed to tithe the customary 10% of all proceeds to the church of his choice)

With the Club Membership each ticket holder will receive:

1 box of toothpics and

all the left over Jerry Balwin Era Empty Stadium popcorn you can eat.

How many of these appel or Sup CT judges are LSUers???? Maybe I should have stayed in Law school and gotten the LSU bball coach to file a suit that talked about the pressure to resign because he was white and coached a mostly black bball team!!!!! What a joke!!!!