Authement cuts programs

Historically some things seem unexplainable.

Entire sports programs that had won multiple national championships and had given the school a good name, just a couple years prior pricless advertising as it were, were then completely killed off.

The gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, bowling, and boxing programs of the past had either won national titles or regional titles yet were nixed for no apparent reason. (all but one, since Authement took over)

This is a huge mistake. Successful athletic programs give the general public a point of reference that makes any academic achievements easier to associate with the institution.

That is why a viable, clean successful athletic program is a must for reaching the heart and mind of both potential students and former students.

It may not be the way it should be, it may not even be right, but athletics is a universities #1 advertising arm. Which is why you never EVER go around lopping off the top performers.

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Boxing stopped being an NCAA sport in 1960

Not sure of the timeline, but weightlifting isn’t recognized by the NCAA

NCAA does recognize bowling, but it might only be women’s bowling. And there are fewer than 100 teams. Oddly enough many are HBCUs.

Why would we invest in at least two programs that aren’t recognized by the NCAA?

Or are you seriously blaming Ray Authement for the NCAA dropping boxing in 1960?

Any chance we add (or have added at least in P.E. class) pickleball? Fastest growing sport

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Originally Posted by Cajun Monkee

Or are you seriously blaming Ray Authement for the NCAA dropping boxing in 1960?

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No, in 2003 I said " "all but one, since Authement took over"

Boxing is the one that was pre Authement and was killed at its peak a dozen years before the NCAA dropped out.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

No I said " "all but one, since Authement took over"

Boxing is the one that was pre Authement and was killed at its peak a dozen years before the NCAA dropped out.

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What building on campus was home of cajuns boxing?

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Originally Posted by Cajun Monkee

Not sure of the timeline, but weightlifting isn’t recognized by the NCAA

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Authement killed it while UL was at or near the top, when it was recognised on the National Collegiate level.

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Originally Posted by RougaWhite&Blue

What building on campus was home of cajuns boxing?

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Earl K Long Gym is where the bouts were held.

Boxing was a thing since the school opened so I don't recall where they boxed before 1939.

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Originally Posted by ZZeebart21

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

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‘member berries…

FWIW new season tomorrow night.

These days its probably complicated to decide which sports to sponsor. If we ever had the funds to add on, men's soccer and women's golf make sense. The SBC sponsors championships in both sports with several conference members already participating. Infrastructure wise, seems we're already set up for both.

Money or lack of money has always been a barrier for UL though the decades. I’m sure they had some very unpopular decisions that had to be made. This year we’ve got great water skiing team that has to get virtually every dollar on their own.

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Originally Posted by Duckster

These days its probably complicated to decide which sports to sponsor. If we ever had the funds to add on, men's soccer and women's golf make sense. The SBC sponsors championships in both sports with several conference members already participating. Infrastructure wise, seems we're already set up for both.

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Don't forget Beach VB...

I was lucky enough to catch the womens Volleyball NCAA championship at The Hangout in Gulf Shores. I got great exercise from walking around all the matches going on at one time to try and find the team with the best talent. Spectacular event.

. . . a talent scout . . . I like that . . .

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Originally Posted by Turbine

No, in 2003 I said " "all but one, since Authement took over"

Boxing is the one that was pre Authement and was killed at its peak a dozen years before the NCAA dropped out.

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From what I am reading, the weightlifting program was cancelled in 1972 (when the two last members of the team graduated - so I'm assuming this was already in the works)
https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/...-ul/439439001/

and Authement was made acting President in 1973 and President in 1974.
https://louisiana.edu/news/dr-ray-p-...ship.%E2%80%9D

And just curious...when did U(s)L win (a) national championship(s) or regional championship(s) in gymnastics?

I remember trampoline with Leigh Hennessey, but no recollection of gymnastics.

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Originally Posted by Cajun Monkee

From what I am reading, the weightlifting program was cancelled in 1972 (when the two last members of the team graduated - so I'm assuming this was already in the works)
https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/...-ul/439439001/

and Authement was made acting President in 1973 and President in 1974.
https://louisiana.edu/news/dr-ray-p-...ship.%E2%80%9D

And just curious...when did U(s)L win (a) national championship(s) or regional championship(s) in gymnastics?

I remember trampoline with Leigh Hennessey, but no recollection of gymnastics.

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As Vice President of the University, Authement was the final review of all things budget (he was considered a numbers guy) well before before he was named President.

This influenced every aspect of the university, faculty, curriculum , and yes athletics.

Without proof it is my contention that the weightlifting program was a casualty of the NCAA basketball investigation.

The slow whittling down of the Weightlifting program coincided directly with the investigation. Silence of the Hams.

Of the 100+ violations the vast majority were gas purchases (to Shipley's account) at the Esso station on South College.

The Weightlifters were also a well traveled bunch.

No proof, just a timely matchup of events.

Very interesting to say the least. Thanks Turbine.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

As Vice President of the University, Authement was the final review of all things budget (he was considered a numbers guy) well before before he was named President.

This influenced every aspect of the university, faculty, curriculum , and yes athletics.

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But that's not what you said. You said, "since Authement took over."

I'll leave it that as these kinds of things get exhausting.

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Originally Posted by RougaWhite&Blue

Any chance we add (or have added at least in P.E. class) pickleball? Fastest growing sport

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If they didn't add discgolf, then no. Go look at the numbers for discgolf pre and post covid. They now have players with 10 million dollar endorsement deals

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Without proof it is my contention that the weightlifting program was a casualty of the NCAA basketball investigation.

The slow whittling down of the Weightlifting program coincided directly with the investigation. Silence of the Hams.

Of the 100+ violations the vast majority were gas purchases (to Shipley's account) at the Esso station on South College.

The Weightlifters were also a well traveled bunch.

No proof, just a timely matchup of events.

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I have heard the same thing. I'll elaborate only to say weightlifting wasn't the only minor sport involved.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Without proof it is my contention that the weightlifting program was a casualty of the NCAA basketball investigation.

The slow whittling down of the Weightlifting program coincided directly with the investigation. Silence of the Hams.

Of the 100+ violations the vast majority were gas purchases (to Shipley's account) at the Esso station on South College.

The Weightlifters were also a well traveled bunch.

No proof, just a timely matchup of events.

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Just curious who in conference still competes in weight lifting? Where would our major competition be today if the program would have never gotten the axe? I never hear of any weight lifting teams today.

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Originally Posted by Cajun Monkee

But that's not what you said. You said, "since Authement took over."

I'll leave it that as these kinds of things get exhausting.

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He took over the NCAA investigation, and took over final budget review, all prior to taking over the university.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Just curious who in conference still competes in weight lifting? Where would our major competition be today if the program would have never gotten the axe? I never hear of any weight lifting teams today.

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Midland College out of Nebraska is the only school I know of that still hands out scholarships for weightlifting.

It's not where it went, it's where it was.

Track had one of the best Relays in the south and it was allowed to die.

With an anchor in the Central South who knows where National weightlifting would be today and how many offensive linemen it would attract.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Just curious who in conference still competes in weight lifting? Where would our major competition be today if the program would have never gotten the axe? I never hear of any weight lifting teams today.

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Nobody. Its not even recognized by the NCAA.

I think this link will show you the literal handful of schools that still have teams.

https://www.collegexpress.com/lists/...-programs/594/

And I might be mistaken, but I think weightlifting will no longer be an Olympic sport.

Apparently its a competition rife with cheating (doping, PEDs, etc.)