Above average: UL football season in review

[zephyr]

_ The budget cuts suck, no doubt. They have nothing to do, however, with the benefits of a roaring private funding system. The right private funding program has way more to do with the involvement of "super people" than it does with money. Money is a bi-product. A very nice one. This budget cut business on higher education is sad. It will also be one of the primary challenges, and areas of focus, for Dr. Savoie, potentially for quite some time to come. As much as I harp on the admin about athletics... this is a crisis worth his undivided attention.

This state's politics are fundamentally absurd, inbred and incestuous... even moreso than LaTech and the Indy. _

You are correct but we are just chasing our tails here. The RCAF will be great but by many peoples views, they do not want to donate money until the university admins do their part in putting a winning product on the field. However, this is hard with our lack of budget and the fact that we can't get the money until we win. Its a vicious cycle for this university I'm afraid. I've already given what I can and will do again in 2009. However, many people just feel like they are entitled to a winning program being put on the field before they have to donate. I don't prescribe to this philosophy but many do. Until we have people out there that are willing to help be part of the solution and pay if forward, we won't increase our resources very much.

[California Cajun]

_ You are correct but we are just chasing our tails here. The RCAF will be great but by many peoples views, they do not want to donate money until the university admins do their part in putting a winning product on the field. However, this is hard with our lack of budget and the fact that we can't get the money until we win. Its a vicious cycle for this university I'm afraid. I've already given what I can and will do again in 2009. However, many people just feel like they are entitled to a winning program being put on the field before they have to donate. I don't prescribe to this philosophy but many do. Until we have people out there that are willing to help be part of the solution and pay if forward, we won't increase our resources very much. _

I think you start by asking yourself if you would like UL to succeed in sports. Then ask yourself if there is an indirect benefit to you if they do. Then you see the gallant effort by the football team this year that shows you how limited they are without any support.

But we need to hear from our leaders and be sold on the fact that they are the right people to lead us to the promised land. I can't see us not being able to do what a non-BCS powerhouse can do if the conditions were right. We finally reached the point of no confidence in Dr. Authement. For the first time in 35 years we have the opportunity to size up some new people and see if they can do it.

[zephyr]

_ I think you start by asking yourself if you would like UL to succeed in sports. Then ask yourself if there is an indirect benefit to you if they do. Then you see the gallant effort by the football team this year that shows you how limited they are without any support.

But we need to hear from our leaders and be sold on the fact that they are the right people to lead us to the promised land. I can't see us not being able to do what a non-BCS powerhouse can do if the conditions were right. We finally reached the point of no confidence in Dr. Authement. For the first time in 35 years we have the opportunity to size up some new people and see if they can do it. _

Again, chasing our tails here. How are these administrators supposed to show us this if they are having to cut resources via financial cutbacks or hire the big names if we decide to get rid of coaches and buy the exhisting coaches out if we don't have funds to do so? Some people say that the RCAF is the answer and that would be an option if more people were out to contribute.

I understand what you are saying but I just think it is extremely difficult to dedicate resources and efforts to various programs when you are so financially strapped. What other ways are you speaking of when you say that the admins need to show us that they are the right people? Just curious

[Clutch0364]

_ Again, chasing our tails here. How are these administrators supposed to show us this if they are having to cut resources via financial cutbacks or hire the big names if we decide to get rid of coaches and buy the exhisting coaches out if we don't have funds to do so? Some people say that the RCAF is the answer and that would be an option if more people were out to contribute.

I understand what you are saying but I just think it is extremely difficult to dedicate resources and efforts to various programs when you are so financially strapped. What other ways are you speaking of when you say that the admins need to show us that they are the right people? Just curious _

If they are not going to put resources towards it then get rid of athletics. If your not going to do everything possible to compete than why have it.

[BrudaCajun]

_ If they are not going to put resources towards it then get rid of athletics. If your not going to do everything possible to compete than why have it. _

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[zephyr]

_ If they are not going to put resources towards it then get rid of athletics. If your not going to do everything possible to compete than why have it. _

I'm just not sure how hard this is. How do you put something into the program that you don't have??? If your university is in the middle of a 7 million dollar budget cut, how do you suppose you dump a bunch of resources into the program. Its not a matter of whether they are willing to do it, as I think Mr. Farmer and Dr. Savoie are more than willing, its whether you CAN!

[Clutch0364]

_ I'm just not sure how hard this is. How do you put something into the program that you don't have??? If your university is in the middle of a 7 million dollar budget cut, how do you suppose you dump a bunch of resources into the program. Its not a matter of whether they are willing to do it, as I think Mr. Farmer and Dr. Savoie are more than willing, its whether you CAN! _

Well a decision needs to be made whether to stay at the bottom or push for more resources (Private RCAF type of money) or don't have any athletics. We keep hearing about renovations for baseball, softball, and football...if the money is there for these type of improvements, the money is there to make some decisions regarding personnel.

Basically what I am saying is that financially we are not as strapped as what we may think.

[Hammer58]

_ I'm just not sure how hard this is. How do you put something into the program that you don't have??? If your university is in the middle of a 7 million dollar budget cut, how do you suppose you dump a bunch of resources into the program. Its not a matter of whether they are willing to do it, as I think Mr. Farmer and Dr. Savoie are more than willing, its whether you CAN! _

In addition to starting the RCAF (and I think we are all gettng frustrated with the delays in this) we need to get the prohibition on student fees for athletics rescinded. The lack of student fees is probably the biggest contributor to the gap between our athletic budget and those of our peer mid-major D1A schools. This is an effort that will take the cooperation and coordinated lobbying efforts by all fo the state's universities. Of course, we have seen all to often in our banana republic that such cooperation is painfully hard to come by. LSUA&MC will not support the effort because they don't need the fees and despite their "flagship" status they have never shown a propensity to lead on any issue that benefits anyone other than them. I certainly don't expect them to support anything that benefits the other state schools. And too many of our sister ULS institutions (namely the D1aa schools) will not support it because while it will benefit them as well they will see it as a bigger benefit to the in-state D1A programs and they have always oppossed anything the furthers growing the gap between them and us. Still, even with those obstacles it is something that must be pursued.

[zephyr]

_ In addition to starting the RCAF (and I think we are all gettng frustrated with the delays in this) we need to get the prohibition on student fees for athletics rescinded. The lack of student fees is probably the biggest contributor to the gap between our athletic budget and those of our peer mid-major D1A schools. This is an effort that will take the cooperation and coordinated lobbying efforts by all fo the state's universities. Of course, we have seen all to often in our banana republic that such cooperation is painfully hard to come by. LSUA&MC will not support the effort because they don't need the fees and despite their "flagship" status they have never shown a propensity to lead on any issue that benefits anyone other than them. I certainly don't expect them to support anything that benefits the other state schools. And too many of our sister ULS institutions (namely the D1aa schools) will not support it because while it will benefit them as well they will see it as a bigger benefit to the in-state D1A programs and they have always oppossed anything the furthers growing the gap between them and us. Still, even with those obstacles it is something that must be pursued. _

I agree. I was on this boat a while back but I got info here stating that it is not possible for the university to charge the students an athletic fee of sorts in their tuition. Why? I have no idea. I think this is completely missing in the budget and from what i've heard, the students are against the fee. This leads me into my previous statements that we,as fans and students are always demanding that the administration pony up and allow us the resources to fund a good program. I, however, feel like we should be donating and supporting the program so they can do this. Now, people seem to be waiting for the RCAF as I am but there is nothing stopping you from donating funds without it. I did it this past year and they had no problems accepting my donation.

[zephyr]

_ Well a decision needs to be made whether to stay at the bottom or push for more resources (Private RCAF type of money) or don't have any athletics. We keep hearing about renovations for baseball, softball, and football...if the money is there for these type of improvements, the money is there to make some decisions regarding personnel.

Basically what I am saying is that financially we are not as strapped as what we may think. _

Well then its a matter of putting the cart before the horse I suppose. Buyout coach Bustle for 600k then hope we can pay a head coach 400k and upgrade the new coach's assistants for say another 150k or do much needed renovations to other athletic and academic facilities? Hum. Don't know. If you make the wrong decision personnel wise, it puts your program back YEARS. Its not like I don't agree that things to be done but I don't think we always look at things with a degree of perspective. Don't you think that one of the reasons that these projects are delayed is because of a lack of funding? It just seems to me that if we had all this money in a fund somewhere that there would be no delays. Plus, these types of projects take a long time to develop.

[Hammer58]

_ I agree. I was on this boat a while back but I got info here stating that it is not possible for the university to charge the students an athletic fee of sorts in their tuition. Why? I have no idea. I think this is completely missing in the budget and from what i've heard, the students are against the fee. This leads me into my previous statements that we,as fans and students are always demanding that the administration pony up and allow us the resources to fund a good program. I, however, feel like we should be donating and supporting the program so they can do this. Now, people seem to be waiting for the RCAF as I am but there is nothing stopping you from donating funds without it. I did it this past year and they had no problems accepting my donation. _

The fee restrictions are a state mandate. I used to be under the impression that it was a legislative mandate but others have corrected me and stated it is a Board of Regents directive. To me being a board directive should make it easier to overturn since if the member institutions would get together and lobby the board members. Changing their minds should, IMO, be easier than convincing a majority of the legislature. But again, we have up until now demonstrated a Greek city-state mentality (as another poster aplty described it).

[Clutch0364]

_ Well then its a matter of putting the cart before the horse I suppose. Buyout coach Bustle for 600k then hope we can pay a head coach 400k and upgrade the new coach's assistants for say another 150k or do much needed renovations to other athletic and academic facilities? Hum. Don't know. If you make the wrong decision personnel wise, it puts your program back YEARS. Its not like I don't agree that things to be done but I don't think we always look at things with a degree of perspective. Don't you think that one of the reasons that these projects are delayed is because of a lack of funding? It just seems to me that if we had all this money in a fund somewhere that there would be no delays. Plus, these types of projects take a long time to develop. _

I am looking at it as make a big hire now and it will benefit financially later. I just feel this administration needs to do something to show we are serious about winning at the FBS level and I have yet to see anything. I haven't seen them be serious about any sport. Softball and baseball have been able to flourish despite the admin.