End of Year Rivalry Game

[CajunFun]

Look at Texas, they have more money than God and they can't buy success.- Cajun fun
Good point, so what are they trying to gain by moving to s-e-c?

Every team that was once a football powerhouse who left the SWC/Big12 has faded. Some of these were the champions of our youth: Arkansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M. Where are they now?

And next up are OU and UT.

I think it's going to be priceless.

[Grantvb]

I’d like to point out something that may be a moot point. The conference expanded between Napier’s last year and Diez’s first year. From 10 to 14. Does that not represent a bigger challenge and the obvious reason for different results?

[Turbine]

I agree with everything Joe said.

Personally I am frustrated with the lack of marketing, and the apparent inability to use athletics as an advertising tool and an overall a drawing card for the school.

Using the undeniable front porch in the manner it was used for the first 39 years of the schools existence when it went from non existent to the second largest in the State would be appropriate.

[CajunFun]

Are they worthless because the ncaa doesn't recognize it or does the ncaa not recognize it because we are better than p5 at it?

IMHO, the skiing team may be one of our better investments.

We don't think about sports as 'publishing,' but they are. Publishing means 'to make public.' The university's main mission is education, preparing citizens for the democracy.

Research is important, but something like 40% of all research papers will never be cited by anyone. Very few will be cited in 10 years.

So why emphasize research? Why play sports?

Publishing. They promote our brand, they heighten our visibility. They help us recruit students, private dollars, governmental dollars, and other assets.

The ski team doesn't cost a lot, and they promote our visibility. How much? It's like one businesser told me, "Half of my advertising dollars are wasted."

"But I don't know which half."

I will say this: there's a reason LSU doesn't talk about their waterski team.

[CajunNation]

... The P5 are talking about leaving the NCAA, and I hope they do... because once again, it will blow up in their faces...

I 100% agree.

I fell in love, many years ago, with collegiate athletics. There is nothing else like it. I have no desire to follow the NFL lite or the XFL-fancy snob edition.

I have always believed that our primary goal for Louisiana athletics is to be competitive at the top levels of collegiate athletics. That desire will remain after the snobs leave.

[CajunFun]

I agree with everything Joe said.

Personally I am frustrated with the lack of marketing, and the apparent inability to use athletics as an advertising tool and an overall a drawing card for the school.

Using the undeniable front porch in the manner it was used for the first 39 years of the schools existence when it went from non existent to the second largest in the State would be appropriate.

I don't disagree with you... but I am of two minds. So I suppose I disagree with myself?

Here's my (early) thinking on it: our success in research is phenomenal, possibly without precedence anywhere in the country. We have had pitiful resources, and we may pass $300M? And we're just starting to accelerate?

It's hard for us to contemplate, because it's all we know. But if any other school has done this with our meager resources, fill me in.

So here is the nascent thought: if we accomplished that much... could we redefine the whole game? Could we change the way people think of a public university?

Could we become a school that blazes its own way through the wilderness, one that others will follow and emulate?

Could we get to be like the Ivy League, where our fans understand why we are here, and who recognize that sports are not all that important?

"Better one's own path, though imperfect, than another's well-made."
—Bhagavad Gita

[Turbine]

It is undeniable how well U Louisiana is promoted world wide by the ski team.