A Tale of Two Universities

[Cajunrunner]

If we can overlook my mistakes, I would be most interested in your thoughts on the matter. Ray and Reneau went opposite directions. What do you think of the outcomes? Are they the result of different vision and leadership, or have we simply been fortunate?

And if my analysis and/or conclusion are in error, what do you think would be a more useful approach?

Few thoughts:

1- Yes, Dr. Authement helped the university grow in academic research to where from that standpoint, we've definitely left LA Tech behind. However, it's not like that school is just some sort of bum in the state in academics. Their engineering program is very good and respected in its professional sector. You want to major in engineering at a Louisiana university? UL, LSU or LA Tech are the schools to do it. Don't waste your money paying for Tulane or Loyola.

2- Yes, Authement and Reneau went in comparatively opposite directions. However, your approach and the question you're asking is flawed, in my opinion, because it didn't have to be such a hardline either/or. Authement didn't want to "fully fund" athletics with university dollars and rather focus those on academics? Fine. But why refuse to allow an RCAF (or the 80s/90s version of it) be set up? Why intentionally hamstring coaches and staff from being able to aggressively fundraise for their programs by dictating who they can and can't talk to?

THAT's the problem and issue I had with Ray Authement. He didn't merely starve athletics from a university funding standpoint. He also straglened some of the donor potential as well, and THAT is what set our football program, and athletic department as a whole, back a couple decades.

[Duckster]

100% Agree. Academics 1st. I'd rather pay students that bring in research money than athletes who cost us money. Athletics were never profitable for us in the past and will only be more costly in the future.

Considering the House settlement expenses plus NIL, your statement that athletics will only be more costly in the future is accurate under the current NCAA structure. But it doesn't have to be this way. Current NCAA rules require its FBS members sponsor 16 sports, a forced error. Unpopular as it may be in some corners, lowering the minimum to 12 sports should be an option. Then everyone figures out how to do it while complying with Title IX. Obviously we must protect & invest in football, basketball, baseball, softball, T & F making them more successful. Its foolhardy to lose money on purpose in any type of entity, sports or otherwise.

[Turbine]

Few thoughts:

1- Yes, Dr. Authement helped the university grow in academic research to where from that standpoint, we've definitely left LA Tech behind. However, it's not like that school is just some sort of bum in the state in academics. Their engineering program is very good and respected in its professional sector. You want to major in engineering at a Louisiana university? UL, LSU or LA Tech are the schools to do it. Don't waste your money paying for Tulane or Loyola.

2- Yes, Authement and Reneau went in comparatively opposite directions. However, your approach and the question you're asking is flawed, in my opinion, because it didn't have to be such a hardline either/or. Authement didn't want to "fully fund" athletics with university dollars and rather focus those on academics? Fine. But why refuse to allow an RCAF (or the 80s/90s version of it) be set up? Why intentionally hamstring coaches and staff from being able to aggressively fundraise for their programs by dictating who they can and can't talk to?

THAT's the problem and issue I had with Ray Authement. He didn't merely starve athletics from a university funding standpoint. He also straglened some of the donor potential as well, and THAT is what set our football program, and athletic department as a whole, back a couple decades.

Some insight into Authement's athletic operations mindset.

At one point Authement refused to appoint an athletic director, making himself defacto AD.

Either the legislature or the board or the courts (can't remember) had to step in and force his hand.

At another juncture he assigned the AD role to the head football coach.

The football program fell apart.

[LaCajunsFan]

Steven's hands down.

From zero students to the second largest public school in the state in less than four decades.

Incidently Stephen's started in the eighth largest market and grew it to the 6th largest market without oil.

Louisiana is now the fourth largest city due to oil. ... aided by excellent university infrastructure.

Stephen's also knew the advertising value of athletics.

Yeah, his reign is hard to beat….thats why I have him as #1. He was also quite the ‘renaissance’ man: at around the time he retired he took up photography, and got quite good at it. Most of what photos of the school we have from the 30’s are from those that he took.

Here are 2 of his I like the most: the first when he just took the helm of the school (and what the statue of him is based on), and the 2nd is a self-portrait taken not long before his death, so late 30’s. It was taken at the St John’s oak, and reflects his love for fantastic oaks….one of his biggest/best legacies for our campus.

[cajunfan96]

He likes to get on here and preach to the rest of us “simpletons” every now and then because obviously all we care about is sports.

You are spot on about some of it coming off as disingenuous.

Take the comment about we all bash Authement because he wouldn’t fund athletics with university money. ACTUALLY, the main complaints I see about him isn’t about the public university funds, but instead:

1- He fought against allowing an RCAF to be established and endorsed by the university. An RCAF that would be funded via private and corporate donations for athletics.

2- He forbade coaches from approaching certain academic donors about also making contributions to athletics.

So he didn’t just starve athletics of university money, he actively discouraged trying to seek out and maximize potential private donations.

Over those decades of neglect, that money and fan support went east!

[ZoomZoom]

If there’s any doubt UL has separated from the rest of the non TSAB crowd, look what has happened since the LSU Protectionism Rule came down to the four designated “statewide” universities at that time. Southern, hamstrung by their own “happy to be there, we know our place”, UNO (dying on the vine, proof the BoR lacks the intestinal fortitude to shut down SUNO and combine with UNO), Tech (as pointed out here), and UL. No question who is the leader in the clubhouse as Fun has documented.

Somewhat related, read rumblings a while back SLU may have considered going the ULH route, but haven’t seen it again nor can find it again.

[ZoomZoom]

I HOPE UL isn’t this stupid.

https://bsky.app/profile/factcheckaglandry.bsky.social

[Cajunrunner]

I HOPE UL isn’t this stupid.

https://bsky.app/profile/factcheckaglandry.bsky.social

That tweeter handle is someone who very much dislikes our current Attorney General.

Certainly something that needs to be looked into, and hope there are investigations into it, but it might not be as simple as the LA AG paying ULM players to stay at the university to play sports. In fact, I'd be shocked if it is.

[ZoomZoom]

That tweeter handle is someone who very much dislikes our current Attorney General.

Certainly something that needs to be looked into, and hope there are investigations into it, but it might not be as simple as the LA AG paying ULM players to stay at the university to play sports. In fact, I'd be shocked if it is.

Oh, I know what Blue Cry…errr Sky is. Didn’t expect a love fest, but I’d bet most of their users don’t care for sports ball.

The interesting point is what exactly is the AG’s office paying athletes for in the first place?

[VObserver]

What Runner said: I know from personal experience that Dr. A. prohibited the Athletic Department and its various ancillary groups from approaching certain very wealthy alumni and/or donors to academics. That prohibition made it ridiculously difficult for "minor" sports to survive, let alone compete. I suspect that he also reduced school support by the amount that a sport raised in outside contributions; though my only "proof" there is that Coach Lancon prefered that donors made in kind gifts rather than monetary donations.