A Tale of Two Universities

[Cajunrunner]

These discussions are always fun. Although I can’t help but see this as a little disingenuous. Any longterm benefits of athletics are consistently written off as anecdotal. However, now that we are talking about the supposed demise of an athletic department and its effect on a university we are discussing a rumor generated from basically barroom conversation as having enough validity to draw conclusions.

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.

[covcaj]

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.

I was on the SGA when in Grad School for the academic '71 school year. I was the SGA rep to the Athletic Committee. I remember very well a meeting that Dr. Authement had with several business leaders. That year, because of basketball, and a good football team, the athletic budget was running a surplus. Dr. Authement stated in very clear terms that any additional revenue generated by the athletic department would be used on the academic side. His words were something to the effect that "I am an academic and that is where the money will go."

[CajunFun]

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.

Who isn't a simpleton? I certainly would not exclude myself. In a few areas where I have deep experience, I am simply less of a simpleton than I was in the past.

I ask questions, I make observations. A few people find them interesting. I apologize if you do not, it was not my intention to offend anyone.

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?

I do not ask these sarcastically or cynically. I am sincerely interested in well-stated objections.

[ZoomZoom]

I believe it was BLUDAWG. Can’t remember…but I hope he is having an awful weekend.

Probably having a good time…in heaven. He died a few years ago.

In the name of compassion, he is missing out on that train wreck.

Dr. Fun, don’t forget the egotistical Dr. F. Jay Taylor that left the foundation for Reneau. Remember, at the time, he wanted the tallest building in north Louisiana, which he built.


The 16-story Wyly Tower of Learning, named for the benefactors Sam Wyly and Charles Wyly, is the most prominent building on the Louisiana Tech campus in Ruston, Louisiana. It was designed by the Bastrop architect Hugh G. Parker Jr. Though the Wyly Tower is the landmark campus structure, the university is planning to have the structure razed to make way for a revised library facility. The tower has been cited for lack of ventilation, asbestos, difficulty of providing fire protection, and stairwells do not exit to the exterior of the building.
https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/ne...aced/80448910/

[LaCajunsFan]

Probably having a good time…in heaven. He died a few years ago.

In the name of compassion, he is missing out on that train wreck.

Dr. Fun, don’t forget the egotistical Dr. F. Jay Taylor that left the foundation for Reneau. Remember, at the time, he wanted the tallest building in north Louisiana, which he built.


The 16-story Wyly Tower of Learning, named for the benefactors Sam Wyly and Charles Wyly, is the most prominent building on the Louisiana Tech campus in Ruston, Louisiana. It was designed by the Bastrop architect Hugh G. Parker Jr. Though the Wyly Tower is the landmark campus structure, the university is planning to have the structure razed to make way for a revised library facility. The tower has been cited for lack of ventilation, asbestos, difficulty of providing fire protection, and stairwells do not exit to the exterior of the building.
https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/ne...aced/80448910/

Well, don’t know about BluDawg, but poor old stodgdog died of covid 2022-ish.

[ZoomZoom]

Well, don’t know about BluDawg, but poor old stodgdog died of covid 2022-ish.

Dang LFC, STOOL Dog…thanks for coming thru. I recall seeing something on BBB about Blue passing…but then again half those mutts start their name with Blue…dawg, dog, fan, corn, balls…

You and Blue single handedly got ULM and their tens of fans to abandon their open page and move to Rivals and their paywall. Stayed on that boy like white on rice for his traveling bs. Well done!!!

[LaCajunsFan]

And I’ll just say this about the OP: as of now I would rank Dr. Stephens as our best president, with a close second to Dr. Savoie. But I agree that given all the circumstances Dr. A had to deal with during the very rough financial times of the 80’s, I would put him as a close 3rd.

[Turbine]

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.

[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.