Technically ULS has no "Flagship" (+USN&WR)

[zephyr]

This is going to an extremely unpopular opinion, but the fossil did a lot for this university. Under his watch we went from a regional university to a national one.

Don't worry, I think you are used to it... The unpopular part. LOL. In regards to the fossil bringing us from regional status to national status, I'd love to hear how he did this and how we are there.

[Cajunrunner]

No, I think he did accomplish some things. Yes, he did help move us to D1. But he never committed to it financially and micro-managed it into the ground. It was a facade, he feared athletics like many of his contemporaries in academia. And he never believed that athletics are the front porch of the university.

Everything I posted is as accurate as your statement, popular or unpopular.

I’ll add on. He likely personally wished athletics would go away.

He despised signing off on athletic scholarships, and he actively strangled funding by telling coaches they were not allowed to seek donations from certain people.

[LaCajunsFan]

Well, for the record, I'm not convinced Cajun Field would have been built had The Fossil been the one to make the decision.....at least not as early as it was built.

Or as well done....it was truly a 'state of the art' facility/complex back in the day.

[MetryCajun]

Don't worry, I think you are used to it... The unpopular part. LOL. In regards to the fossil bringing us from regional status to national status, I'd love to hear how he did this and how we are there.

If you don't see the growth under his watch, I can't help you. Wasn't he the one who pushed through the name change? He was the one who realized endowments were severely lacking and pursued outside funding sources. He also used his relationship with John Breaux and Bennett Johnson to get our research park off the ground. UL aggressively fought for Federal dollars and did quite well. He also aggressively solicited professor endowments which had a 40% state match. We are way ahead of all the other ULS schools in this regard. Was he a tight wad? Absolutely, and he ____ed off many a professor with his micro management, but he is the main reason we are not looked at like Southeastern and the rest. Want to see what gross mismanagement looks like? Look no further than UNO. That school had been decimated by poor leadership and is a shell of its former self.
AS for athletics, his micro management style clashed with the inherent corruption that pervades college sports. He should have let Terry Don run the program as he saw fit and trust him that he would not get UL on probation again. He did not and we languished as he looked for people who would answer to him. But make no mistake, the guy loved UL sports and was a vocal fan at the games I saw him at.

[Cajunrunner]

Loved UL sports so much, he actively tried to strangle private donations and he hired a head football coach merely for political reasons. A head coach who won six games in three years, then sued the university costing loads of legal fees.

Yep. I feel the love.

[Boomer]

If you don't see the growth under his watch, I can't help you. Wasn't he the one who pushed through the name change? He was the one who realized endowments were severely lacking and pursued outside funding sources. He also used his relationship with John Breaux and Bennett Johnson to get our research park off the ground. UL aggressively fought for Federal dollars and did quite well. He also aggressively solicited professor endowments which had a 40% state match. We are way ahead of all the other ULS schools in this regard. Was he a tight wad? Absolutely, and he ____ed off many a professor with his micro management, but he is the main reason we are not looked at like Southeastern and the rest. Want to see what gross mismanagement looks like? Look no further than UNO. That school had been decimated by poor leadership and is a shell of its former self.
AS for athletics, his micro management style clashed with the inherent corruption that pervades college sports. He should have let Terry Don run the program as he saw fit and trust him that he would not get UL on probation again. He did not and we languished as he looked for people who would answer to him. But make no mistake, the guy loved UL sports and was a vocal fan at the games I saw him at.

.........I guess the biggest compliment is that he did get UL to a top standing of Louisiana system schools in spite of the _____ing from the other schools in the system and the complaints of the LSU and Southern boards......and the political connect from certain administrators that changed the whole ball game with research facilities......also local political ties (Sonny Mouton) to get things done that really upset the others.......this Fed/state combo to me was the difference maker!

[CajunVic]

Loved UL sports so much, he actively tried to strangle private donations and he hired a head football coach merely for political reasons. A head coach who won six games in three years, then sued the university costing loads of legal fees.

Yep. I feel the love.

The TOOTH PIK keeps poking the bear, even when he is finally gone.

[MetryCajun]

Loved UL sports so much, he actively tried to strangle private donations and he hired a head football coach merely for political reasons. A head coach who won six games in three years, then sued the university costing loads of legal fees.

Yep. I feel the love.

He foolishly listened to Blanco and others that an African American coach would be beneficial to the program. The Baldwin fiasco is easily his biggest failure and he should rightfully be blamed.

[basinbear]

Oh the stories I could tell......I have very few, if any problems with the way Doc A handled Academics.....athletics on the other hand.....

[Turbine]

If you don't see the growth under his watch, I can't help you. Wasn't he the one who pushed through the name change? He was the one who realized endowments were severely lacking and pursued outside funding sources. He also used his relationship with John Breaux and Bennett Johnson to get our research park off the ground. UL aggressively fought for Federal dollars and did quite well. He also aggressively solicited professor endowments which had a 40% state match. We are way ahead of all the other ULS schools in this regard. Was he a tight wad? Absolutely, and he ____ed off many a professor with his micro management, but he is the main reason we are not looked at like Southeastern and the rest. Want to see what gross mismanagement looks like? Look no further than UNO. That school had been decimated by poor leadership and is a shell of its former self.
AS for athletics, his micro management style clashed with the inherent corruption that pervades college sports. He should have let Terry Don run the program as he saw fit and trust him that he would not get UL on probation again. He did not and we languished as he looked for people who would answer to him. But make no mistake, the guy loved UL sports and was a vocal fan at the games I saw him at.

I know Dr. Authement loved athletics, I saw him at many a football practice.

He also didn't trust people a lot and tried to make himself Athletic Director.

UL's student body grew for most of his first 10 years and was stagnate for most of his last 20.
I think the plateau was due in part to UL losing it advertising moxie, aka athletics focus.

jmo