Louisiana athletics operated at $8 million deficit during 2023 fiscal year

[CajunSID]

Just trying to look outside our bubble at other programs. There are several articles like this: https://swimswam.com/cal-ucla-report...c-departments/

Still looking for the reports on our peer institutions, but i can imagine we’re not alone. Doesn’t make our situation any better, but misery loves company.

I think people are looking at this through a business lens, which makes perfect sense. If working in college athletics taught me anything, it’s that athletics and the federal govt are the only “businesses” where a budget is more suggestion than rule.

College athletic depts are going to run a deficit. All but a handful do. You wanna see budget deficits? Check out what’s going on at Arizona..you know the soon-to-be Big 12 school coming off its best football season in years and a possible Final Four basketball team.

UL didn’t just start running deficits post-COVID. Now, $8 million? That might be a new school record. But while presidents around the country don’t like it when any of their depts are over budget, it happens. And if a president understands that athletics is the best marketing dept it has, they live with it. The headache is obviously explaining it to the English dept.

My point is I wouldn’t get too caught up in the $$. If an AD has a good relationship with their boss, they knew it was coming.

This is not to say ‘meh, don’t worry about it.’ The decline in season ticket sales and attendance is a serious problem and one not solved simply by winning.

I listened to parts of a recent podcast desperate for more community engagement. That’s very true, and I don’t know what the dept does in that regard. But there are many more things they need to do and the only thing I completely disagree with from that podcast and others in general screaming from the sidelines is the suggestion that this dept is incompetent, Maggard doesn’t care anymore or whatever other darts of blame people want to throw.

In order for athletics to be successful, there has to be an investment. Not just in $$ but in alignment. From the athletic dept to MH to the UL system. And as long as the politics of Louisiana stand united behind one school, UL and every school outside BR will be fighting with one hand tied behind its back.

Me, I love following Cajun athletics…baseball, softball particularly. I’ve watched more UL basketball this year than I ever have since Marlin was hired. And while I get the criticism and frustration this board throws out at him ad nauseam, he has this group playing harder than any team I’ve seen in years. And they play for each other.

They have their limitations and are also fighting every game despite having that hand tied behind their back. A very good representation of Cajun athletics. I hope more people support it.

Geaux Cajuns!!

[Turbine]

I think people are looking at this through a business lens, which makes perfect sense. If working in college athletics taught me anything, it’s that athletics and the federal govt are the only “businesses” where a budget is more suggestion than rule.

College athletic depts are going to run a deficit. All but a handful do. You wanna see budget deficits? Check out what’s going on at Arizona..you know the soon-to-be Big 12 school coming off its best football season in years and a possible Final Four basketball team.

UL didn’t just start running deficits post-COVID. Now, $8 million? That might be a new school record. But while presidents around the country don’t like it when any of their depts are over budget, it happens. And if a president understands that athletics is the best marketing dept it has, they live with it. The headache is obviously explaining it to the English dept.

My point is I wouldn’t get too caught up in the $$. If an AD has a good relationship with their boss, they knew it was coming.

This is not to say ‘meh, don’t worry about it.’ The decline in season ticket sales and attendance is a serious problem and one not solved simply by winning.

I listened to parts of a recent podcast desperate for more community engagement. That’s very true, and I don’t know what the dept does in that regard. But there are many more things they need to do and the only thing I completely disagree with from that podcast and others in general screaming from the sidelines is the suggestion that this dept is incompetent, Maggard doesn’t care anymore or whatever other darts of blame people want to throw.

In order for athletics to be successful, there has to be an investment. Not just in $$ but in alignment. From the athletic dept to MH to the UL system. And as long as the politics of Louisiana stand united behind one school, UL and every school outside BR will be fighting with one hand tied behind its back.

Me, I love following Cajun athletics…baseball, softball particularly. I’ve watched more UL basketball this year than I ever have since Marlin was hired. And while I get the criticism and frustration this board throws out at him ad nauseam, he has this group playing harder than any team I’ve seen in years. And they play for each other.

They have their limitations and are also fighting every game despite having that hand tied behind their back. A very good representation of Cajun athletics. I hope more people support it.

Geaux Cajuns!!

Nice perspective.

Appreciated.

[cajun4life]

I'm not the least bit convinced that's true

Athletics and merchandise are the only ways that people who aren't students, faculty, or alumni can be part of your university, and this admin has farmed out or washed their hands of every avenue where they might be forced to engage those people.

Even this new stadium.. removed tons of affordable seating and replacing it with a more luxurious experience for people who can afford five-figure season ticket renewals.
They're basically building the Petroleum Club with a football field inside it

You'll have to show me evidence of where this admin has done anything more than the bare minimum in regards to athletics..

I think you misunderstand me, our administration absolutely does like athletics. They don’t financially support it though. They aren’t committed to do what’s needed to compete at our highest possible level.

You are spot on about wanting it to be the petroleum club.

[cajun4life]

Blaming LSU is tiresome. It’s an excuse we’ve used since 1984. 40 years of blaming them has done nothing for us.

Why haven’t they looked in the mirror and take accountability for not succeeding. Accountability for driving students away.

We will never be on the level of LSU because we can’t even keep our own graduates as fans or donors.

Failure to captivate and cultivate new fans from the student body is the reason we problems with attendance and donations now.

[CajunVic]

I think you misunderstand me, our administration absolutely does like athletics. They don’t financially support it though. They aren’t committed to do what’s needed to compete at our highest possible level.

You are spot on about wanting it to be the petroleum club.

So, $8.6mm in the hole does not constitute financial support. LOL

[ZoomZoom]

I think it’s more about their university administrators understand athletics.

Ours likes athletics, but are clueless as to what it takes to build successful programs, much less sustain them.

Involves work. For decades UL/USL relied on interns, whose sole objective was a paycheck. For example, I’ve been to the bookstore countless times, and rarely I am greeted by someone enthusiastically. We all know what DGAF looks like. That’s what I usually see.

[CajunVic]

Blaming LSU is tiresome. It’s an excuse we’ve used since 1984. 40 years of blaming them has done nothing for us.

Why haven’t they looked in the mirror and take accountability for not succeeding. Accountability for driving students away.

We will never be on the level of LSU because we can’t even keep our own graduates as fans or donors.

Failure to captivate and cultivate new fans from the student body is the reason we problems with attendance and donations now.

I’m sinking in. Great post. Proud of you.

[Turbine]

So, $8.6mm in the hole does not constitute financial support. LOL

It constitutes belated backs against the wall decisions.

Focusing on belated, there are so many untapped reservoirs or future money growth that didn't require exorbitant price increases.

Every single exorbitant price increase looks good on paper, but it actually cost the school money and did not make money.

Many rail against loss leaders but they fuel future income, they don't derail it.

Those opportunities are water under the bridge, but there are more to be had.

[CajunVic]

It constitutes belated backs against the wall decisions.

Focusing on belated, there are so many untapped reservoirs or future money growth that didn't require exorbitant price increases.

Every single exorbitant price increase looks good on paper, but it actually cost the school money and did not make money.

Many rail against loss leaders but they fuel future income, they don't derail it.

Those opportunities are water under the bridge, but there are more to be had.

Nobody ever said they were smart but to say they lack financial support is just not correct.

[Turbine]

Nobody ever said they were smart but to say they lack financial support is just not correct.

Granted.

The support is definitely in the cart.

They need to put it in the horse.