Healthy Perspectives and Priorities

[HoustonCajun]

I have elsewhere asked, if winning solves everything, then why is it that the more we win the smaller our crowds get?

People often comment that athletics are the 'front porch' of the University. Judging from some of the monomaniacs here, it's also the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, the bedrooms...

...and the loo.

In contrast, the more our academic stature rises, the more our enrollments grow.

A comparison is helpful. If a person buys top-tier season tickets to all UL sports, with RCAF fees, I estimate it comes to about $2700 per year. Not bad.

But when a freshman enrolls, their in-state tuition is over $11K (out of state, $25K), and they spend $10-$20K on room and board. Per year.

For four years.

Over those four years, a top-tier ticket holder contributes a little over $10K to the university and local economy, while each student contributes more like $100K.

But the differences don't stop there, because after graduation, a lot of our students will stay in Acadiana, occupying high-paying jobs, starting new businesses, involving themselves in churches and civic organizations, and growing both our economy & quality of life. And many of them will donate to UL.

Many people claim that 'government should be run like a business.' Well, this is a government-owned university. You do the math.

Mind you, I'm not saying to get rid of athletics, nor even to diminish them.

I'm just pointing out that many of the schools in our state, and in our conference, have skewed priorities. They think with their reproductive organs, rather than their reflective ones.

So let's aim higher.

Higher goals.

Higher priorities.

Higher organs...

Now imagine that athletic success brings national recognition that draws 2,000 new students to UL that UL wouldn't have normally enrolled, instead of the 50-100 or so UL usually gets. How much more contributions would that generate? Athletics and academics can succeed simultaneously and don't need to be mutually exclusive. Just look at Big 10 schools that are AAU and have highly successful athletics. Why don't we use a school like Michigan as a model.

[HoustonCajun]

And, that horrible UL commercial at half time will not help recruit students. UL has been running that for 2-3 years now. How about something that showcases our academic accomplishments, beautiful campus and athletic facilities? Sometimes we are our own worse enemy.

[Fais do-do]

Well, at my son’s high school they had a fair with 50 university’s ranging from Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Aliceshoe, Rice, all Texas schools etc including UL. Only one person at the table but she did emphasize our R status to all kids looking. This is a 6A school so it has ~ 1000 upper/middle class seniors. UL should try harder. Learned that my kid can get instate tuition due to my wife and I having our undergrad at USL/UL.

[HoustonCajun]

Well, at my son’s high school they had a fair with 50 university’s ranging from Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Aliceshoe, Rice, all Texas schools etc including UL. Only one person at the table but she did emphasize our R status to all kids looking. This is a 6A school so it has ~ 1000 upper/middle class seniors. UL should try harder. Learned that my kid can get instate tuition due to my wife and I having our undergrad at USL/UL.

I am surprised this thread shut down. It is an important discussion of academics and athletics.

[R1Letterman]

Most identifiable symbol of any major college in the United States is the geometry on that FBS helmet.

Thats just me.

So no script writing is preferred?

[R1Letterman]

Pretty much spot on.

Amen

[ULGrad@HOU]

Well, at my son’s high school they had a fair with 50 university’s ranging from Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Aliceshoe, Rice, all Texas schools etc including UL. Only one person at the table but she did emphasize our R status to all kids looking. This is a 6A school so it has ~ 1000 upper/middle class seniors. UL should try harder. Learned that my kid can get instate tuition due to my wife and I having our undergrad at USL/UL.

Guaranteed, a more visible, nationally recognizable UL Football program would bring more foot traffic to that table.

[R1Letterman]

The career fair brings up a good point... is there a network of volunteers in various areas to go to high schools for events such as this. Does the university provide up to date pamphlets and brochures, etc. Training of volunteers. Etc

[Boomer]

The career fair brings up a good point... is there a network of volunteers in various areas to go to high schools for events such as this. Does the university provide up to date pamphlets and brochures, etc. Training of volunteers. Etc

……Guess it’s mostly having attended and coaching at Catholic schools ….but I would bring these to all the Catholic High schools and give them out to best use……says RAGIN’ CAJUN CATHOLICS and I have one on the back of our car! I think UL is still one of the mostly Catholic schools in the country! Does anybody know how factual that is in stats?

[Boomer]

Well, at my son’s high school they had a fair with 50 university’s ranging from Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Aliceshoe, Rice, all Texas schools etc including UL. Only one person at the table but she did emphasize our R status to all kids looking. This is a 6A school so it has ~ 1000 upper/middle class seniors. UL should try harder. Learned that my kid can get instate tuition due to my wife and I having our undergrad at USL/UL.

…….Hey Doc Fun….why charge more for out of staters? Just think of the increase the CULTURE could bring! Don’t we want an increased enrollment?