This is a great thing. Quit screwing with kids' lives. As a school bd member my father told me he got calls and calls for coaching position but never a one about an English or Math job.
And that is why Louisiana will always struggle to have even a 2nd rate public university system, as long as the majority of people here hold that attitude. And it's not just about money, it's deeply rooted in the culture. Case in point: the latest sky-is-falling email missive from Chancellor Martin about budget cuts. How did he open the email? Not by discussing the effects of more students seeking an education out of state, not by mentioning the resulting negative economic impact, but by relaying a piece of info from Paul Mainieri that baseball lost out on a recruit because of concerns his mother had over the quality of academics at LSU. Over a year ago I told friends and family the only way people here would start caring about LSU's money problems is when it directly starts negatively affecting recruiting, not by how many instructors and staff get laid off or how many courses are cut. And I stand by that prediction.
As much as I hate to agree on this, you are 100% correct. College athletics, especially football, generates entirely too much revenue for some of these univ, like LSU. When yo have programs that are operating at levels of professional sports $$$$, they will continue to take priority over academics. And in all honesty how will that change in a culture that if you asked the general population what matters more to them, the majority would say winning athletics over excellent education. This isn't a LA thing, it's regional, IMHO. I'd say much of the SEC states feel the same way.
It seems as though some feel this is only concerning LSU. It isn't. This is how the world works...not just the world of LSU. Not trying to be a dick, but that's the way it is. Money is what drives everything...not just LSU. See alsoolitics
Troy, SEC among worst FBS oversigning offenders of past five years - Andy Staples - SI.com What I don't understand is this article is from the same author, but it shows that LSU isn't even in the top half of the SEC oversigning offenders...but Les appears on the cover of the link Herb provided. Again, there's some kind of Miles/LSU hatred by these guys. And don't tell me it's because LSU is the biggest name program involved...Alabama is a worse oversigning offender than LSU, so why isn't Saban's face plastered all over the place in reference to this?
that is my problem with it. they act like we are the leader and les is the poster boy of oversigning, but the stats dont back that. if we are, then point that out. but dont make coach out to be the hitler of oversigning when other coaches are far worse and are barely mentioned. that is the dishonesty and it pisses me off.
All this hysteria about oversigning is way overblown, IMO. Next thing you know people will be boycotting hotels for overbooking in the summer months, or airlines for overbooking flights. But motivation and intent matter. There's a world of difference between someone like Les who oversigns because of the uncertainty of academic issues, and people like Nutt who take it to an absurd degree just because they can. At the same time the whole "it's all about money" mentality is an ethical copout. Prostitution and narcotics are enormous money-makers, so why don't we just legalize those things and tap into that cash flow? Because there are other important considerations besides money. Of course money rules the world, and dominates the actions of people running businesses, which college football most certainly is. However, that consideration does not absolve them, or the people who support them, of moral and ethical responsibility. People can disagree in good faith over whether oversigning should be an acceptable practice, but we shouldn't act as if the question isn't even worth asking.
As expected, my "follow the money" line would be misinterpreted. I never said it's OK or right, I clearly said that's just the way it is. You don't have to like it, and FWIW, I don't like it. That doesn't change the fact that it is what it is. Another thing...I'm not saying the question isn't worth asking. But for LSU to be singled out and Les Miles thrown under the bus the way it's happened, I question that as well. Especially when there weren't enough facts available for them to run with that ridiculous Garrett crap, yet they went with it anyway. They clearly painted him as a victim, and Les as a villian...yet they know only one side of the story. Any bit of research could've at least brought Garrett's allegations into question. Les could've told the truth and thrown Garrett under the bus, but he chose not to comment and take the heat. Question: Does anyone have any statistics that show how many students lost their ACADEMIC schollys due to lack of production?? I bet you it's a helluva lot higher number than the athletic schollys revoked. WHAT A TRAVESTY!!! I wonder if these poor babies were even told that, if they don't keep their grades up, they could have their free ride SNATCHED AWAY, potentially RUINING THEIR LIVES!!! Oh the humanity!! :rolleye33: You could take one look at Chris Garrett last summer and know for a fact that he isn't worthy of an athletic scholarship at ANY division 1 school. It was clearly evident that he wasn't putting forth any effort, except taking full advantage of the meal program. Screw Chris Garrett. My daughter lost her academic scholly at MSU because she took a semester off to take an internship at Disney. Daddy now foots the bill, and I ain't crying to CNN or Fox News about it. Girl's never made less than a B.
