schools reap the benefits of winning a NC a few years down the road. all that national publicity with St. Nick and Co. helped a university that was recently 'crazy bout curley' become etched in their minds as a national power. And rightfully so.
Compared to many other schools that are even successful in college football, we are still behind. Florida, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, and Michigan are perfect examples. Will someone say, "I am not signing with LSU because they aren't as high as those schools"? Of course not. But looking at LSU's overall academics compared to many of the top football/academic schools, we are still behind by a good bit (to say nicely)
I just couldn't disagree more. I hope LSU becomes one of the toughest academic schools in the entire country. Not only would it help our school but it would increase the amount of diversity from around the country coming into our state but our school. The Michigan's and others of this world have some of the best alumni money wise for a reason.
Saying Louisiana is a "poor state" isnt exactly accurate... our per capita state budget is fairly large.. the problem in Louisiana is number of people in poverty.. we have the 40th ranked per capita income, but are like 48th in poverty rate.. that means that the poorest and the richest are further apart than in other states... too many damn people working at minimum wage.. raise that minimum wage to about 7.15 or so and that poverty level will drop.. you also have to look at cost of living.. a person making 100000 in california would only have to make 60000 here to maintain the same lifestyle... Same goes with college.. I dont know where LSU ranks in stuff, but with ULL, their computer science is ranked in the top 10 in the country.. if you are going into computer science and are middle class or lower, you cant afford MIT, but you can afford ULL.. LSU is the same way.. low tuition.. very low when compared to quality of education.. maybe not the best in the world, but in other states for that much money you are in c.c... when it comes to recruits, LSU has the facilities, both academic and athletic, to compare well to any school int he country, so when you factor both together, LSU is up there... maybe cost of living helps, because a player who has limited money (hopefully) can go a little further on it.. instead of paying 1200 a month rent they are paying 500... there is also the fact that Baton Rouge is pretty much a "chocolate city".. New Orleans definately is.. so a black athlete might feel more at home i guess... then there is the unique culture here.. food, more laid back and party-like...
I pay $870 a month in RENT here in Virginia... not counting bills and groceries. Cost of living is waaay better in baton rouge.
