LSU athletics in the red...

[CajunSaint08]

LSU struggles with multimillion-dollar athletics deficit: ‘We’ve got to stop that bleeding’


I know it's apples and oranges, but shouldn't this at least get the same state wide attention our school deficit received.

[Fais do-do]

Since the state government is full of LSU alumni, they will bleed Louisiana taxpayer money secretly to float anything for LSU. I.e. See Huey P Long.

[UL_Cajuns]

I wanna see the Lafayette Media drag them like they do UL all the time? Oh wait its TSAB so they don't do that.

[60swerethebest]

Well, there goes the $$ for the engineering building.

[CajunRed]

Well, there goes the $$ for the engineering building.

Our ticket on this will be to partner with Elon / SpaceX to have that building and other engineering department needs funded. That will benefit both parties.

[CajunChuck]

Our ticket on this will be to partner with Elon / SpaceX to have that building and other engineering department needs funded. That will benefit both parties.

This

[Turbine]

Our ticket on this will be to partner with Elon / SpaceX to have that building and other engineering department needs funded. That will benefit both parties.

Thirteen road miles from SpaceX the road from Freshwater City comes out at Pecan Island 2 blocks from the LOUISIANA.edu research facility.

It can serve as a constant reminder to Elon and his crew that UL is the natural pertner.

[Houston Cajun]

LSU struggles with multimillion-dollar athletics deficit: ‘We’ve got to stop that bleeding’


I know it's apples and oranges, but shouldn't this at least get the same state wide attention our school deficit received.

How does a university with a packed stadium of over 100,000 for 6 home games with all the revenue that generates, have over a $72M payout by the SEC in 2025, and have an athletic budget over $200M be in deficit of $26m last year and over $70M over the last 3 years? How does an AD keep his job with that kind of performance, especially with the contract buyouts of its last 2 coaches of over $70M and a $90M+ new contract for Kiffen? I know LSU is the pride and joy of Louisiana, but I sure hope the legislature doesn't bail them out on this any more than they did UL.

[billbeck451]

How does a university with a packed stadium of over 100,000 for 6 home games with all the revenue that generates, have over a $72M payout by the SEC in 2025, and have an athletic budget over $200M be in deficit of $26m last year and over $70M over the last 3 years? How does an AD keep his job with that kind of performance, especially with the contract buyouts of its last 2 coaches of over $70M and a $90M+ new contract for Kiffen? I know LSU is the pride and joy of Louisiana, but I sure hope the legislature doesn't bail them out on this any more than they did UL.

and don't forget that their premium seating is a scam that the TAF kept control over and leases back to the university

[Turbine]

Deficits means someone isn't getting paid.

[Cajun90]

And I kept trying to tell everyone here that no one around the rest of the state cared about UL's budget issues because they ALL have their own concerns. I'm not trying to say our deficit isn't an issue but it just seems the ones screaming the loudest have been internal and not external with good reason. While the numbers are new the fact that TSAB has been in a deficit for years is old news. You don't hear a peep from any other schools either. Know why?? They certainly don't want anyone looking too close at their situation either. Higher education and collegiate sports is a mess across the board right now. Something drastic needs to happen. Maybe we do what the rest of the world does...get rid of college sports all together. I'm at the point it wouldn't bother me.

[RaginScotsman]

How does a university with a packed stadium of over 100,000 for 6 home games with all the revenue that generates, have over a $72M payout by the SEC in 2025, and have an athletic budget over $200M be in deficit of $26m last year and over $70M over the last 3 years? How does an AD keep his job with that kind of performance, especially with the contract buyouts of its last 2 coaches of over $70M and a $90M+ new contract for Kiffen? I know LSU is the pride and joy of Louisiana, but I sure hope the legislature doesn't bail them out on this any more than they did UL.

I don't know anything, but they have some deep pockets in their athletic foundation that cover a lot of sins. Scary part is that they have a hand full of doners that had the 70 million ready at half time of the TAMU game last year. Imagine caring enough about sports to give such a fortune away with your only return being associate with a sports program and whatever perks that brings.

[RaginScotsman]

And I kept trying to tell everyone here that no one around the rest of the state cared about UL's budget issues because they ALL have their own concerns. I'm not trying to say our deficit isn't an issue but it just seems the ones screaming the loudest have been internal and not external with good reason. While the numbers are new the fact that TSAB has been in a deficit for years is old news. You don't hear a peep from any other schools either. Know why?? They certainly don't want anyone looking too close at their situation either. Higher education and collegiate sports is a mess across the board right now. Something drastic needs to happen. Maybe we do what the rest of the world does...get rid of college sports all together. I'm at the point it wouldn't bother me.

Our esteemed governor and UL alumnus is such a fan boy / want to be that it would be refreshing for him to even hint at any issues with that school. Maybe he'll tweet about it.

[TurfToe]

LS Who?

[Houston Cajun]

And I kept trying to tell everyone here that no one around the rest of the state cared about UL's budget issues because they ALL have their own concerns. I'm not trying to say our deficit isn't an issue but it just seems the ones screaming the loudest have been internal and not external with good reason. While the numbers are new the fact that TSAB has been in a deficit for years is old news. You don't hear a peep from any other schools either. Know why?? They certainly don't want anyone looking too close at their situation either. Higher education and collegiate sports is a mess across the board right now. Something drastic needs to happen. Maybe we do what the rest of the world does...get rid of college sports all together. I'm at the point it wouldn't bother me.

This is no longer college sports as we grew up with. It is semi-pro sports. College is supposed to be about getting an education. No more talk of getting a degree or being eligible to play or going to class, it is all about how much money can I get. I'm not paid enough or not playing enough, then I'll transfer. Still don't like it, I'll transfer again and again. When college athletes are making more money than rookie pro athletes, something is out of wack. When a college like LSU can have over a $200M athletic budget and still have a $25M deficit, it makes no sense. And that doesn't include the NIL money or former coaches salary payouts.

There is an ever growing gap between the Haves (P4) and Have Nots (G6) that there will likely soon be a separation of powers and conferences and maybe there should be. The financial gap is too wide. G6 schools that do have the financial means are jockeying for a seat at the higher table which now is the highest rated G6 conference (AAC) in hopes that the AAC
might one day be included with the P4. Or maybe even the PAC 12 which is why Texas State moved there. That won't likely happen because there are too many weak programs in both conferences. But, the top teams might pull away and add stronger programs to make it a viable P4 conference. And that's what JMU appears to be setting itself up for. At the very least, it wants to be in a better perceived conference to match its success on the field. JMU moved up to the FBS in 2022 when it joined the SBC. Amazing what they have accomplished in such a short period of time.