[CajunSaint08]

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.

Well, a $60 million budget as a G6 will do that for you.

"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."

I couldn't agree more with you. I have been saying the same thing since NIL came about. NIL, more than anything else has ruined college sports. If there was no NIL, but the transfer portal still existed, I could handle that. The future of all college sports is headed for a Mount Everest cliff. It will have to be blown up to repair. When will this happen is anybody's guess. The P4 conferences got what they wanted, to be able to pay players legally to help recruit the best players out there. HOWEVER, it has backfired on them so quickly. They probably thought they could offer these kids the same amount of money they were giving them under the table....well we have all seen how that has turned out.

"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." Unfortunately, they will have their backers bail them out or like another poster said, our Louisiana taxes. Either way, TSAB won't think twice about a $26 million deficit, but would be the first to point fingers at any other Louisiana school that would have the same issue.

[Duckster]

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.

Maybe not completely get rid of college sports, but first get the NCAA to approve conferences having the option of lowering the number of sports its members must sponsor. I realize college sports are a training ground of sorts for future Olympians however that doesn't mean hundreds of colleges should be required to carry so many sports. Its a cash drain on budgets. Many if not all G6 conferences would be better served with only Football, Men's/Women's Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Track & Field. All other sports can play instate schools and/or in adjacent States to dramatically lower their travel costs. I enjoy sports and watching sports, but no one is taking the negative impact to taxpayers into account. And how much more tickets cost to spectator sports games that is used for the other non-spectator sports overhead. So yes the model needs to change.

[PetroCajunRunner]

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.

He won’t.

I was astounded during the 2023 campaign at how many diehard Cajuns fans pulled the lever for him because they truly thought he was going to make it a priority to promote our school and athletic program.

[ULGrad@Hou]

He won’t.

I was astounded during the 2023 campaign at how many diehard Cajuns fans pulled the lever for him because they truly thought he was going to make it a priority to promote our school and athletic program.

I wouldn't be astounded. If you pull the lever for a diehard yellow puke fan, then it will be at minimum, what you are getting with Landry now. At least there is a tiny chance Landry backs UL, even if he doesn't make it publicly obvious.

[Houston Cajun]

I wouldn't be astounded. If you pull the lever for a diehard yellow puke fan, then it will be at minimum, what you are getting with Landry now. At least there is a tiny chance Landry backs UL, even if he doesn't make it publicly obvious.

I just read an article that LSU lost $177.5M over the past 6 years.

[TurfToe]

I just read an article that LSU lost $177.5M over the past 6 years.

And still never ran out of water