Is It Bad That College Conference Expansion Is Just About the Money

I sent this email to my local sports radio Station ESPN 97.7. Listen to them online Fox and Company is one of the best sports shows in the State. (From 3pm to 6 pm). It really is better than the "drama" I think of even some shows in Baton Rouge.

Anyway like other folks in the sports biz on this topic they often have the similar mantra we hear.

Here is the email I sent them

Regarding "It Is Sad But It is Just About the Money" and College Expansion

Hey guys

Been meaning to call in on this but when I get a chance yall are not on the topic.

Over the past few weeks you have been doing excellent stuff on Conference expansion. However a pet peeve. It seems whenever this topic is introduced we have to have the boilerplate "It is sad but this mostly about money but that is how it is!!"

My question is what is so sad about it?

When you go to a football game and see all those police officers and other providing you a safe place to enjoy a game that overtime is being paid by the Athletic department. Who do people thinks pays the light bill.

Now you are not the only ones "sad" about this of course. Tim Brando it appears is sad also that this is just about the money which is strange since he gets a good bit of income because of our existence.

It is basic economics and there is only so much of the pie to go around. I can recall when the oil bust hit us in the 80's. LSU athletics got hammered. Programs were cut.

LSU had to go to the State and ask for money which created ill will among other in state schools and LSU. A topic they still talk about to no end on the Louisiana Tech Sports boards at times. Not fun show topics I can tell you that.

Today because of the TV deals and assorted business opportunities LSU gives direct contributions to the University general fund. In fact if I am correct every SEC Athletic department is in the black and giving similar direct contributions which helps saves teachers jobs and other services.

It is much better than the alternative we had in the "It is not about money" bad ole days where one would have to justify the baseball budget over lets say meals on wheels to old folks. A topic I am sure you don't wish to have to go into.

We also have the issue of federal gender laws on College sports. As you are aware this had the adverse effect of actually cutting programs. Many of these programs are in the red but these Olympic Sports are vital in attracting a a diverse student body from across the nation and indeed the world. In the North where there is a whole slew of winter sports they must fund the issue is even more vital.

These TV deals and opportunities that come with Conference expansion allows these to continue without have to beg and plead with State legislatures that are facing facing even tighter budgets and a voting public that is getting upset.

One final thought. A couple of weeks ago you had a guy from Tech on talking about where TECH will be in all this. He of course started out by going "Well it is indeed sad it is just about the money" He mentioned academics was important. That we need to be a good academic fit.

What does that have to do with anything.

When I was at LSU I got no added benefit academic wise from being the SEC. There were no visiting VANDY profs, there were no online academics classes with Georgia, no student and academic exchanges with Ole Miss. I did not get special consideration for admission to post Grad programs at various SEC schools because I was their SEC brother.

Besides that 30 second commercial we see during big games (SEC SEC WE ARE SMART ETC ETC) what real benefit does it bring.

What do Tech students and the academic programs at Louisiana Tech get in real terms by being associated with Fresno, Nevada, or Boise State. Are we involved in joint research projects? I have not heard of it.

If Tech enter Conference USA they will get no added academic benefit by being associated with TULANE in Conference USA.

People do not go to Stanford because the academics is good in the PAC 10. They go to Stanford because the academics is great at Stanford. They are not concerned what they are doing in Oregon.

Now I realize we need to be of similar quality. For instance Tech should not be placed in the same conference as lets say Arkansas State perhaps but still this seems overblown

Anyway there is nothing sad about this being about money. It allows sports excellence to continue while not assaulting the every increasing mad taxpayer's wallet or by having to make crucial cuts in the University's essential mission of education and research. This is about putting athletic budgets on a solid footing so we will not see future programs decimated because of the up and downs of the economy.

Further it allows a colleges best pr machine to the nation to continue and to improve.

If you want to see sadness look at UNO and Centenary.

James H