Louisiana budget crisis & LSU Football

[App74]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/blogs/ncaa ... 32215.html

"Student athletes across the state would be ineligible to play next semester," Edwards said. "I don't say this to scare you. But I am going to be honest with you.

Interesting method to promote a tax increase. My guess is they would shut down the Louisiana government before they would impair the LSU football program. Leaves one to wonder, however, how a projected two billion dollar budget deficit might affect ULL and ULM.

[hotrod2001]

Fear mongering. The moment they do something that impairs LSU's football program they might as well turn in their resignation letters at the same time.

[moehler]

ya, whatever budget cuts proposes for LSU will be minor, and they have money from big time boosters to help with any budget cuts. One the other hand, ULL and ULM are going to really feel the pain.

[App1990]

They mentioned athletes across the state. LSU is a different animal because its the only program that doesn't need taxpayer subsidies to stay afloat. ULM and ULL are already hurting and its getting worse. For example, subsidizing out of state students by only charging in state rates to non-resident athletes could be picked up at LSU but not at places like ULM and ULL.

So it's not necessarily a method to push a tax increase, it's just as much a method to point out the possible consequences of the past unfunded tax cuts. LA, KS and other states that went way overboard with tax cuts are all in crisis mode. Contrary to too many people's belief, you gotta pay for stuff or you gotta give up stuff.

[AppDawg]

ya, whatever budget cuts proposes for LSU will be minor, and they have money from big time boosters to help with any budget cuts. One the other hand, ULL and ULM are going to really feel the pain.

My understanding is that the situation is the Gov is suggesting public state universities as a whole will close once the current spring semester ends and not reopen until the LA budget situation is handled. The fearmongering is not cutting athletics to save the school, rather completing shutting down all campuses.

The narrative of no LSU athletics is attributed to the fact, no school = players ineligible = no sports.

If their budget situation is that dire, its going to take more than some big donors to remediate.

[hotrod2001]

I doubt it would happen, but if it did, would the NCAA have some sort of contingency for extenuating circumstances so all of those athletes could compete the following season?

[Apptiger]

It's complicated but there is a huge budget deficit and larger ones looming. Projected at $2+ billion on July 1. LA state coffers got fat after Katrina. A lot of federal aid flowing in and oil and gas prices going up. They had huge surpluses. Everyone had their hands out, tax credits and cuts were passed out like Halloween candy.
Oil and gas prices crashed and state revenue is in the tank. All of the tax cuts and credits are still in place. The federal subsidies ended, the $800 million in health care grant money is gone and the public health care system is insolvent, and on and on.

They have to do something and do it now, service cuts and higher taxes in most areas. The new governor is trying to pass the largest tax increase in state history. LSU football is sacred in LA. He is using LSU football as a tool to wake up the locals and pass his tax package.

Imagine if ASU shut down after spring break. Seniors couldn't finish, classes and prepaid room and board couldn't be redeemed and on and on. Now think about the lawsuits. Ain't gonna happen.

Edit- I would think some of the smaller state universities are in for a rough go of it. Sports and art programs that don't generate self sustaining revenue may be in trouble.

[ASU_MBA]

I don't think people truly understand how bad Bobby Jindal was, mix that with the crash in oil prices and that state is headed to disaster.

[Apptiger]

I don't think people truly understand how bad Bobby Jindal was, mix that with the crash in oil prices and that state is headed to disaster.

LOL- Yes, he is partly responsible for the continued employment of Leslie Miles. A lot of long time LSU fans hate him for that.

Seriously...He made a pledge to cut taxes and never raise them. He cut taxes six times when revenue was rising and never raised them when it fell. He kept his word, to the point it threatens state survival. Politicians rarely keep promises, this one did and shouldn't have.

[Boone Goon]

It's nice when we have informed members provide context to the headlines. Thank you Apptiger for filling in the holes for the rest of us.

[HighlandsApp]

I don't think people truly understand how bad Bobby Jindal was, mix that with the crash in oil prices and that state is headed to disaster.

Wild how bad their state has been run in the past 8 to 12 years:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/ ... weeks.html

Universities will simply close for a few weeks. So do the students still get credit for the classes? Oh no. Just wait until our astute NC Legislature hears this plan. They can simply cut the budgets further, and close the schools for weeks on end and still offer the degree coursework to the students; Just collect the $$$ from the students and hand out degrees. It is a fantastic plan. The private sector has been doing this for years and makes gabillions off of the taxpayers.