(06-26-2018 12:21 PM)CajunFan3406 Wrote:  

(06-25-2018 10:04 AM)InjunJohn86 Wrote:  

(06-25-2018 09:03 AM)dchi72 Wrote:  Winning cures all ills.

If the Warhawks can win and win consistently, the fans will come.

The State of Louisiana budget has the entire Louisiana System scrounging for whatever dollars it can. Presidents and Athletic Directors of any school not named LSU have to constantly tweak their books to find money for facilities, maintenance, and recruiting.

I spent a couple of years on the La Tech Alumni Board of Trustees. It was a shockingly eye opening experience. The amount of red tape, hurdles and political maneuvering ALL the presidents do in Baton Rouge to maintain their funding is incredible.

I know in the 80s and 90s, La Tech did not actively expand its campus or replace old buildings. We are finally putting up new buildings. I know that ULM did the same. I have not been to the ULM campus in over 20 years, but family in Monroe talk about the expansion that is taking place. I know that ULL is also building and expanding. Rivalries aside, all three campuses are critical to the economic health of Louisiana.

The Louisiana budget process is an utter disgrace. The vast majority of government spending is locked in and protected by the law and constitution.....in other words, untouchable. The only major programs that can be cut are healthcare and education, which is why we all sorts of hand wringing every budget. Of course, the putting granny on the street and think of the poor children trying to go to college makes great 30 second snippets but no one is willing to sit down and do the hard work or bite the political bullet. TOPS just got fully funded but a kid getting a 20 on the ACT (below national average) and earning a 2.5 can get some money from TOPS. That is a joke. OK, I will get off my budget soapbox.

As for ULM, it has been a long trek from the dark days of Lawson Swearigen. Cofer got the finances righted. Bruno has done great things with academics. He says the right things when it comes to athletics but that is just for show. Campus is looking great. New track and soccer field in place and Brown Stadium getting facelift with new locker rooms and training rooms for Track and Soccer. New training room going in for football team. All of this is being done without accruing massive debt. A lot of us would like to see them take on a little debt to help with revenue generation (i.e. turn open air boxes into suites) and create a new grove to replace what is going to happen when medical school comes on board. We shall see.

With you on the state of governance in Louisiana. Large scale changes are needed when it comes to the state budget. We've re-written the constitution 10 times, might as well make it 11.

And the minimum TOPS requirements are a joke and have been for a decade now. But no politician has the balls to really push raising those requirements. The mid-level reward (3.0 GPA, 23 ACT) should be the starting point for TOPS eligibility. And the Honors award should be more of an honor. A 3.0 GPA and 27 ACT is nothing. Not to mention those requirements have been that way since I graduated HS back in '06. Universities in Louisiana have raised their entrance requirements since then but TOPS hasn't touched theirs.


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What is this world coming to....a Warhawk fan and a Cajun fan agreeing on something, unless it is a hatred for Tech!! LOL

Every time I look at the requirements for TOPS, I am reminded of the line from Caddyshack....."the world needs ditch diggers, too, Danny".

No way a 2.5 should be getting you any money for college. Time for you to head to Community College part time while you earn your way.