re: UCLA has a LOT of guys outstanding

quote:

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if football doesnt pan out, a degree from LSU doesnt come close to a degree from UCLA

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Yes, UCLA is a better school than LSU, but how relevant is that to college football players from Louisiana? If LSU football doesn't pan out for a kid, an LSU degree and the "fame" of being a former football player will carry a lot of weight in Louisiana. Conversely, if a Louisiana kid goes out to California and doesn't pan out, who's going to bend over backwards to land him a job? UCLA fans aren't nearly as passionate about football as LSU fans, and the economy here is much healthier to go along with a grossly lower cost of living. Plus, I imagine L.A. has one of the highest transplant populations in the country, so it's not like there's just Bruins in hiring positions. Baton Rouge is a much smaller market with a higher percentage of folks that are born and raised in Louisiana that consequently love LSU football.

Now someone like Dupre that has connections in L.A. and aspirations of working in sports management/marketing/whatever will have a ton of options in California with an UCLA degree, but generally speaking I believe an LSU degree in Louisiana can offer a former athlete more than just about any other school.