quote:
I’d like to have the Alabama or A&M scenario where it’s obvious the people with the power know what they’re doing and are out to win and not out just to suit their own interests. They have a quality football coach and/or a quality AD who is allowed to do his job and attract quality coaches because they know he is competent and has the power to do his job.

Hold on.

Mal Moore was the AD at Bama for nearly 15 years. During that time he hired three football coaches: Mike Price (fired before even coaching a game), Dennis Franchione (who left after two seasons) and Mike Shula. He tried to hired Rich Rodriguez until Saban just fell into his lap. A year earlier Saban doesn't leave the NFL for any job, including Bama. Timing is everything and he was the beneficiary.

On the basketball side they've had (now) 4 HC's in the last 20 years, 7 NCAAT appearances and one SEC championship. To contrast, during that same time period LSU has had 4 HC's, 7 NCAAT appearances, four SEC championships and one Final Four appearance.

In short, the only "tremendous" thing about their athletic dept is Saban, whose hire was simply just a matter of good luck and capitalizing on that luck.

A&M on the other hand is attracting good coaches because money is simply no issue and they are willing to spend it like a coke addicted stripper. MANY guys could be great AD's if they had essentially a blank checkbook.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's beyond time for Joe to go, but overall LSU hasn't been horrible compared to the rest of the league. You just need an administration that recognizes LSU athletics for what it is...a multi-million dollar business in many respects separate from the university as a whole and operate it as much. Instead of (Alexander) running to anyone who will listen and telling them how LSU is on the verge of bankruptcy, sell the school as a great place and get on the same page the athletic dept. to allow it to make millions for the university as a whole rather than bemoan the fact the DC gets paid significantly more than the dean of gender studies.