International Players Dominate LSU Rosters

During a recent interview with Meghan Kelly, Patrick McEnroe, brother of John, recounted how he watched the SEC men's tennis championship match and learned that just two of the 12 participants are Americans. He found similar results in the ACC and even smaller conferences playoffs. So why are U.S. athletic departments bypassing U.S. citizens in favor of foreigners. Is the quality of domestic tennis that bad?

LSU's men's and women's tennis teams are very good, posting 2026 records of 26-7 and 22-10 respectively. Nine of the 10 players on the men's team are non-Americans. The team drew just 677 spectators to its first NCAA playoff match despite offering free admission and free parking. Neither of the two opponents the Tigers faced in the playoffs had a single American players Only five of the the 12 players on the LSU women's team are Americans. Neither LSU team has a Louisiana player on its roster.

Other non-revenue generating sports are over-represented by foreign players -- 12 to just six U.S. golfers and the majority of the Men's Track & Field roster are non-Americans.

What is the reason for this? Why spend so much of Athletic Department resources on scholarships and international recruiting for foreign athletes instead of U.S. citizens, who pay those expenses.

Redirecting LSU's focus to young American athletes may make the respective teams less competitive, but who cares? Help develop the U.S. players.