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Message
re: LSU Swimming...Is this the worst performing sport for LSU currently?
Posted on 2/21/21 at 9:55 am to Lsumatty
Posted on 2/21/21 at 9:55 am to Lsumatty
They have absolutely nothing to swimming & diving facilities. Hell I believe when they built the Natatorium in 1985 they didn’t even have dressing rooms. I think they do now. You can see in the other spots the way they invest. That is important to recruits
This post was edited on 2/21/21 at 9:57 am
1
Posted on 2/21/21 at 10:10 am to Miketheseventh
The Nat was built quick n dirty for the Olympic sports fest, which was a consolation prize for the athletes that just missed making the Olympics in 1984. It was built with zero foresight, some say to be torn down afterwards, but being that The Huey was the best thing LSU had at the time, they kept the Nat. Any money they’ve spent there through the years was barely putting lipstick on a pig... and they grossly overpaid for what they got nevertheless.
Interestingly in the 1980s the Nat wasn’t too bad compared to what some others in the SEC had. One could argue that the only SEC championship in 1988 came from a boost of the program from the facility upgrade.
We had lockers in a utility closet by the diving well. The bottom of my locker was rusted out and there was a family of rats that lived underneath our row of lockers. Not an appealing place for an aspiring LSU athlete.
Interestingly in the 1980s the Nat wasn’t too bad compared to what some others in the SEC had. One could argue that the only SEC championship in 1988 came from a boost of the program from the facility upgrade.
We had lockers in a utility closet by the diving well. The bottom of my locker was rusted out and there was a family of rats that lived underneath our row of lockers. Not an appealing place for an aspiring LSU athlete.
This post was edited on 2/21/21 at 10:11 am
Posted on 2/21/21 at 10:48 am to RingLeader
quote:
We had lockers in a utility closet by the diving well. The bottom of my locker was rusted out and there was a family of rats that lived underneath our row of lockers. Not an appealing place for an aspiring LSU athlete.
Funny! Once they built the expanded locker room off the side that was the warmest place during the winter, I remember one winter they found a dead rat in the rusted bottom of one, must have come in during a cold day trying to get warm haha.
I think it’s interesting that we all see problems within Louisiana swimming from different lenses. I think for a true turn around it will take alignment from high school, club, and college. Not impossible, but you have to get a lot of people acting selflessly and moving in the same direction. Since a lot of that are government people I am not too hopeful. I would caution parents of current swimmers from thinking that these problems go away with making a coaching change. Since most parents didn’t grow up in the sport they may not see that these are problems that have persisted for decades. The root of these issues are much much deeper than one coach, one organization, or one facility. Likely the only way forward right now to truly change things would be to get Woodward on board with demanding excellence from swimming and giving them resources to do so.
This post was edited on 2/21/21 at 10:50 am
Posted on 2/21/21 at 11:16 am to Stuckinthe90s
quote:
Likely the only way forward right now to truly change things would be to get Woodward on board with demanding excellence from swimming and giving them resources to do so.
He did that at A&M. And look where they went. I was told pre covid stupidity that he immediately identified the swimming & diving program as the area in most need of improvement. During the miracle football season there was already talks of potential new facility. But that went bye bye with the last 13 months of idiocracy.
I agree that the club and high school culture need to improve in Louisiana as well. And I bring that back to facilities as well. Kids just don’t want to train outside in temperature extremes. It’s miserable in the winter and horrible in the summer. Access to decent climate controlled facilities would certainly help.
Recently the conversation about the Slidell casino bringing a potential 30mil sports complex has been discussed. I immediately brought up that it should include an indoor 50m pool with ability to host big meets. They could keep that facility booked with events as the region doesn’t have many venues capable. And the club teams could benefit from a solid training facility. Doubt it will happen because all people around here see in their grand vision is ball fields. There’s no facility that can host a sectional meet in Louisiana, and the closest is Tupelo... which we travel to in 2 weeks. My son will taper/shave for that meet over LA state Championships due to absolutely zero competition in his age group in La.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 1:21 pm to Murtown
I’m old now but swam competitively for years. La has always had some great under 18 swimming talent/elite swimmers. Build the program and they will come. For now, they necessarily migrate towards already viable programs where they have an actual chance of success.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 2:01 pm to Stuckinthe90s
While it can be helpful there is no necessity that Louisiana be top notch in swim for lsu to be top notch. Kentucky just won the sec with 3 girls from Kentucky on the team who earned little if any points for the team. It takes facilities and coaching. Build it and they will come. And connections of a coach. You have to make in roads with some of the large club teams around the country and get your studs and fill in with depth.
You can build Louisiana club swimming up but if facilities aren’t good they won’t come. These studs will travel and see other facilities for speedo series events and junior nationals and have better venues to compare.
You can build Louisiana club swimming up but if facilities aren’t good they won’t come. These studs will travel and see other facilities for speedo series events and junior nationals and have better venues to compare.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 10:29 am to TrueBaldPate
The LSU gymnastics coach recruited the best in the country with the worst facility in the nation. The diving coach consistently recruits top divers in the nation with the same facility as the swim team. Coach has got to go. He is lucky the athletic department doesn’t give a sh— about swimming.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 12:38 pm to Murtown
Comes out last in SEC and Board of Supervisors gives him a raise. Sounds like the swim coach is the best job in LSU athletics. AD should be on the hot seat for this one.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 12:52 pm to Stuckinthe90s
In the Texas suburban school districts, the town or suburb usually has a city-owned facility that the school has exclusive use of in the mornings and afternoons.
Some Texas high schools also have their own pools.
College swimming rosters tend to be dominated by kids who were recruited nationally, as well as select international recruits.
Swimming, tennis, golf -- the elite NCAA programs in those sports all would rather give scholarships to foreign-born, older athletes than reward the athletes in their home states.
I checked, and LSU has 13 foreign-born athletes on their swimming rosters. That seems like a lot.
If LSU is going to be an also-ran in this sport, they may as well do it with local kids. Clearly, it sounds like a coaching problem.
Some Texas high schools also have their own pools.
College swimming rosters tend to be dominated by kids who were recruited nationally, as well as select international recruits.
Swimming, tennis, golf -- the elite NCAA programs in those sports all would rather give scholarships to foreign-born, older athletes than reward the athletes in their home states.
I checked, and LSU has 13 foreign-born athletes on their swimming rosters. That seems like a lot.
If LSU is going to be an also-ran in this sport, they may as well do it with local kids. Clearly, it sounds like a coaching problem.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 12:56 pm to Lsumatty
quote:
Catholic & Parkview every year
Hate to be that guy, but, after witnessing my son go through competitive swimming years ago, the kids in LA pale in comparison to the national base.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 1:06 pm to RingLeader
quote:
The Nat was built quick n dirty for the Olympic sports fest, which was a consolation prize for the athletes that just missed making the Olympics in 1984. It was built with zero foresight, some say to be torn down afterwards, but being that The Huey was the best thing LSU had at the time, they kept the Nat. Any money they’ve spent there through the years was barely putting lipstick on a pig... and they grossly overpaid for what they got nevertheless.
Interestingly in the 1980s the Nat wasn’t too bad compared to what some others in the SEC had.
The USOC's Olympic Festival program was actually started in 1978, and it wasn't a "consolation prize" for people who didn't make the Olympic team. It was supposed to be a response to similar programs that were run in East Germany and the Soviet Union.
Cities bid fiercely to host the Olympic Festivals. Baton Rouge was ecstatic. LSU athletic director Carl Maddox built EVERYTHING on the cheap at that time, so he didn't know the difference. But I was working there then and Maddox was proud of the Natatorium, thought it was state of the art and expected it to be around for decades, like the Field House.
Maybe I'm wrong, but all we're talking about here are a couple of swimming pools, a diving pool and two real nice locker rooms. That can't be that expensive to build.
LSU needs to upgrade.
This post was edited on 2/22/21 at 1:07 pm
Posted on 2/22/21 at 1:07 pm to Lsumatty
Somebody find out this coach’s name so we can call for them to be fired too!!!!! Gotta love this fanbase
Posted on 2/22/21 at 1:53 pm to Stuckinthe90s
quote:This, my daughter swam. Her HS team was relegated to a dilapidated elementary pool on the edge of the parish. The heaters for the pool and air were both broken constantly with parents and the coach trying to bandaid. One school has a pool and they have a decent program. We could produce some good swimmers, but someone will have to invest in it.
LSU Swimming is a result of both a terrible high school/under 18 development program and terrible facilities statewide as well as on campus.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 1:56 pm to Lsumatty
All I know is that they were elite at partying in the early 2000s. Good times and happy to be their “neighbor”. 
Posted on 2/22/21 at 2:36 pm to PurpleExile
quote:
Maybe I'm wrong, but all we're talking about here are a couple of swimming pools, a diving pool and two real nice locker rooms. That can't be that expensive to build.
LSU needs to upgrade.
the issue is wear and tear... The humidity levels inside cause all sorts of problems. The building needs to go but COVID probably killed any chance of LSU funding a major project for a non-revenue sport
I'd exect it's more likely to cut the program altogether than it is to build a new facility
This post was edited on 2/22/21 at 2:37 pm
Posted on 2/22/21 at 3:27 pm to Lsumatty
The facility. It has not changed in 40 years. It is hard to compete for talent when you have little to offer.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 3:33 pm to bigberg2000
quote:
All I know is that they were elite at partying in the early 2000s. Good times and happy to be their “neighbor”.
Started long before early 2000’s, I’m sure we know of each other if you partied with us... you partied with me and I think I know who you are but that doesn’t matter
And to answer OP, yes LSU swimming has become a shell of the past and can’t compete like we used to. The men should fare a little better but what’s the point anymore. Either build a new pool and commit like Aggie did or get rid of it. Aggie just built a swimming locker room that rivals our football team practically. LSU doesn’t realize how much a state of the art pool will draw in national meets, and benefit them and the community money wise. Maybe Woodward will once they catch up from Covid but I doubt it
This post was edited on 2/22/21 at 5:33 pm
Posted on 2/22/21 at 3:38 pm to MCrun2
quote:
Why the hate for Cross Country that has 0 out of the 11.7 men’s CC/Indoor/Outdoor Track scholarships on a yearly basis
They may get 0.25 or 0.5 occasionally
This year the distance on the men’s side is not bad. Sub 4 min miler and another at 4:06.
Finishing top 8 with no scholarships is pretty good against schools who put 4-5 or their scholarships into distance consistently
Swimming has a full allotment of scholarships that CC distance running at LSU never get anywhere near
I didn't realize LSU had a sub-4 miler on their roster. Wow.
I completely agree with you. LSU has never stockpiled distance runners on their team. In the hopes of scoring even a point or two at the SEC championships in the 1,500m on up, they rely on possibly landing some of the best high school distance runners in the state who are already getting tuition covered via TOPS. Then they might recruit give a partial scholarship to a foreigner to come over.
On the men's side, Arkansas is pretty much sweeping the field of distance runners, so the strategy of teams like LSU and A&M who look to win conference and possibly national championships is to load up sprints and field.
Posted on 2/22/21 at 3:51 pm to Lsumatty
I’ve always wondered if I go to say an LSU swim meet, or a tennis match, will there be awesome intros and stuff like football, basketball, baseball?
Posted on 2/22/21 at 4:32 pm to CP3forMVP
quote:
I’ve always wondered if I go to say an LSU swim meet, or a tennis match, will there be awesome intros and stuff like football, basketball, baseball?
No, but for awhile the tennis team held an unofficial kegger during the matches for the fans. Got shut down as being super inappropriate, but those were the days man.
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