That big, fat salary given to Les Miles a couple of years ago coupled with the economic downturn is coming back to haunt decision-makers in the great state of Louisiana.
Governor Bobby Jindal is proposing $34 million in budget cuts, including mandatory one-week employee furloughs at Louisiana State. That means the LSU coach, who is scheduled to earn $3,251,000 this year, might have to forfeit one week's pay, or $62,520.
Yes, rich people have problems too. ...
LSU's athletic department is also looking at other cost-cutting moves, including scheduling games against in-state Division I-AA opponents McNeese State and Northwestern State, which was called Louisiana Normal when it last played LSU in 1942.
"For one thing, Northwestern State and McNeese will bring a lot more fans to the game," associate athletic director Verge Ausberry said. "We have trouble selling out games with [I-AA] opponents from out of state. It makes no sense to bring in a Western Carolina when we have great I-AA programs right here."
Meanwhile, a bill that would allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry a gun on Louisiana's college campuses is scheduled for debate Tuesday in the House of Representatives. The bill is backed by the National Rifle Association and Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. Jindal supports the measure and said he will sign it into law if the Legislature approves it. Miles has joined the opposition.
"I am concerned about this piece of legislation for reasons far greater than sports," Miles said in a statement issued Monday. "Having worked on a college campus for most of my career, I know that firearms do not belong on campus. To allow firearms on campus would be to introduce an element of risk that could compromise all that is good about a university setting."
"We have trouble selling out games with [I-AA] opponents from out of state. It makes no sense to bring in a Western Carolina when we have great I-AA programs right here."
Uh... how about don't bring in Western Carolina or I-AA programs anyways? Good, BCS programs bring a lot more fans to away games than cupcakes - why not try scheduling a few of them? I know I know, you'd have to play a game away, you might get your ass handed to you, etc. It's still a wussy way to schedule.
Posted by: Red4564 | May 19, 2009 at 09:37 AM
I hope poor Les doesnt suffer too much with out his 62K. I could live rather comfortably for a couple years on that money.
Posted by: me | May 19, 2009 at 11:18 AM