LSU's AD Fired

[23andCounting]

Is it a good idea for the governor of the state to be involved in these decisions? I may be off base here, but I'm hoping LSU falls to the lowest of the low in football. Teach these governors to stay in their lane?

[Impartial_Observer]

In fairness to the gov, the AD’s hires have created some incredibly expensive buyouts. 

[23andCounting]

9 minutes ago, Impartial_Observer said:

In fairness to the gov, the AD’s hires have created some incredibly expensive buyouts. 

Makes sense, but at the end of the day, they want to win and they're going to fork out another large paycheck to the next guy. My question becomes........what qualifies a governor to make athletic decisions on behalf of the university? And let's be honest, hiring Kelly when they did looked like a genius "win" for the university. Now everyone suddenly wants to blame the guy who hired him? Laughable.

[23andCounting]

What good coach in there right mind would want this job? President is gone. AD is gone. Head coach was just fired. LSU will be a train wreck before they are a good football team in my opinion. Mike Elko and Lane Kiffin would be out of their mind to leave what they have now for LSU, Penn State, or Florida. 

[Impartial_Observer]

Seriously Dude’s on the hook for a 77 million dollar buyout at A&M, now he’s on the hook for 50whatever million at LSU. This has been my main beef with the revolving doors at various IU coaches offices. At some point you need to look at the morons hiring these guys. 
 

As far as finding another AD/Coach, let me quote Hillary Clinton, you’d be amazed what you find when you drag a hundred dollar bill around the trailer park. 

[Irishman]

10 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

Is it a good idea for the governor of the state to be involved in these decisions? I may be off base here, but I'm hoping LSU falls to the lowest of the low in football. Teach these governors to stay in their lane?

Not sure exactly how other states operate, but it seems that IU has itself on this path now. With support from President Whitten, total oversight has been given to the Governor as of this last session at the Statehouse. Prior to that, the Governor was limited to just appointing a handful of people as Trsutees. Now he gets to appoint all of them, which means he also has more of a say in the day to day operations of the school. Kind of sounds like Louisiana has the same type of thing with LSU. 

[23andCounting]

14 hours ago, Irishman said:

Not sure exactly how other states operate, but it seems that IU has itself on this path now. With support from President Whitten, total oversight has been given to the Governor as of this last session at the Statehouse. Prior to that, the Governor was limited to just appointing a handful of people as Trsutees. Now he gets to appoint all of them, which means he also has more of a say in the day to day operations of the school. Kind of sounds like Louisiana has the same type of thing with LSU. 

I get that the governor has certain powers. But at what point do they stay in their lane? Sure, make a move to fire the president. Then the new president determines whether the AD stays or goes. Then the AD hires the coach. Isn't that how chain of command is suppose to work? Or am I confused? A governor making decisions regarding athletics is like our modern day fools (actrors/actresses) giving us advice on politics. 

[Irishman]

I agree completely. It’s a common theme this weekend in Louisiana and the sports world in general. Politicians need to stay out of things like this. I believe micromanaging is the term. 

[GOLDRUSH1985]

2 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I get that the governor has certain powers. But at what point do they stay in their lane? Sure, make a move to fire the president. Then the new president determines whether the AD stays or goes. Then the AD hires the coach. Isn't that how chain of command is suppose to work? Or am I confused? A governor making decisions regarding athletics is like our modern day fools (actrors/actresses) giving us advice on politics. 

Governor should not be involved period . 

[Bash Riprock]

On 11/1/2025 at 9:01 AM, 23andCounting said:

I get that the governor has certain powers. But at what point do they stay in their lane? Sure, make a move to fire the president. Then the new president determines whether the AD stays or goes. Then the AD hires the coach. Isn't that how chain of command is suppose to work? Or am I confused? A governor making decisions regarding athletics is like our modern day fools (actrors/actresses) giving us advice on politics. 

I’m not even sure Governors should fire university presidents.  That’s the role of the Board of Trustees. Sure they can have an opinion which certainly counts, but best kept behind closed doors. As you stated, governors should stay in their lane. 

[23andCounting]

40 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

I’m not even sure Governors should fire university presidents.  That’s the role of the Board of Trustees. Sure they can have an opinion which certainly counts, but best kept behind closed doors. As you stated, governors should stay in their lane. 

The whole thing is comical to me. The guy leading the state I live in should have bigger fish in the fryer than sports. He ruined that football team in my opinion. No one in their right mind would want that job...........none of the best coaches anyway. 

[GOLDRUSH1985]

25 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

The whole thing is comical to me. The guy leading the state I live in should have bigger fish in the fryer than sports. He ruined that football team in my opinion. No one in their right mind would want that job...........none of the best coaches anyway. 

This is actually normal behavior in the South .

[23andCounting]

42 minutes ago, GOLDRUSH1985 said:

This is actually normal behavior in the South .

SEC fans are delusional. Just heard a fan of A&M say they were the best in the country. If IU and Ohio State played an SEC schedule, they'd both have two losses, lol. 

[Sparty]

Whose money is paying off all these buyouts?  Tax dollars or private dollars.  If tax dollars, governor absolutely has a say and if he kept his mouth shut, that would be the bigger issue.  If the money is private, he should stay out of it.  Really quite simple.  

[Bash Riprock]

22 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Whose money is paying off all these buyouts?  Tax dollars or private dollars.  If tax dollars, governor absolutely has a say and if he kept his mouth shut, that would be the bigger issue.  If the money is private, he should stay out of it.  Really quite simple.  

Disagree. That is why universities have Boards. He can certainly call the president of the Board and voice his/her concern and probably carries weight. But they don’t have a direct role in hiring and firing university staffs, nor should they be commenting on social media that university staffs have no role in hiring their own coaches. 

[Impartial_Observer]

38 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Whose money is paying off all these buyouts?  Tax dollars or private dollars.  If tax dollars, governor absolutely has a say and if he kept his mouth shut, that would be the bigger issue.  If the money is private, he should stay out of it.  Really quite simple.  

I’m not certain tax dollars can be spent on athletics. In that in many cases these coaches are the highest paid employees of the state and are representing state institutions, I would say the governor does in fact have some say. 

[PDB26]

14 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Disagree. That is why universities have Boards. He can certainly call the president of the Board and voice his/her concern and probably carries weight. But they don’t have a direct role in hiring and firing university staffs, nor should they be commenting on social media that university staffs have no role in hiring their own coaches. 

39 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Whose money is paying off all these buyouts?  Tax dollars or private dollars.  If tax dollars, governor absolutely has a say and if he kept his mouth shut, that would be the bigger issue.  If the money is private, he should stay out of it.  Really quite simple.  

For context, it appears that LSU’s athletic department does not receive state funding through the university’s general fund. 

[Sparty]

37 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

Disagree. That is why universities have Boards. He can certainly call the president of the Board and voice his/her concern and probably carries weight. But they don’t have a direct role in hiring and firing university staffs, nor should they be commenting on social media that university staffs have no role in hiring their own coaches. 

Appreciate the banter, but you don’t attempt to answer my questions about what kind of money.  

19 minutes ago, PDB26 said:

For context, it appears that LSU’s athletic department does not receive state funding through the university’s general fund. 

Thank you for the banter and at least trying to bring evidence to where the money comes from.  

23 minutes ago, Impartial_Observer said:

I’m not certain tax dollars can be spent on athletics. In that in many cases these coaches are the highest paid employees of the state and are representing state institutions, I would say the governor does in fact have some say. 

People often forget about the public employee part.  

[PDB26]

51 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Appreciate the banter, but you don’t attempt to answer my questions about what kind of money.  

Thank you for the banter and at least trying to bring evidence to where the money comes from.  

People often forget about the public employee part.  

In the case of the BK buyout, it’s been reported that one donor will provide the majority of the funds. BK still has a duty to mitigate LSU’s damages (the buyout), which could significantly reduce LSU’s contractual obligation.

[Bash Riprock]

2 hours ago, Sparty said:

Appreciate the banter, but you don’t attempt to answer my questions about what kind of money.  

Thank you for the banter and at least trying to bring evidence to where the money comes from.  

People often forget about the public employee part.  

My point even if state money, politicians should stay clear and let the people hired to manage their universities and athletic departments. How many governors across the country do you see trying to jump in over university officials to hire coaches?  Not in their lane. They certain can and most likely do share their opinions with the Board of Trustees. And it may be influential in some cases. But it should remain behind the scenes. I’d hope Gov of La has bigger fish to fry for his people that fall in line with his actual job description. 

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

My point even if state money, politicians should stay clear and let the people hired to manage their universities and athletic departments. How many governors across the country do you see trying to jump in over university officials to hire coaches?  Not in their lane. They certain can and most likely do share their opinions with the Board of Trustees. And it may be influential in some cases. But it should remain behind the scenes. I’d hope Gov of La has bigger fish to fry for his people that fall in line with his actual job description. 

“Shut up and dribble!”  mentality.  

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

My point even if state money, politicians should stay clear and let the people hired to manage their universities and athletic departments. How many governors across the country do you see trying to jump in over university officials to hire coaches?  Not in their lane. They certain can and most likely do share their opinions with the Board of Trustees. And it may be influential in some cases. But it should remain behind the scenes. I’d hope Gov of La has bigger fish to fry for his people that fall in line with his actual job description. 

I don't think anyone votes in their governor to hear his or her sports opinion. Like movies, just do your job and act. Don't wanna hear your political opinion. 

[Bash Riprock]

55 minutes ago, Sparty said:

“Shut up and dribble!”  mentality.  

More of allow the people hired into those positions do their jobs and focus on the issues that you were elected to tackle. 
 

It would seem there are enough issues with collegiate sports without adding governors of states selecting the universities they wish to play GM/AD. 

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, Bash Riprock said:

More of allow the people hired into those positions do their jobs and focus on the issues that you were elected to tackle. 
 

It would seem there are enough issues with collegiate sports without adding governors of states selecting the universities they wish to play GM/AD. 

I would imagine public money and how it is spent (not speaking of the buy out as a previous poster mentioned potentially a single donor will pay the buy out) has A LOT to do with what he was elected to to do.  

[PDB26]

Interestingly, LSU's athletic department actually sent $7.5 MM per year to the University from 2012-2019 before Woodward became the AD.