For a few million dollars, Louisiana Tech is finally where it ought to be.
For the lack of several million, LIV Golf’s foray into Louisiana has predictably all but fizzled out, with good riddance.
A good idea gets done. A bad one gets sunk.
It made no sense for the Bulldogs to keep trotting around Conference USA next season, and everyone on both sides knew it. CUSA had the ‘Dogs by the short hairs, though, because of these tricky little documents called bylaws. They spelled out to some degree the requirements to depart the conference, and to a lesser extent, the pricetag of doing it.
What was that number? Maybe not the $8 million some outlets floated in the last couple of weeks, but it wasn’t a sale price, either. Cost more than a mass visit to your favorite escape room, and was much more complicated.
The powers that be in Ruston knew that. But they also were weary of teams dealing with the grind of CUSA travel – not only to big cities like Miami and Atlanta, which are not exactly down the road a few hours, but to outposts like Lynchburg, Dover, Kennessaw, Murfreesboro, and Westchester (Fla.).
It was unpleasant enough making those trips, but fans from those institutions didn’t make their way to Ruston when their teams did. Nor did fans follow the Bulldogs to CUSA destinations.
The Sun Belt will be a 180. Travel won’t be as taxing, and considering gas prices, that’s even more important now than it was when Tech and the SBC got engaged last summer. Visiting fans will get noticed at Tech home games instead of being dressed as empty seats.
Conference matchups with ULM and UL Lafayette are prime attractions, and short drives for teams and fans. Not too far away are Arkansas State and Southern Miss. Even Troy and South Alabama are possible day trips for the most enthusiastic.
No doubt the football, baseball, softball, and track standards are much better in the SBC. It’s still a one-bid league for basketball, but more relevant with programs than have made some NCAA Tournament runs – something that is a far-too-distant memory in Ruston.
It took some court filings and extended staredowns, but inevitably, a spoiled relationship is ending. Divorce has its pains but is not necessarily a bad outcome.
Down in New Orleans, finances are helping crater an idea without merit from the start.
LIV Golf stinks. Call it what it is – Saudi Arabia’s bazillion-dollar sports washing of a miserable human rights record that includes the execution of an American journalist and some apparent culpability in the 9-11 attacks. But they have oil.
Dozens of pro golfers swallowed the money and ignored the stench when they joined LIV. Some made lifetime fortunes. Nearly all soiled their reputations as golfers, and humans.
LIV backers sold some top brass in Louisiana on staging a tournament in New Orleans. In late June. That was testament to the stupidity.
Unfortunately, the effort suckered in state officials to the point that more investment ($7 million) was made in this venture than the longstanding PGA Tour stop in New Orleans, the Zurich Classic, which has been a tremendous benefit to the Crescent City for decades.
Good news: LIV will repay the $1.2 million the state has already handed over. Another $2 million has gone to renovating Bayou Oaks, which will have some residual economic benefits beyond giving golfers another top-flight option down dere.
Reports say the state and LIV are bouncing around potential to host a fall tournament at Bayou Oaks. Louisiana’s money would be much better spent investing in the Zurich Classic or a thousand other sports ventures – the Independence Bowl comes to mind.
Like Tech to the Sun Belt, THAT makes sense.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com