As students file into the crammed Pentagon Dining Hall, they may wonder why, just a few yards away, University athletes are enjoying a more private, peaceful dining experience.
In the separate dining room, athletes eat one meal every day because officials say they need better food and more of it.
Officials say eating in a separate room ensures that athletes never run out of nutritious food.
But Ron Steelman, director of Resident Dining, said the Pentagon Dining Hall never runs out of food.
Many athletes receive regular meal plans with their scholarships, but the Athletic Department takes money from these meal plans to give the athletes an additional program called Training Table, said David Heidke, director of LSU Dining.
Training Table is designed to help meet athletes’ unique nutritional needs, said Associate Athletic Director Chris Howard.
Autumn Douglas, a dietitian at the Student Health Center, agreed that athletes require different diets from most other students.
“It is more imperative to monitor what athletes eat,” Douglas said, “A separate dining hall would be appropriate if they need to get the right nutrition and foods.”
Athletes who participate in intense training and multiple practices require more calories and carbohydrates, Douglas said.
Howard said athletes have a separate facility to keep other students from eating the food, in order to avoid a food shortage that could hinder an athlete’s athletic performance.
But Pentagon Athletic Dining Director Briggitte Mosely said the purpose of the separate dining hall is different.
“The athletes have a time restraint,” Mosely said. “They come in from practice and sometimes only have 30 minutes to eat before they go to night class or study hall.”
Mosely said a separate dining hall enables athletes to get in and out as fast as they need to.
Running back Justin Vincent, the 2004 BCS National Championship Game Most Valuable Player, said he and his teammates are often pressed for time to eat.
Vincent, a communication studies sophomore, said the team usually practices from 1:30 to 5:30 every afternoon and has to go to study hall or their night classes soon after.
“It’s nice to not have to wait in line,” Vincent said.
Some coaches insist that their players take part in Training Table, said Mark Kraner, director of Contracted Auxiliary Services.
Football players are required to eat there one meal per day, and coaches take attendance to ensure this.
Athletes can enjoy this option year-round, whether during their season or in training, Howard said.
There is not a drastic difference in the menu, but some of the food is more nutritious, and there is not as much fried food, Heidke said.
Athletes pay an extra fee for their meals received through Training Table, Kraner said.
The NCAA rules allow the implementation of Training Table to give the athletes one meal per day, year round, during and after training, Howard said.
The Athletic Department will also pay to open the dining halls during late summer before the start of the fall semester to accommodate football players returning early for practice.
Before athletes were given this section of the Pentagon Dining Hall, they lived in Broussard Hall, formerly an all-athletic dorm, and ate in their own, private cafeteria, Kraner said.