Saturday night, the University of Louisiana-Monroe will play in front of 90,000 fans and will receive a pay out of $475,000 in its first-ever game against LSU. If only things were as nice in Monroe.
In the fall of 2001, the NCAA Management Council set forth new Division I-A standards that could jeopardize the status of many small schools in the Division I-A ranks.
The stipulation of most concern in the sports world is the new criterion which calls for all Division I-A schools to host an average attendance of 15,000 at all home football games.
ULM is in for a battle. When the new standards go into effect in 2004, the Indians may not be able to reach and maintain the 15,000 average.
If a school fails to draw the 15,000 average, it is not eligible for its Division I-A status and will have to drop down to Division I-AA.
Last season, ULM averaged 8,470 fans per game. That number benefited largely from the “Rising to the Challenge” campaign, a fundraiser that raked in a school-record 6,258 season ticket sales.
The 2002 attendance average was an increase from the 7,664 average attendance of 2001, but still a far cry from the 15,000 requirement.
“We had another ticket campaign this year,” said ULM Athletics Director Bruce Hanks. “It wasn’t quite as good as last year’s, but it got better during the past week and a half. At the last count we were at about 5,100 season ticket sales. And we expect that number to continue rising until our first home game.”
To add insult to injury, six experts associated in ULM higher education released a report last year which said ULM had a funding deficit of $2.5 million in auxiliary enterprise and intercollegiate athletics.
In 2000, the Legislative Auditor reported he could not certify ULM’s audit because of “the disorganized nature of ULM’s financial records.”
It was not always like this.
In the early 1990s, ULM had promise and high expectations for both its financial and athletic futures. And even as late as 1998, the Indians drew more than 15,000 fans per game.
But because of an overestimation of projected revenue after moving to Division I-A and unanticipated enrollment declines (25 percent decrease in the past six years), the university fell into dire financial straits.
Hanks said things are on the way back up for the program.
“It’s getting better for us,” he said. “Last year we finished with more revenue than expenses, and we expect the same to happen this year.”
Indians coach Charlie Weatherbie said it is up to the players and coaches to gain back the support from the local community which has a surrounding area of around 90,000 people.
“I really haven’t thought about having to move down to Division I-AA,” Weatherbie said. “Our job is to win football games. If we continue to win and prove that we are winners, the fans will be in the stands.”
If ULM is forced to drop to Division I-AA, it will join the Southland Conference full-time along with members McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Southwest Texas State.
It is a part time affiliate of the conference now, competing as a member in all sports excluding football. The Indians compete in the Division I-A Sun Belt Conference in football along with UL-Lafayette, Arkansas State, New Mexico State, North Texas and Idaho.
“We’re taking the approach that we are going to do everything we can to make and meet the requirements set forth by the NCAA,” Hanks said. “This year we have recognizable names and a great group of seniors that we hope will help us move forward. Winning will definitely keep the fans coming to see the games.”