university-of-louisiana-at-monroe « WordPress.com Tag Feed

Higher Ed Roundup - 7/28/12

Walter Abbott — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:32:44 +0000

Regents OK new degree programs – Higher ed chief evaluated in closed session

Higher Ed Roundup - 9/27/12

Walter Abbott — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:15:47 +0000

Southern University new model for fund-cut schools

Letter: Regents have lost their way

Guice Gets Vocal Support @ Forum

Walter Abbott — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:05:11 +0000

It was a big change from morning to afternoon. Nearly a hundred people showed up for the public hearing at Louisiana Tech University’s (LTU) Student Union where the University of Louisiana System (ULS) Board of Supervisor’s Search Committee held the first of several meetings to find a new president for the school.

It appeared that Tech Vice-President for Research and Development Les Guice was the overwhelming choice of the people present.

About fifteen speakers repeated their support for Guice, saying that he could best build upon the stability that outgoing president Dan Reneau has provided for the past twenty-five years.

Typical of the comments was that of Benny Denny, Bank of Ruston CEO, and president of the LTU Foundation, who noted that Tech, “has literally become the gold standard of the University of Louisiana System.” He added that Tech’s culture needed to be continued. Said Denny, “We don’t need to change that recipe, we need to perpetuate it with stability and leadership.”

Austin Vining, a student from Minden, said that the student body wanted to see a continuation of the progress Reneau had made during his tenure.

See here the process, some qualifications, and a proposed timeline:

Overview of Search Process
Desired Qualifications
Search Timeline

New Tech Prez Search Underway

Walter Abbott — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:56:30 +0000

The search for a new president of Louisiana Tech University (LTU) began this morning with but a small audience of less than two dozen looking on.

Long-time president Dan Reneau earlier this month announced his plans to retire next summer.

University of Louisiana System (ULS) Board of Supervisors Chair Wayne Parker said he expected a decision to be made before the end of the year. He also asked for, and received, permission from the committee to engage a search consultant as necessary to assist the process.

Ruston Mayor Dan Hollingsworth, a non-voting member of the search committee, said that he “had much respect” for Tech and looked forward to helping with the search.

This afternoon, a public hearing will be held to garner input from those interested in having a say.

We will have additional reporting later today.

College Football Coaches Be Crazy, Y'All [VIDEOS]

Braden — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:41:15 +0000

Arkansas head football coach John L. Smith wants everybody to smile. The Razorbacks have stumbled out of the gate to a 1-2 start, including a shocking defeat to Louisiana-Monroe and a crushing loss to Alabama.

He’s trying to keep the media from being all mopey and dejected, but he’s got a real funny way of raising their spirits, as you can see at the start of this press conference.

Meanwhile, things aren’t going so well at USC, either. They suffered a loss to Stanford last week, and their title hopes have taken a big hit. The Trojans’ sluggish start has ruffled the feathers in LA, and Lane Kiffin, the head coach, lets his temper flare yesterday when asked a seemingly innocent question about a player suffering an injury.

[javascript src=http://static.cbslocal.com/schoolclosings/production/cbs/wbz/NEWSROOM/js/kill_page_refresh.js]

Higher Ed Roundup - 9/18/12

Walter Abbott — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:57:14 +0000

Panel to find Tech president

Upsets Aren't Always a Good Thing in Sports

Brandon Beylo — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:45:48 +0000

“Everybody loves an underdog!” Oh is that so? Try telling that to the millions of sports

Higher Ed Roundup - 9/15/12

Walter Abbott — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:40:15 +0000

Jindal backs consolidation at LSU

UL System president ends 41-year career

SU Prez no confidence voted down

Our Views: A subsidy that stings

Louisiana Tech’s Dan Reneau reflects on 50 years

Knile Davis, Cobi Hamilton on ULM commemorative T-shirts

Evin Demirel — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 01:25:10 +0000

“Salt, Meet Wound” read one NBCSports.com headline in the wake of this T-shirt’s release. Two top Hogs aren’t exactly grimacing, though.

I sat down with Arkansas wide receiver Cobi Hamilton and running back Knile Davis earlier this week.

Toward the end of our conversations, I got their take on the T-shirts the University of Louisiana at Monroe produced in the wake of last week’s upset win against Arkansas.

Neither Razorback star had paid much mind to ULM’s opportunistic apparel, which had students lining up for purchase more than five hours before it hit campus bookstore shelves. Indeed, Davis didn’t know about the garb before I told him.

“It’s good for them,” the junior said. “It’s a good win. After the game, I was probably one of the only persons that shook their hands because that was a job well done on their part. That’s bad on our part. It’s a good thing for their program. I’m happy they got their win and now it’s our time to try to go upset someone.”

Hamilton was focused on the task at hand: Beating No. 1. Alabama on Saturday. He stressed far fewer people would care about ULM’s upset – “something no one would ever believe in 100 years” – if it were overshadowed on Saturday by an upset of greater national implications. “We beat Bama this week, they kinda burn that shirt.”

Football Picks: Week 3

Nathan Young — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:00:40 +0000

I admit it! Last week I went 1-2 in my football picks. I figured Auburn would win and Missouri lost as well. So this week I need to recover and I think I can go 3-0 this week!

1 Alabama vs. Arkansas

Alabama travels to play against Arkansas this week. Before this season began I thought this game would be the biggest game of week 3. But I was proven wrong when Arkansas was upset by UL-Monroe. Alabama so far has dominated its first two games and this week I expect this game will be closer. For you Arkansas fans out there who thinks you can pull off the massive upset you need to get a grip on reality. Alabama is just way too strong to be beaten and they will win! My final score prediction is Alabama 31-21.

UL-Monroe vs. Auburn

The team that pulled off the upset against Arkansas comes in to Auburn this weekend. Auburn has had lots of trouble in its first two games and it really needs to win this week because its next two games vs. LSU and Arkansas will most likely result in losses. Now if somehow Auburn loses this game the calls for the head coach to be fired will grow! I hate to see Auburn having to go 1-4 in its first five games but that’s most likely going to happen. I hope Auburn wins this game and I predict Auburn 38-35.

20 Notre Dame vs. 10 Michigan State

Congrats to Notre Dame for joining the ACC. I think this was a great fit for ~~football~~ and its sports programs. Seriously; I do believe Notre Dame needs to quit being independent on its football program and join a conference already! As to this game on Saturday night; I think Michigan State will win 28-21. Michigan State is just too strong right now!

Higher Ed Roundup - 9/12/12

Walter Abbott — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:20:02 +0000

Regents, state must pony up

LSU seeks glory beyond gridiron

Arkansas tries to regroup following shocking loss to Louisiana-Monroe, looks ahead to ’Bama

Canada.com — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:05:18 +0000

By Kurt Voigt

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The question about Arkansas without Bobby Petrino was how would it handle the difficult times without its former coach.

The Razorbacks found out Saturday night, when they blew a 21-point second-half lead in a shocking 34-31 overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe. And there could be more hardship ahead after quarterback Tyler Wilson and a host of other players went down with injuries.

Coach John L. Smith announced Sunday that Wilson stayed in Little Rock following the loss, the result of a hit to the head in the first half. Smith said Wilson’s prognosis for this week’s matchup with No. 1 Alabama is good, but the Razorbacks must first deal with the fallout from their stunning collapse.

Without Petrino, who was fired in April following his well-publicized off-the-field transgressions, Arkansas was unable to hold on after building a 28-7 lead midway through the third quarter. Its defence was embarrassed and thoroughly outmatched by Warhawks quarterback Kolton Browning, who accounted for 481 yards of total offence and four touchdowns.

“I am shocked, and I am mad at the same time,” Arkansas middle linebacker Tenarius Wright said. “I don’t want to show anger. I want to be strong for my team, and our team has to come together and stay together as a family and get ready for next week.”

And if losing to a team from the Sun Belt Conference wasn’t harsh enough, Arkansas (1-1) now faces the prospect of a visit from the defending national champion Crimson Tide. The game was circled on the Razorbacks’ calendar throughout the off-season, but that anticipation suffered a blow with Saturday’s loss.

All in all, it’s hard to imagine that the season could have taken such a turn so quickly after only two games under Smith. The Razorbacks struggled at times in a season-opening 49-24 win over FCS Jacksonville State, but few could have predicted those problems would be exposed so convincingly by the Warhawks (1-0).

What remains to be seen now is how Arkansas rebounds. The school fell from No. 8 in last week’s AP college football poll to unranked this week, the second-largest fall out of the poll ever.

Even if Wilson does return against Alabama, the Razorbacks have to wonder how far their free-fall might go after becoming the first top-10 team to lose to a team from the Sun Belt. After the visit by the Crimson Tide, they host Rutgers before road games at Texas A&M and Auburn.

“We have to pull together, and we all contributed to the loss. I don’t want to see any of this and this,” Smith said, pointing his finger at each other. “Which is naturally what you get, because that’s an easy thing to do and that’s what losers do, they point fingers.

“(We need to) wrap our arms around each other, come to work, get better and get ready for Alabama. Those guys came in here and beat us — there’s no reason for us not to get ready to beat Alabama.”

In order to compete with the Crimson Tide, much less win, the Razorbacks must improve on defence after allowing an average of 436 total yards the first two weeks. That task was made more difficult Saturday by a couple of injuries in the secondary, which allowed a career-high 412 yards passing by Browning.

The performance also raised the inevitable questions about how the chaotic spring following Petrino’s firing truly affected Arkansas. The Razorbacks were 21-5 the last two seasons under Petrino, with their only losses coming to schools ranked ahead of them.

“They certainly have rallied around each other and overcome significant obstacles and significant difficulties,” Louisiana-Monroe coach Todd Berry said. “As I told (Smith) before the game, I applaud him for how he’s handled a lot of things.

“I recognize how difficult all that stuff can be, and what a distraction it is.”

Starting Arkansas cornerback Tevin Mitchel was taken off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter with what the school called “an injury above the shoulders.” The other starting corner, senior Kaelon Kelleybrew, was in and out of Saturday’s game with an arm injury, but Smith said he’s expected to play against Alabama.

One player who is out for sure is backup running back Kody Walker, who was likely lost for the season with a lower leg injury against Louisiana-Monroe. Walker started at fullback Saturday after the team’s usual starting fullback, Kiero Small, had surgery for a foot injury late last week.

Regardless of who plays and who doesn’t this week, Arkansas is doing its best to continue looking forward — not back.

“We’re not going to let anyone slack, not going to let anyone make any complaints, no excuses,” Wright said. “Everyone contributed to the loss that we took, so it’s up to us to contribute to getting better and put more numbers in the win column.”

17:05ET 09-09-12