There was a rumor floating around southwest Louisiana recently that was growing legs and about to turn into urban myth. It was pretty far-fetched, and fell into the unbelievably ridiculous file when I heard it from several different McNeese supporters and in various circles a few weeks ago.
I patiently listened to several groups of fans, who all gave their impassioned versions. To a man, these people totally believed that the story had to be true. I raised my eyebrows each time I heard it, and visibly shook my head in disbelief that what I believed to be knowledgeable fans could be so easily swept up in what amounted to bold-faced lies.
I could have been mean and insulting, and convinced several of the rumor mongers that the Loch Ness Monster was sighted again, and there was new video on the Internet, so it must be true.
The McNeese fairy tale begins with LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette calling his brother, Matt, the current S.I.D. at McNeese (both men are sons of legendary and now-retired McNeese sports information director Louis Bonnette) and telling him that LSU was interested in giving a large Jumbo Tron type scoreboard and video panel to McNeese, if McNeese was interested in taking it.
Supposedly, LSU had this video scoreboard available because of the recent expansion and renovation of Tiger Stadium, and McNeese would only have to pay for the transport and installation.
The rumor further stated that McNeese athletic director Bruce Hemphill did not return LSU’s calls of scoreboard charity, and the Tigers went up the road to Southeastern Louisiana University, where they found willing and appreciative recipients in Hammond.
The sub-plot involved Michael Bonnette, born and raised in Lake Charles, in the shadows of Cowboy Stadium, who supposedly made the offer to McNeese first because of his family’s ties to the school, as well as the fact that McNeese is in dire need of a new football scoreboard and video board.
Good casting tied up at least one end of this farce.
Word was circulating around the area that McNeese fans were up in arms, mad as hell that Hemphill and the Cowboys’ athletic department dropped the ball and lost out on this opportunity.
The real problem was that none of the story — from the available scoreboard, to the phone calls to McNeese, to losing the million-dollar-plus equipment to Southeastern Louisiana — was true.
I found the entire affair and story so bush league and silly that I refused to follow it up with calls to Hemphill, McNeese officials, LSU, either of the Bonnettes, or my alma mater, Southeastern.
That did not stop the accusation from gaining steam and filtering up to high-level McNeese boosters and supporters, who began asking questions and clamoring for details.
Hemphill felt the pressure of the rumor mill, and recently confronted the story at the Petro Chem and Cowboy Club booster meetings, and with anyone else who would listen to the truth.
I invited Hemphill to appear on the Soundoff 60 Sports show, and was going to discuss the issue with him in person before posing questions on the broadcast. Hemphill, beginning his second football season as athletic director, was perturbed and agitated, fresh off one of those booster meetings, and anxious to set the record straight.
“This is very close to insanity, that someone could make up a story and it’s so far from the truth it’s ridiculous,” Hemphill proclaimed. “LSU did not call. Michael Bonnette, who supposedly made the call, would not have the authority to offer a scoreboard to McNeese. LSU kept its scoreboard, and actually expanded off it. Southeastern Louisiana did buy a new scoreboard a year ago, and has not received anything from LSU.”
Hemphill says the accusation was planted via an Internet blog by a person in Lafayette who “certainly is no friend of McNeese.” The Internet posting was forwarded, was apparently well-read, and simply spread, as juicy rumors are apt to do.
“‘They’ are several individuals masquerading as McNeese fans, but who in essence are not friends of McNeese,” a visibly upset Hemphill argued.
It’s mind-boggling to me that anyone in their right mind would give any credence to this story. The LSU Athletic Department has gobs of money, and even more millions coming in from the new SEC Network on ESPN, but even with that in mind, they would not simply give away a multi-million dollar piece of electronic equipment.
It’s not beyond belief that, if LSU was replacing a scoreboard/video panel, they might offer to sell it to the highest bidder among in-state universities, and possibly ship it once dismantled, if that’s even an option.
That was not the case here, according to Hemphill.
These types of stories don’t always make the American Press or local TV, but that doesn’t mean fans are not talking about them, or embellishing the truth beyond the boundaries of belief. That’s what’s happened here. And that has Hemphill up in arms.
“The most disappointing thing is that there are people out there that would actually believe something like this could take place,” Hemphill says.
Hemphill, a native of Sulphur, played football for the LSU Tigers, graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s and a master’s, and recently finalized a contract to open the 2015 football season with the Cowboys playing the Tigers in Tiger Stadium.
Why on earth would he not return a phone call from LSU — on any topic and at any time?
In the business of sports and media coverage, you have to follow up on some rumors, whispers, and nuggets of leaked information; you never know where they might lead. If there is enough smoke, a fire may soon follow — that has always been my mantra.
But that doesn’t mean everything you hear from “inside people or reliable sources” is factual, or has even a hint of truth.
Coaches, players, athletic directors, general managers and university presidents are all dealing with the new reality of truth, lies and media coverage, and it’s called the Internet — a game-changing tool in the dissemination of information and communications.
Websites, blogs, Twitter and Facebook are not regulated by journalistic standards. They are not always managed or edited for facts based on reliable sources and substantiated information.
It’s the wild, wild West at times, and anything goes.
Hemphill was disturbed that this blog of lies gained as much momentum in the community as it did, forcing him to spend “valuable time” dispelling the rumor, and easing the minds of some important and influential McNeese supporters. He says there are much more pressing issues to deal with, and allegations like these delay and derail his mission.
“This is an attack not only on me, but against the athletic department, this university and the fans,” says Hemphill.
Here is a truth for you: Cowboy Stadium is in desperate need of a new scoreboard and video board. The current apparatus is in the final year of a 10-year contract, according to Hemphill, which also includes a maintenance agreement. Once final payment is made, Hemphill says, the athletic dept. will begin the process of fundraising (probably to the tune of $1 million) with hopes and plans to upgrade the stadium scoreboard. He admits there is no hard and fast time table.
Just an hour west of McNeese, SLC rival Lamar installed a new video scoreboard when they brought football back a few years ago. The Cardinals’ stadium board puts McNeese’s to shame. A newer piece of electronic equipment will understandably have updated technology, and be bigger and better.
McNeese is struggling to enhance the “game experience” at the stadium, in hopes of attracting more fans and enticing them to stay longer at the games. A scoreboard with a complete audio and high-definition video package will go a long way toward achieving that goal.
Try watching a replay on the current video board, and you will get the point. Sponsorships and advertising options are also very limited with the existing equipment, because the scoreboard can’t fully rotate company logos, and the lack of available advertising space, small size and poor quality hinder sales.
Hemphill confirmed that, since 2010, season ticket sales have declined, and the fight for the entertainment dollar is much tougher now. Winning doesn’t solve all problems. You have to offer fans some of the comforts of home at the stadium, including sound and video that can compete with that 60-in., high-def, flat-screen TV in the man cave back home. Better food and concessions, faster-moving lines, clean rest rooms, ample parking and a family-friendly environment are also on the check box list.
“I’m a traditionalist at heart, but none of us likes change, because we are used to doing it the same way. But when it’s not working, we have to step back and figure out how can we make it better,” Hemphill noted in explaining the change from a 7 pm to a 6 pm kickoff for home games.
A recent fan poll conducted by McNeese showed the majority preferred the 6 pm kickoffs. That’s a small and easy change that didn’t cost any money. Other projects and decisions will incur costs and involve fundraising.
Hemphill has made other internal changes within the athletic department, and some were not applauded. Change can be difficult but necessary, and this opens up the second-year A.D. to criticism.
“When you are in a high-profile, decision-making position like McNeese athletic director, you are going to have those that may dislike you and disagree,” Hemphill says. “Every decision we make is what’s best for McNeese, while taking input from McNeese people.
“There are no personal issues involved. If I make a change, it is not so my legacy is that I made that change. Absolutely not. I’m not looking to move on to other jobs. This is my dream job, and I want to do what’s best for McNeese in every decision that’s made.”
McNeese athletics is riding a wave of positive news lately: for example, the recent contract announcements that the Cowboys will open the 2015 football season at LSU, and the long-awaited renewal of the McNeese-UL Lafayette football rivalry, scheduled for September, 2016. It took seven years to get ULL athletic and university officials back to the negotiating table, but they got it done.
Plans are moving ahead with the construction of an on-campus basketball arena. It could be 4-5 years in the future, but it’s finally on the drawing board.
“In the history of McNeese, we have always done very well with less,” admitted Hemphill, who has fond memories of football and basketball games growing up. “That will continue. Our job now is to increase those revenues. We are already competitive; we are winning.”
It didn’t take the seasoned athletic director long before he found himself engaged in a battle against Internet rumors and attacks.
Get Rick Sarro’s perspectives on sports on Soundoff 60, which airs Monday through Sunday nights at 9 pm on Suddenlink Channel 60 and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 am as well.
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