Tag Archives: administrators

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Why Louisiana Gov. has ‘got it out for’ LSU AD after $54 million Brian Kelly mess

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The wild feud between Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and LSU athletic director Scott Woodward was a long time coming. After Woodward fired LSU football coach Brian Kelly last week, Landry blasted Woodward in a press conference and declared that he wouldn’t be involved in hiring the next coach.

Landry and Woodward have long been at odds, according to Yahoo Sports, with Landry holding a “personal vendetta” against Woodward. After LSU athletic administrators decided to fire Kelly, Landry held a meeting at the governor’s mansion with donors and select university administrators to authorize the decision, the outlet reported. At that meeting, Landry strongly expressed his desire to have Woodward fired, per the report.

“He’s got it out for him,” a Louisiana political figure told Yahoo Sports. “This governor picks fights and he never forgets a slight.” Some of that tension stems from the fact that Woodward, a former political lobbyist, is more progressive than the conservative Landry.

Soon after Landry was sworn in in 2024, he became combative with the school over a number of disagreements. At one point, he declared a sign of disrespect to the country and threatened to revoke athletic scholarships. Later that year, he was adamant about restoring the school’s tradition of parading a live tiger around the field before football games—a practice the school had stopped several years ago.

Landry had a Bengal tiger transported from Florida and paraded around the field before a game, while the school’s actual live tiger mascot was not used. Those two decisions left the school feeling “angry, scarred and embarrassed,” Yahoo Sports reported.

Then, this year, Landry urged Woodward and other school administrators to hire back Will Wade to coach the basketball team, according to the outlet. Wade had coached LSU during a successful five-year run between 2017 and 2022, recording a 105-51 record and bringing the Tigers to three NCAA tournaments.

However, Wade became embroiled in an NCAA investigation for paying players, which led Woodward to fire him. Wade then rehabilitated his image with McNeese State over the past two years, earning a job at NC State. As LSU finished a disappointing year last season under Matt McMahon, Landry urged Woodward to fire McMahon and bring back Wade—an idea Woodward refused, Yahoo Sports reported.

Just last week, Landry publicly slammed Woodward for giving Kelly his “terrible” contract, which resulted in a $54 million buyout needing to be paid. The feud between the governor and the athletic director shows no signs of cooling anytime soon.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/30/sports/why-louisiana-gov-has-got-it-out-for-lsu-ad-after-54-million-brian-kelly-mess/

city, development, environment, housing, parks

Concern over delays on riverside path

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The planning approval for the 255-home Meridian Waterside scheme in Southampton included important public realm improvements, such as the extension of a local park and the creation of a new waterfront walkway along the River Itchen. However, with one of the three blocks of flats still incomplete, the Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society (SCAPPS) has raised concerns about the lack of progress on these promised public space enhancements.

Speaking at the recent court leet ceremony held at the Civic Centre, Graham Linecar of SCAPPS addressed the issue, highlighting the stalled work on the riverside path and green space.

Inland Homes, the original developer of the former Meridian site, went into administration some time ago. Although the planning permission clearly included the construction of a landscaped riverside path and public green space, no progress has been made on these key features. The site’s administrator arranged for an alternative developer to complete the remaining housing, but the riverfront path and green space improvements have yet to be started.

Mr. Linecar’s presentment called on the city council to clarify what steps they have taken—and plan to take—to ensure the delivery of this significant public realm enhancement. SCAPPS and other local stakeholders had believed these improvements were guaranteed as part of the planning permission.

The proposed walkway would run along the west bank of the River Itchen, starting just north of Northam Bridge and extending towards the Itchen Riverside Broadwalk.

Inland Homes entered administration two years ago with one of the three blocks of flats still unfinished. Last year, estate agent Savills was marketing the partially constructed Southern House with an asking price of £7 million. This building, anticipated to contain 104 apartments featuring one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, remains covered in scaffolding and incomplete.

The entire regeneration project is taking place on the site formerly occupied by Meridian TV studios.

Mr. Linecar’s presentment regarding the riverside path issue will be reviewed by council leaders and is expected to receive a formal response in the coming months. He also questioned whether lessons have been learned about attaching effective conditions to planning permissions to prevent similar situations from arising in the future.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25521993.southampton-riverside-path-upgrade-facing-delays/?ref=rss