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USA TODAY columnist Nancy Armour argues that LSU has not learned from its widely criticized history of mishandling sexual abuse complaints. The decision to appoint Verge Ausberry as interim athletic director, she writes, shows that the school remains willing to overlook failures that harmed women.
In her view, placing Ausberry in charge, including giving him full authority to hire the next football coach, is a reminder that football still takes priority over accountability at LSU. Armour points to the school’s enthusiastic praise for his leadership and championships, without acknowledging the past actions that led to his suspension.
Armour alludes to the fact that LSU’s athletic department was previously found to have ignored or improperly routed abuse complaints involving athletes. Ausberry, she notes, was among those who failed to report allegations to the school’s Title IX coordinator as required by policy.
A key example cited is a text message in which former football player Drake Davis admitted to hitting his girlfriend. Armour writes that Ausberry took no action and that the victim eventually had to seek help from a trainer because she remained in pain. Also referenced was a separate report that he screamed at a female employee, but was never investigated.
After a law firm’s review found systemic failures in 2021, Ausberry was suspended for 30 days without pay. According to the column, lawmakers and advocates called for dismissals of any employee who mishandled abuse reports, but the university restored Ausberry to his role.
Armour warns that giving him even more authority conveys that protecting women remains secondary to athletic success. She questions whether women on campus should trust him to prioritize their safety when his past record suggests otherwise.
While Ausberry claims the athletic department is “not broken,” the column concludes that LSU’s actions tell a different story: one where football power outweighs concern for survivors.
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