Under Leadership of Neeli Bendapudi, Louisville is Making All of the Right Moves

Since beginning her tenure at The University of Louisville, President Neeli Bendapudi has been hitting home runs by valuing morals over money.

The University of Louisville owes it’s growth in recent years to a lot of corporations.

While most universities make their name by fundraising using big-name boosters, anonymous or otherwise, UofL has never had that luxury. Instead- taking a page out of the playbooks of pro sports teams- former Athletic Director Tom Jurich took the Cardinals athletics programs to unparalleled monetary heights by getting corporations involved.

Two decades later, student- athletes play in the nicest stadiums and arenas- pro or college- in large part due to corporate sponsors. Every sports program from golf to football can thank local businesses and corporations who, in return for their generous donations, get to put their names and logos all over the facilities.

Going to any Louisville sporting event is completely different than other college experiences. Fields sponsored by adidas, replays by window world, give-aways by Texas Roadhouse, and so much more. You will find corporate sponsors all over other college stadiums, but none do it like Louisville. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course. But, by letting businesses put their names all over your stadiums, fields, and arenas, you let that name become synonymous with your program.

It’s a risk not many are willing to take, and many big donor schools don’t have to make, to slap a Subway or Porter Paint logo on your stadium to build a fortress for the student athletes. In the ACC, Clemson has Memorial Stadium, Florida State has Doak Campbell, NC State has Carter-Findley… And Louisville has Papa John, the Pizza King with sugary sauce, and LOT of dough (pun 100% intended, thanks for noticing).

It’s a luxury to have a rich history, and some donors with bottomless pockets.

Louisville doesn’t have that.

To get to the top, they have relied on the Papa Johns, KFC’s, etc. This is fine, but when your fearless pizza leader makes controversial move after controversial move, sometimes you have to say enough is enough.

But nobody had the stones to tell John Schnatter where he could shove his secret ingredients until president Neeli Bendapudi.

On Friday, the newly minted UofL president did just that.

Let’s make one thing clear: There is no doubt that the university would be where they are today if it weren’t for Papa John’s the COMPANY. Undoubtedly the biggest asset to building the largest chair back stadium in the country, and then expanding it twice, was Papa John’s. Undeniably the most important sponsor in the history of the school, Papa John’s has cemented their legacy as a heroic one for the university, as well as the city of Louisville.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, Papa John the MAN, we have seen enough of.

Yes, Schnatter has a rich history of philanthropy at Louisville, and across the country. The man has more money than ten people would know what to do with, and he gives generously. But Schnatter has proven many times over that his place as company spokesman is not the right one for him. Between his decision-making as the CEO (which he stepped down from on January 1st), to his multiple comments about race-relations that were in poor taste, to a complete disregard for morality towards racial sensitivity, enough is enough.

Schnatter has admitted to his wrong-doings. He promptly stepped down, and made public apologies after being ousted for using a racial slur, and making derogatory remarks towards African Americans. Still, this situation was primed for an explosive turn for the worse if Louisville leadership didn’t act swiftly and boldly.

Enter Bendapudi.

President Bendapudi has been putting out fires, and saving face left and right on the academic side of things since her arrival in April. It had been a long time coming. This writer attended UofL for four semesters in 2016 and 2017, and didn’t have a permanent president at the helm for a single second. The corruption that took place at the school under previous president James Ramsey, the tumultuous leadership at the state level, as well as a the train-wreck that was the UofL athletic department did not offer much hope for those around the school. Bendapudi, however, has shone a light on Louisville that it hasn’t had in a long time.

When news broke of the Papa racial slur scandal, many saw it as another issue for the University to be weighed down with- another fire to put out. Bendapudi saw it as an opportunity. She didn’t hesitate or waste any time. She didn’t care if it might cost the school money. She saw a guy who’s name was on the stadium, recognized that we don’t tolerate racism here. Zero strike policy. Bye Papa.

There was no delegation or delineation at all.

“These comments were hurtful, and unacceptable. I have decided, with the support of our board of trustees, to rename our stadium ‘Cardinal Stadium,’ and to remove John Schnatter’s name from the Center for Free Enterprise at our College of Business effective immediately,” she read from a statement at Louisville’s Grawmeyer Hall.

And that was that.

Bendapudi made a decision not based on what stands to benefit Louisville financially, but instead of what was right or wrong. “We understand that this comes with certain consequences,” she said when asked if she considered the legal ramifications of her decision. Bendapudi simply doesn’t care. The money will come. Right now, it’s about doing things the right way.

It’s refreshing hearing this press conference. After years of leadership that took a long time to make decisions that hurt Louisville’s brand in attempts to squeeze every dollar out of each opportunity, Bendapudi is choosing to do the common sense thing.

This is leadership. This is what the university desperately needs.

Finally, a breath of fresh air.

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