“Bleed Purple and White”

Love for Northwestern State isn’t something Genovese lacks.

“There’s a lot to be said for having a president who bleeds purple and white,” Serio said of Genovese.

A 1971 graduate, Genovese attributes much of his success — and his happiness — to his time at the small Natchitoches school. A competitive tennis player, Genovese had the option of attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

But, as Genovese says, his father gave him the option of either going to Northwestern or financing what his scholarship wouldn’t cover.

Genovese said his NSU education gave him the foundation he needed to go to law school at Loyola University New Orleans and eventually have a decades-long career in justice.

And if he can do it, anyone can, Genovese said.

“Every person can do that because I’m not a smart person. I’m just a senior,” Genovese joked in an interview Illuminator.

His enthusiasm was evident from the start, but for many it was not enough to overcome the appearance of political interference.

Genovese took the job with the blessing of ultra-conservative Gov. Jeff Landry, whose interest in higher education has left many faculty members nervous about what’s next.

In the months since Genovese was hired, fears of political meddling appear to have been somewhat quelled.

“I think his understanding of this place has changed significantly,” said Mark Medler, an NSU sociology professor.

Landry had originally planned to speak at Genovese’s inauguration, but his helicopter was unable to land because of the dangerously thick fog in Natchitoches.

“With President Genovese leading the University, I am confident he will reinvigorate and rejuvenate Northwestern to serve our state more effectively than ever before,” Landry said in a statement to Illuminator.

Landry did not personally convince Genovese to continue in his job, according to the new president. It was Robert Salim, Genovese’s old tennis doubles partner. Salim, who has donated tens of thousands to political action committees supporting Landry’s gubernatorial bid, was appointed to the University of Louisiana Board of Trustees earlier this month, something Genovese takes credit for.

“He was instrumental in getting me into it, so I was instrumental in bringing him on the board,” Genovese said during remarks at Investure.

Far from making himself a liability to the university, Genovese appears to be putting his political experience to work, campaigning directly to local high school students and lobbying them to come to the university.

“What’s the difference between campaigning and pursuing the betterment of the Northwestern region?” Genovese said. “I may not be out asking for votes, but I am asking for support.”

It appears to be going well, according to university officials. Its major recruiting event held each semester brought in more than 200 more students than the previous fall, and the school has received more applications since Genovese took over, according to Cole Gentry, Northwestern’s director of marketing.

A homecoming

Celebrating Genovese’s return to Northwestern State couldn’t have come at a better time; it was also homecoming week in Natchitoches.

The Demons lost their home opener, 10-42, to the Lamar University Cardinals. It was Northwestern State’s ninth loss of the season. The team has not won a game since November 2022 against Texas A&M-Commerce.

It’s a rebuilding year for the Demons, Genovese said.

Only 12 players from the 2023 team are back this year after the final four games of its season were canceled following the October shooting death of safety Ronnie Caldwell. The team also lost sixth-year head coach Brad Laird, who resigned shortly after the shooting. The school is facing a wrongful death lawsuit from Caldwell’s family.

Canceling the season was the wrong call, Genovese said.

Despite the pain of the previous year — not to mention consistent setbacks on the field — the community was undeterred by the exuberance of homecoming.

Fans dressed in purple, orange and white packed a downtown amphitheater near the Cane River on Friday to see the hand-decorated home floats and the glitz and glam of the court of honor. Genovese himself marched in the parade, in typical politician fashion, and tossed orange beads to children on the street.

“Know this: What we saw last night, we haven’t seen that at any of the seven (football Championship Series) schools I’ve worked at,” head football coach Blaine McCorkle said of the postgame rally. press conference.

On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people passed through the small campus. Although the game was technically sold out, few ticket holders bothered to come to the game. The student section was completely full though.

The fans will come back as the team rebuilds, Genovese predicted.

“We know what our job is to do here: to help grow the entire university by putting points on that scoreboard,” McCorkle said.

While Genovese wishes he had the funds to give each athletic team what it needs to truly succeed, that’s not Northwestern’s financial reality.

Faculty desperately need a pay raise, he said. That funding will be a priority for him, and tough times ahead for academia.

The Landry administration has asked Louisiana higher education institutions to prepare for a $250 million cut, with some schools bracing for the possibility of cuts of up to 20 percent due to an anticipated state budget shortfall.

Confronting that and offering a healing hand to a hurting campus are Genovese’s first major challenges as president.

If Genovese got the funding he really needs, he believes he could turn Northwestern State into the best regional university in the South.

“If we get some money, God help them, because, man, I guarantee you we’re going to do something,” Genovese said.