We are in the Bustle II Era

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Originally Posted by LFTCajun

_ Before the beginning of this season, just what exactly were our expectations? We knew Fenroy, Des and Cherry had moved on and were faced with a schedule playing three BCS schools and an improved Sunbelt. So... after ten games into the season, we still have a chance for 7-5. Who'd have thunk that? We lost two games that we should have won (Florida games), but won two games we should have lost (KSU and ASU).

Had we just WON at FIU.....................

Anyway, my point is that we are about where many of us thought we would be.

No, we are not healthy right now, just like last year at this point in the season. But if we can find a way to win shorthanded on the road at ASU, we can certainly do the same at home against ULM. They're not exactly healthy either. _

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This "expectation theory" being a supporting factor for Bustle's retention is hollow. First, I am in agreement to keeping Bustle if we are not going to make a leap upward in quality (and cost) for the next coaching staff. "Change" is a non specific empty proposition that has absolutely no implication of improvement, much less a guarantee of it. "Change" that is not defined first by a requirement for improvement can be more damaging than doing nothing.

We are getting notorious for looking at what little is in the pantry and saying, "hey, considering how empty the cubbard is this year, we did pretty good to get a meal half the time." The issue isn't that you compare preseason expectations (created by a mixture of poor prior recruiting, coaching and performance) and then say you did good "compared to expectations". The same folks that prepared and served the meal, are the same folks who didn't stock the cubbard. Unfortunately, cubbard management is far more than the head coach alone. Unfortunately, when college football goes bad, the protocol is to fire the HC. The entity most responsible for our future football success is the president of the university.

I think Bustle is a fine guy and I am very sorry he and UL, in this place and time, cannot completely overcome the damage our former president did to UL football. But, make very certain of one thing, I am not impressed one bit by a new president firing any subordinates and just "replacing them"... hoping to placate the ignorant group that believes you can simply "replace something" and get an "improved something". If they do not drastically improve things, we all need to stop blaming the coach... and start revolting against the management.

"Matching" our cellar-dwelling preseason expectations is not acceptable.

Geaux Cajuns! Clobber ULM!

Fear of change because there are no guarantees should no be a road bump to change.

Credit for Bustle bringing the program back for the depths ended in 2006 when his first regime (Bustle I) was fired. Any mention of it now is a walk down memory lane and should not be confused with current events.

Bustle II (his 2nd stint at UL) and his success or failure rate should only be judged by the program he inherited. He 2007 the start of his 2nd stint he inherited a 6-6 program from 2006 the year all his top assistants were fired. That is what he and his staff should be measured against.

The question for me is this; is 3 years enough to judge the forward movement of a program? I certainly can't judge him from where he has come since 2007 since the terrible year of 2007 just proved the regime change from 2006 was a failure, a mistake.

I don't think a progress visual need resemble an incline. While an incline would be preferable, I expect a progress graft to look like an upward bound staircase. Another 6-6 record would be a plateau but still a solid step preparing for the next round of improvement.

A 7-5 record would be an incline and much more desirable.

A 5-7 record now would be a step back and a step back 3 years into your second try is unacceptable.

Having said that I think this team is more than capable of winning the next 2 games and then a 3rd. If the staff will pull out all stops and coach like there is no tomorrow they will succeed.

Question, if we win out (unlikely but possible) and MT wins out (likely) that means we'd be the third SBC team in line for a bowl. Will there be 3 spots? Or is it too soon to tell?
igeaux.mobi

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Originally Posted by CajunZ1

_ Question, if we win out (unlikely but possible) and MT wins out (likely) that means we'd be the third SBC team in line for a bowl. Will there be 3 spots? Or is it too soon to tell?
igeaux.mobi _

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There is no line. The sunbelt has one bowl tie in, period.

The only thing else it has is a MOU/wink-and-a-nod to fill three others - (assuming of course, that the moon is in the second house, Jupiter aligns with Mars, Arnaud's restaurant secretly switches the gourmet coffee it normally serves with Folgers, and...)

7-5 and lots of prayer is what it'll take this year.

That, and Troy convincing the NO bowl to let it out for a bigger pay day closer to home.

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Originally Posted by RedBug58

_ Looks like a lot of us are satisfied with low expectations:rolleyes:

For the size of this university, the size of this area, and the money in this town, we are grossly underacheiving......... _

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Amen, Amen... can I hear an AMEN........ 1 more year... 6 wins is fine... 4th or 5th place in the worst Conference in America is acceptable... dwindling fan bases is acceptable... just so long as the good ole boys like Walker and T-Joe are getting their seats on the plane and not answering ANY questions...

Bustle II?? What the heck is that Turbine? A mulligan? He has had 8 years and 6 wins (hopefully) in the worst conference in America is acceptable to this fan base? Really?

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Originally Posted by IHateLaState

Bustle II?? What the heck is that Turbine? A mulligan? He has had 8 years and 6 wins (hopefully) in the worst conference in America is acceptable to this fan base? Really? _

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I don't know what's worse the "Beamer Model" or this II business.

Can't we call a spade a spade and move on?


(After the Monroe game, of course)

I still think we shock the 'hawks.

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Originally Posted by IHateLaState

Bustle II?? What the heck is that Turbine? A mulligan?

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Exactly! A premature mulligan imposed when he felt compelled to fire his staff after 2006.

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Originally Posted by AstroCajun

_ I don't know what's worse the "Beamer Model" or this II business.

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My Beamer model had him breaking out last year (year 7 is when Beamer did it) I did not (and could not) account for his inexplicable retooling in 2007.

However the purpose of "Bustle II" is to silence the "compare Bustle to Baldwin" crowd. That is no longer the comparison the comparison should be how far has he taken UL since 2006.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

_ My Beamer model had him breaking out last year (year 7 is when Beamer did it) I did not (and could not) account for his inexplicable retooling in 2007.

However the purpose of "Bustle II" is to silence the "compare Bustle to Baldwin" crowd. That is no longer the comparison the comparison should be how far has he taken UL since 2006. _

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Turbine
With all due respect man, who cares if he is better than Baldwin or better than this Bustle I....

The facts are he is in year 7 or 8.... We are mediocre at best... The fan base is absolutley eroding.... schools from places like Ruston and Monroe are leaving us behind... We cannot accept this any more... Sometimes change just for the sake of change is good... I think this is the time... I dont want to hear

we are making progress........... no we are not

or we are young.... even if we are why are we after 8 years???

or we need patience.. really.... comeon...

No mulligans or stat comparisons....

Time to make a change........

Everyone is in such a hurry to dump Bustle. Being someone who isn't a rabid Cajun fan I think I can offer an objective opinion. This was one of, if not the worst program in all of FBS football before he got here. Since then the program has seen a remarkable turn around, including a conference championship. Should you be satisfied with winning 6 wins a season? Of course not. We all would love to see them winning 7-8 games or more and winning more conference championships and playing in bowl games. But WHO is going to do that with what there is to work with here? Seriously. And if not Bustle, who? If you fire Bustle you presumably want someone "better." Where are you going to find that guy? You realize that historically, this has been a graveyard for college coaches, not a stepping stone. Until you make the position more attractive you're not going to get that young hotshot guy looking to make a name for himself. Coaches haven't made names for themselves here, they've ended their careers. Pump some money into the program, demonstrate that the school is serious about putting a competitive program on the field, and maybe then you'll attract someone like that. Until then, be careful what you wish for.