This is like winning a game in the NCAA tourney in basketball.
Like making a super regional in baseball.
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This is like winning a game in the NCAA tourney in basketball.
Like making a super regional in baseball.
People are asking if there will be a tailgating spot or a sports bar or somewhere in the French Quarter where we will be tailgating prior to the game.
Does anyone remember the Tulane games in the Dome? Tailgating should be similar to back then. A huge tailgating party with a band before and after the game in the Dome. I think the Alumni Association put those on back then. I don't know who is at the Alumni Association who might remember what those were like, but they were the BEST. I sure hope something similar is planned for this Bowl Game.
I would agree with this analogy.... We can and WILL be to bigger bowls.... no not a BCS bowl but this administration and coaching staff have the university at long last turned around... I see the day when a Top 20 ranking is achievable..... it will take a bit but it will come... and with that a bigger bowl.... more prestige...
But for now I am loving every second of this
No, I placed an order for tickets at the Announcement Rally but did not get a ticket, I was told those people who put down a deposit would be placed ahead of me and I am RCAF, but those RCAF members who did put a deposit along with non RCAF members would have priority, that is the way I interpreted it. So, you all that are not RCAF members, you should join cause it is gonna cost to Keep HUD, without RCAF, who will meet his salary. Remember State of La has a ceiling cap on Coach's salaries. If a University does not have a RCAF fund, then where does the supplimental pay come from . You guys and gals need to realize this, cause without RCAF, no supplimental funds are generated. We will only get better/greater with Donors/RCAF.
GEAUX CAJUNS.
WKU should understand that they may not be passed up. There is still a good chance if they continue to win that they will get a bowl invite. I hope both WKU and FIU get invites. This would be great for the conference which is great for us.
Right now, its like making the field of 64 in basketball or baseball. Right now, that's all it is as far as an actual accomplishment standpoint. The reason that there is more excitement around this then there is around making the tourney or regional is because of how immensely popular this sport is. NFL is the #1 game in America, and College football is the #2 game ahead of all other pro sports, and we have finally made a statement that we are a good team that can compete on this level. If we win our game, that would be essentially like playing on championship sunday in a regional or advancing to the second round in the basketball tourney.
I think most long time fans start to look back over the years to everything that it took to get to this point. There were plenty of low points along with some great high ones as well.
My own personal memory of suffering through the years was thirteen years ago yesterday. It was absoutely one of the most miserable days in Cajun Field history and I've seen plenty of them. I did a little research to confirm that days events.
The weather couldn't have been much worse. It was 46 degrees with winds gusting to 22 mph and it was raining (or was that sneaux?). Bone-chilling wasn't a strong enough adjective to use. No one yelled. We were two busy chattering from the cold and forget clapping. That would mean you had to remove your hands from the rain soaked coat pockets.
We were 1-9 with our lone win coming by two points against Ark. St. Four in-state rivals had already beaten us down. Tulane had hung 72 points on us three weeks prior.
The official attendance was 5,224. I promise you it wasn't anywhere close to that number. I sat on the student side even though I had graduated many years prior. At that point I just hadn't got out of the habit. The exact numbers are a little blurry now but the body count on that side of the stadium didn't exceed fifty. I actually did a rough count on the other side of the stadium and I'm fairly certain we didn't cross the 500 mark.
I was there really to honor one person. Brandon Stokley. It was going to be his last game in a Cajun uniform and after all he had done I thought it fitting to be there no matter the circumstances. My wife thought I was crazy and no way was she leaving the house.
Brandon finished with eight catches and 110 yards and capped off his career with a 38-24 win over WKU.
Kind of ironic for me that in 2011 we are bowl bound and our two conference losses are against the two teams we defeated 13 years ago.
So yes this bowl game definitely honors a long and struggling past for fans, coaches, players, and the rest of the Cajun nation.
I remember Houston, oh damn do I remember.
OK so they are not all bad!!!
Just kidding, thanks Drew. I seem to remember that we were on him during the recruiting process. I hate that we lost out on him, but I would not trade Mr. Baer for many placekickers in the country.
I do like that he may be at the game, the more the merrier, just don't wear your LSU gear, Drew and we will be okay.
I do believe the AA will put together a pre-game function in the dome but probably not for after.
Remember two things:
1. Even though we "knew" we were going to the NO Bowl you couldn't reserve (well you could but what if) anything in the dome. I would expect to hear something AFTER the game this weekend.
2. The game starts at 8pm, making it end probably close to midnight - I can't see having a postgame function starting at midnight. That will be when we make the people of NO happy (again) by participating in their festivities!
I also remember those and they were a blast!
Go CAJUNS!
HeMadeIt!!!
Yeah, my "allergies" acted up on me a few times last night ... several times while Troy was speaking ... a former player like that, a MAN like that, will make up for a lot of "swaggins"!
There indeed has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears (sounds like a promo for a tailgating event) and everyone needs to soak in all the enjoyment of this you can!
I know I will.
I was actually hoping the announcement would not come until next week. I'm an RCAF member, but my funds are low this month, so I won't be able to get tickets until next week sometime. :( I just hope there are some halfway decent seats left by then.
Coach needs to reach out to all former Cajun Players for this one, including the retired greats like, Jake, Brian and Brandon to come to the game and cheer the Cajuns to a victory.
This is like a team that hasn't made the NCAA Tourney or hasn't made a regional in 40 years. Football doesn't have the equivalent of a postseason playoff so there is no comparison beyond that.
I'm drying my eyes as I type this, Jay. Outstanding article!! Thank you.
I too have to say you brought tears to my eyes. My one wish was for these seniors to have the chance to experiance a bowl game. When we closed the deal against ULM I knew that that wish would come true. I could not be more proud of this team. They hung in there together through all storms. I've in the past have not appreciated Ricky Bustle as much as I should have. I have to thank him for giving Brad his chance to be a Ragin Cajun. As a family we will all never forget this year. See you all in New Orleans. GEAUX CAJUNS'!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damn Jay, you've got a way to make grown men shed a lil tear (me included) lol. Another great article good sir.
I think you left one thing out and it could've gone like this: "I'll remember Jerry Baldw... eh, actually lets just not go there."
GEAUX CAJUNS