Why shouldn't we be concerned???
Ok first off I have 4 Season tickets to Football, 2 to basketball and 4 to Baseball... Will probably add at least 2 for Softball... I am a card carrying member, as my name illustrates , in the LSUA&M@BR is evil club... I just mention that so the naysayers don't respond with the "If you don't like it the way it is go to Baton Rouge" type stuff..
Anyway I was listening to Jay yesterday and it sure seems to me that at least in Football the SBC is passing us bye... We are into year 6 (am I right on that one?) under Coach Bustle and we are simply middle of the pack again... We do have tremendous facilities but I heard the commissioner talk of new stadiums going up, new turf and 3 schools averaging over 20,000 in attendance... Further I hear Oklahoma State going into Troy and I don't remember who but others getting some prime teams coming into their places... we get McNeese. And then they bemoan the lack of support...
The local beat writer tells us all that we are wrong about Dr. A.... that he is a big supporter of athletics but has just been limited by funding... ok... if you say so... Then we hire an AD that is beloved in the offices but does not seem to be very dynamic... the last paragraph of the story last week said something to the effect of "He prefers to stay out of the limelight in the background".. Thats all well and good but wouldn't we have preferred someone that wanted to come in and be out in the forefront of a new era... Yea Yea....I know..... $$$$... Still I thought I heard some time back that the North Texas AD or assitant AD (Dickey?) was very interested in the job and was the sort of dynamic person I speak of... We choose instead someone who emphatically said for two years he did not want the job preferring to work behind the scenes...
For over 30 years now i have bought tickets and supported Ragin Cajun athletics.. I keep asking.. Why can't we do what Southern Miss has done... Even Tech seems to have taken a few steps forward.. spare me the diatribes... Listening to WWL, Mike D. was talking about South Louisiana recruiting and mentioned of course that LSUA&M@BR was dominating but said that Louisiana Tech was making great inroads... nary a word about us in our own back yard...
Well I am anxiously awaiting the start of football season with high hopes again.. But shouldnt we be concerned?? just a little bit??
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
All i can say is that, as far as football is concerned, wait until the end of the season to make a judgement. I don't think anyone has passed us by, per se. I think that by saying that some teams have passed us by, you concede that some of those schools were in the same position that we were. Troy has been a better program than us for a while. MTSU was on par with us, perhaps, but I don't know that they've zoomed ahead. They weren't very good in '05, and unexpectedly had a good season with a brand new first year head coach. ASU was good in '05, but like us, stumbled a bit last year. And as for the Florida teams, they continue to grow, and are growing and winning at a faster rate, if for no other reason, than high student populations, large amounts of money, and fertile recruiting grounds.
Just remember that earlier this decade, NT dominated the conference and went to the NO Bowl 3 or 4 years in a row, and lost them all. Since then they have fallen way back, and now the conference doesn't ahve one dominating team. Now all teams are performing better, winning more OOC games, and sending more teams to bowl games. In turn, the conference isn't seen as a horrible conference anymore. I don't think that teams in the conference have neccessarily passed us by, some may have been better than us last year, but we were better than them the year before. This year, we may rule the conference again, and other schools will take a step back. Its just what you get when you have such a competitive conference.
just remember that the fourth place finish they are predicting means nothing. We have a fair amount of lettermen returning. we have a new QB, but he has a lot of snaps under center and has a lot of game experience. We are returning a 2x 1000yd rusher, with an experienced offensive line. And we have four new coaches to bring a whole new philosophy. i bring up these points just to remind you that we should wait until after this season to ask questions. If its a failure this year, then we worry about the sky falling.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
north texas isn't passing us up. they headed south for the winter.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
I just hope that we don't live and die by Desormeaux this year.
I realize the dynamic nature of Mike and love the guy. I am just very concerned with his throwing ability and throwing decision making. I know that true athletes tend to pick up on things quickly and I have high hopes that Mike will have taken care of the fundamentals and situational things before Conference games open up. And we can't judge Mike by the 2005 campaign. He was thrown in and had not been preparing to be an every game QB. Due to his obvious lack of confidence in throwing, his instincts took over and we saw brilliance in his scrambling.
I am behind Mike 110% and I think we are a better team with him behind center IF he can throw enough for defenses to not load the box. But if he doesn't or can't, our coaches have to put Hundley in. We can work in Mike other places and he will succeed (see the past two Sun Belt All Purpose awards). I just won't people able to tolerate hard-headedness in the event of Mike struggling at the QB position. If he hasn't shown drastic improvement in his throwing ability at the end of the 2nd conference game or so, Hundley has to go in. He is plenty competent enough and will stretch the field, ultimately opening it up for our bread-and-butter, #32.
Mike is the man. But the coaches (and Hundley) better be ready to make a change if necessary.
RICKY BUSTLE UNDERSTANDS FANS EXPECTATIONS
University of Louisiana coach Ricky Bustle has been the given the task of rebuilding the winning days at UL. The fans have been patient with Bustle, but coming into his sixth season he understands that he is being measured on results now more than on a promise of a bright future. Free story for Cajun Football Fans!
http://louisiana.scout.com/
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by rhineaux
_ All i can say is that, as far as football is concerned, wait until the end of the season to make a judgement. I don't think anyone has passed us by, per se. I think that by saying that some teams have passed us by, you concede that some of those schools were in the same position that we were. Troy has been a better program than us for a while. MTSU was on par with us, perhaps, but I don't know that they've zoomed ahead. They weren't very good in '05, and unexpectedly had a good season with a brand new first year head coach. ASU was good in '05, but like us, stumbled a bit last year. And as for the Florida teams, they continue to grow, and are growing and winning at a faster rate, if for no other reason, than high student populations, large amounts of money, and fertile recruiting grounds.
Just remember that earlier this decade, NT dominated the conference and went to the NO Bowl 3 or 4 years in a row, and lost them all. Since then they have fallen way back, and now the conference doesn't ahve one dominating team. Now all teams are performing better, winning more OOC games, and sending more teams to bowl games. In turn, the conference isn't seen as a horrible conference anymore. I don't think that teams in the conference have neccessarily passed us by, some may have been better than us last year, but we were better than them the year before. This year, we may rule the conference again, and other schools will take a step back. Its just what you get when you have such a competitive conference.
just remember that the fourth place finish they are predicting means nothing. We have a fair amount of lettermen returning. we have a new QB, but he has a lot of snaps under center and has a lot of game experience. We are returning a 2x 1000yd rusher, with an experienced offensive line. And we have four new coaches to bring a whole new philosophy. i bring up these points just to remind you that we should wait until after this season to ask questions. If its a failure this year, then we worry about the sky falling. _
I here you but really my comments were not specific to just this year but rather to the state of football in general. While we did have one year in which we made a run and got a piece of the title, in general we have not done much over the last 6 years have we? And then as I watch and hear about other SBC schools bringing in BCS conference schools rather than going on the road.. I begin to ask... Where are we really? By now with a community this size.. With facilities like ours... Shouldnt we be expecting more?
Re: RICKY BUSTLE UNDERSTANDS FANS EXPECTATIONS
Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunT
_ University of Louisiana coach Ricky Bustle has been the given the task of rebuilding the winning days at UL. The fans have been patient with Bustle, but coming into his sixth season he understands that he is being measured on results now more than on a promise of a bright future. Free story for Cajun Football Fans!
http://louisiana.scout.com/ _
thanks T
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by IHateLaState
_Even Tech seems to have taken a few steps forward..
You got that right. Not even the most hardcore Hokies fans ever thought they could get into the ACC but they did.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by CajunCherokee
_ I just hope that we don't live and die by Desormeaux this year.
Mike is the man. But the coaches (and Hundley) better be ready to make a change if necessary. _
let me start by saying i think mike will get it done with his arm. The kid can throw the ball, he had alot of dropped passes last year. He knew what he had to work on all spring and summer if he wanted this to be his job. I'm confident he worked on that. I agree if he can't get it he needs to move to wide out/ running back and use his skills that way. However, where i disagree with you, is i think morel should get the nod. He fits our offense better, he is more mobile. Has more game experience and he just over all looked better in the spring. Let's just hope we don't see either hundley or morel b/c that will mean something went wrong.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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However, where i disagree with you, is i think morel should get the nod. He fits our offense better, he is more mobile.
I'll take your word on it. My point was just not to ride Desormeaux until the end if he is not performing and moving the offense.
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Has more game experience and he just over all looked better in the spring. Let's just hope we don't see either hundley or morel b/c that will mean something went wrong.
Agreed. Go Des! .~.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by IHateLaState
_ Ok first off I have 4 Season tickets to Football, 2 to basketball and 4 to Baseball... Will probably add at least 2 for Softball... I am a card carrying member, as my name illustrates , in the LSUA&M@BR is evil club... I just mention that so the naysayers don't respond with the "If you don't like it the way it is go to Baton Rouge" type stuff..
I have no problem with you venting. You have asked the same questions that many have asked on this forum and others. I think this coaching staff has to understand that they are now on the clock, thus the changes in staff by coach Bustle. So this staff needs to win games, and a losing season is not going to help this program in any manner.
But before you dismiss the importance of naming Walker as the Athletic Director, let me tell you a few reasons why it was a good appointment. First and formost, Walker has the support of all the coaching staffs in the Cajun Athletic program. In case you missed it, recently coach Robicheaux mentioned that one of the reasons he signed a four your extension was because of Walker and the mans' integrity. Watch closely the next year and see what other coaches might be in line for extensions. Secondly, while Walker is not the high profile personality that you or I would have prefered, he gets results. The scheduling for the football and basketball programs haven't been completed in a more timely manner in years. Negotiations and contracts are on-going for future schedules, infact the football schedule is close to being completed for next year. I can't remember when that was accomplished under the previous Athletic Director. And finally, do you really believe we were going to get anyone that had a proven track record as the athletic director of any successful Div.1A athletic program with our lack of financial funding?
You mentioned Southern Miss. as a model for our program to follow, I think that would be a great program to emulate. But, look at their athletic budget and tell me how many millions are generated from student athletic fees? You can check the other Sun Belt programs outside of Louisiana as well. Once you have done that, please tell me that those dollars are not part of the seperation and are not important. The Cajuns recent income adjustment from the state will not get us even close to the upper income programs in the Sun Belt. So how long can we sustain, or as you have stated maintain in the middle of the pack?
As for recruiting, there is no question we need to win. But I don't listen to talk radio for my recruiting information. I speak to recruits and we are getting alot of positive feedback from some really good prospects. Most of these athletes have mentioned the indoor practice facility and the weight room. We have athletes from Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky considering the Cajun program. So we are not a BCS program, but athletes are starting to look really hard at this program. Winning will take care of the rest.
I don't pretend to have all the answers, but one should look at the whole picture and understand we are not close to were we need to be in the total funding picture. The rest of your questions are going to be played out on the football field and basketball court this year. We need to win, no arguements.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by CajunCherokee
_ I'll take your word on it. My point was just not to ride Desormeaux until the end if he is not performing and moving the offense.
Agreed. Go Des! .~. _
I would not be surprised if you see Des at wide reciever for most of the time and at qb in short yardage situations. JMO.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by IHateLaState
_ I here you but really my comments were not specific to just this year but rather to the state of football in general. While we did have one year in which we made a run and got a piece of the title, in general we have not done much over the last 6 years have we? And then as I watch and hear about other SBC schools bringing in BCS conference schools rather than going on the road.. I begin to ask... Where are we really? By now with a community this size.. With facilities like ours... Shouldnt we be expecting more? _
I understand you were looking at the larger picture. I still think that we are at a crossroads right now and need to wait until the end of this season until voting either way. If we had been 5-7 or 4-8 during the last two years, then i would be totally in agreeance with you, but we were underrated (overperformed) two years ago, and were overrated (underperformed) last year. I think that with a lot of those guys returning and such, and having all of RB's recruits with a little experience, I feel that this year, more than any, will be a fair measuring stick for this program.
As far as bringing in BCS teams...In my opinion, its not worth giving up a 3 for 1 or something just to have a middle to lower ranked BCS school come in. If we are gonna go for that, then I would much rather see Texas, or A&M again, or Ole Miss, or something like that, that we would be sure would bring a fair amount of fans, and would garner some name recognitions around here. And other than Ole Miss, who would be a long shot in this day and age, there really aren't that many more "BCS" schools in the region who will bring a lot of fans and bring the big name, that would be willing to come here.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by rhineaux
_
As far as bringing in BCS teams...In my opinion, its not worth giving up a 3 for 1 or something just to have a middle to lower ranked BCS school come in. If we are gonna go for that, then I would much rather see Texas, or A&M again, or Ole Miss, or something like that, that we would be sure would bring a fair amount of fans, and would garner some name recognitions around here. And other than Ole Miss, who would be a long shot in this day and age, there really aren't that many more "BCS" schools in the region who will bring a lot of fans and bring the big name, that would be willing to come here. _
I'd happily give Ole Miss 3 games if they come here for 1.... A&M the same.. But your point on a Oklahoma State or Texas Tech type of program is well taken... If that is what they demand probably not.... Is that what Troy had to do to get Ok State?
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by IHateLaState
_ I'd happily give Ole Miss 3 games if they come here for 1.... A&M the same.. But your point on a Oklahoma State or Texas Tech type of program is well taken... If that is what they demand probably not.... Is that what Troy had to do to get Ok State? _
Not sure, but I would be willing to bet it benefitted OSU more than Troy. Especially if troy loses that game, and the money they make off of that one home game is less than what they paid to get OSU there, or what they would have made by traveling to OSU for one game.
I understand where you are coming from. it would be great to see some of those teams come to Cajun Field, but, I would rather see Houston, UCF, etc...teams that we have a good shot at beating, to give our fans a reason to come back. Beating those teams at home will have a greater effect on expanding the fan base and so forth, than getting hammered at home by A&M, etc. The folks that would go, that don't normally go to Cajuns Games, would likely be going to see A&M, not necessarily pull for the Cajuns.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by IHateLaState
_ I'd happily give Ole Miss 3 games if they come here for 1.... A&M the same.. But your point on a Oklahoma State or Texas Tech type of program is well taken... If that is what they demand probably not.... Is that what Troy had to do to get Ok State? _
i heard troy's coach yesterday say they wre giving 2 for 1 for ok state. and they would receive money on the back end of the deal to insure a profit
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by crazycajun
_ i heard troy's coach yesterday say they wre giving 2 for 1 for ok state. and they would receive money on the back end of the deal to insure a profit _
That sure doesn't seem like a bad deal. However, I am curious how much profit they are guarunteed. I am curious if OSU is gonna write them a check so that they come out 100k-200k in the black, or if its just something to make sure they don't lose money.
Troy probably has a little more firepower to work something like this out, compared to us, bu tthat could change in the near future if we live up to (at least our) expectations. I think it would be a nice thing to do with an ole miss, miss state, or even branching out a little farther to other SEC schools, just so there would be that added interest by other residents near lafayette. doing it with Big Ten/PAC10/ACC schools, or even in some cases with Big 12 schools would be less ideal because of lack of fan interest. I guess what i am saying is that the more regional the opponent, the farther down the food chain we could look.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
The better deals that other SBC teams make, the better for us as well. I would like to see us make some 3 for 1 or 2 for 1 deals with some BCS schools. I believe we will need some 20k to 25k attendance figures in advance of making some significant deals. That is why McNeese, regardless, is a good victim... I mean opponent.
As for MD... I am hopeful that another year of maturity and training may make a big difference in his throwing game. He may also respond better to being designated the starter. I think it is much better to start with a bad azz running game to open up a passing game than vice versa.
I hope to see us use smart play calling that includes some short sure pass plays. They have relatively little to do with a QB's arm, and much more to do with his athleticism. If you cannot get the dink pass game down... have him toss eggs to the tight ends, running backs, or short route receivers. The drill is to break no eggs. That makes the QB pay attention to the toss and receiver watch the egg all the way into his hands. As a QB gets that down, the drop back or playaction to an open streaking receiver will open up (without the eggs).
We saw little of the short toss passes last year, and I could not understand it. Maybe it was because every time we did a little dink pass it was handled like a greased pig (that is a totally different drill for another day).
Some gang-buster tackling would go a long way to helping our cause as well. For those who arm and tap tackle, something creative with the rest of the eggs and that greasy pig should come into the next practice. Oh, and I would like to see that Bustle ultra special teams be a difference maker this year too. Blocked punts and field goals are real game-changers.
No. I am not concerned. I am anxious to get this party started.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by rhineaux
Just remember that earlier this decade, NT dominated the conference and went to the NO Bowl 3 or 4 years in a row, and lost them all. _
i thought north texas won one of those games.
Re: Why shouldn't we be concerned???
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Originally Posted by Sonsissymia
_ i thought north texas won one of those games. _
THey did.......over Cincinnati.
Why not let McNeese tailgate at Blackham
There is no mud at Blackham it is nice and hospitable. I don't understand how Mr. Dugas can just kick Cajun fans out of their spots? If not Blackahm what about across the street between the Lite House and the Hospital?
According to a Mr. Dugas, with ULL, they plan to designate an area for RV parking on the western-most section of their parking lot, bordering on Bertrand Drive. It will be a no-charge, first-come-first served area, with access only at noon on Friday (not before - because of security).
For some of you who tailgated with us for baseball games before - when we parked on the western edge of the paved parking lot, about half-way toward Bertrand (remember Danny's "Tarp 'Em Cowboys" tarp?) - this parking area will be on the grass, out by the large lone tree along Bertrand Drive (I think Andy parked out there before).
My sister-in-law, who lives in Lafayette, has been calling every day, bugging the begiggers out of them, and has talked to several different individuals; she was finally called back this morning and told of this arrangement. Just passing it along. Nothing official, but a verbal conversation.
Re: Why not let McNeese tailgate at Blackham
Sorry I forgot to post my source it was a Mcneese website http://forums.delphiforums.com/geaux...ges?msg=7620.1
Re: Why not let McNeese tailgate at Blackham
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Originally Posted by gridiron
_ There is no mud at Blackham it is nice and hospitable. I don't understand how Mr. Dugas can just kick Cajun fans out of their spots? If not Blackahm what about across the street between the Lite House and the Hospital?
According to a Mr. Dugas, with ULL, they plan to designate an area for RV parking on the western-most section of their parking lot, bordering on Bertrand Drive. It will be a no-charge, first-come-first served area, with access only at noon on Friday (not before - because of security).
For some of you who tailgated with us for baseball games before - when we parked on the western edge of the paved parking lot, about half-way toward Bertrand (remember Danny's "Tarp 'Em Cowboys" tarp?) - this parking area will be on the grass, out by the large lone tree along Bertrand Drive (I think Andy parked out there before).
My sister-in-law, who lives in Lafayette, has been calling every day, bugging the begiggers out of them, and has talked to several different individuals; she was finally called back this morning and told of this arrangement. Just passing it along. Nothing official, but a verbal conversation.
_
That area has not been "designated" for the mcnutts. If someone kept calling over there asking about tailgating spots they were probably refered to that area because as of now other than the Oak Tee at Bertrand (OTB) none of those spots along Bertrand are paid, reserved spots and they are about the only ones available to fans on a first come first serve, game by game basis. However that may change in the (near) future. In the meantime to the Cajun fans who have grown accustomed to using those spots and want to ensure you have them for each home game I would suggest you do as we did and call David Walker at the athletic department and ask to pay for your spot for the season. This will give UL extra revenue and you get a guaranteed spot for the season. Otherwise you might find mcnutt squatters in your usual spot.
