Hudspeth explains postgame rant
After UL fell 30-8 last Saturday night at South Alabama – finishing the season 8-4 and as Sun Belt Conference co-champ, but failing to win the title outright because of the loss – Ragin’ Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth turned a one-question, on-field postgame radio interview into something of a rant.
“I’m not gonna let tonight taint what this football team has done,” he said, in part.
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After UL fell 30-8 last Saturday night at South Alabama – finishing the season 8-4 and as Sun Belt Conference co-champ, but failing to win the title outright because of the loss – Ragin’ Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth turned a one-question, on-field postgame radio interview into something of a rant.
“I’m not gonna let tonight taint what this football team has done,” he said, in part.
“We had an eight-game winning streak, and I’m not gonna let people be negative and influence these young men that have been the ones busting their rear ends. … It’s time for people to be positive, because we’re gonna get there. … Positive people, get on board. Negative people, get off.”
After his team’s first practice since then, on Wednesday night, Hudspeth – whose Cajuns play Tulane in the Dec. 21 New Orleans Bowl – explained what was behind his minute-and-a-half-long answer.
“I was just frustrated,” he said. “I don’t even remember the question, to be honest. … I probably took the question wrong, or just was frustrated running off the field.
“I guess I was anticipating questions about how we didn’t play good, and I just felt bad for these kids that had played so well all year long, and it was like the only thing anybody remembered at the point was just these last two games. They didn’t remember the first 10, of how well they had played.”
UL also lost its second-to-last game of the regular season, another in which it could have won the conference championship outright, to rival UL Monroe.
“I’m a very emotional guy, and when I speak it’s from the heart,” Hudspeth said. “Whether it’s good or bad, it’s from the heart.
“And I just had a moment right there. Instead of talking about how bad we did in that game, I just was ready for somebody to say something to our kids about how proud they were of them, that they won the championship.”
Hudspeth suggested his comments weren’t directed toward Cajun fans. But he did call out some who’ve been especially negative even in the best of times.
“One thing that was odd this year is when we won eight in a row, we weren’t winning big enough,” he said. “The same ones that said we weren’t winning by enough are the same ones that jump off the wagon when we don’t win.
“But that’s football. And, man, I love our fan base, because they’re passionate. I want ’em to want us to win, really bad. Because it could be where they didn’t care, and that would really be worse.”
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Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
This story should have been pursued the day following the game. Time to move on in my opinion...
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
agreed basin. They say coaches dont listen to sports radio and fan sites like ragin pagin. But certain comments he made indicate that he does and has taken some statements to heart
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
I can assure you angel that both Martin Hall and Reinhardt drive monitor our board. They know that a lot of the fans on this board are RCAF members and long time diehard fans.....sometimes things that are stated on this board are emotional. Fans do that. I believe that Hud knows that he is working at a University where Alumni and fans are very passionate... and deeply appreciate what he has done for our University... especially now when he and the staff have delivered a taste of what we have always believed that we can be....onward....to kick Tulane's azz
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
here here !!!!! no argument here basin
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
angeleast
agreed basin. They say coaches dont listen to sports radio and fan sites like ragin pagin. But certain comments he made indicate that he does and has taken some statements to heart
I mean where else could he 'hear' negative comments during the game, the fans in the stands? Maybe I doubt it.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
I understand how Hud feels. However, there was really only one game for which we truly played great football for a consistent amount of time and that was the ASU game. The team showed what they were capable of doing when playing well and focused. That sticks in everyone's mind, especially when other games are not so pretty. I don't think its "negative" for a fan to say "man, I'm glad we won that game but our defense played horrible" because its been obvious that the play on the field the past 5 weeks or so was a little off and at some point, that's going to jump up and bite you. Also, any negativity he may be speaking of coming from this board is not coming from bandwagoners, at least not from what I've seen. Its come from all of us who are in the stands every saturday and donating our money to the cause. I didn't like his rant then and I don't particularly like his reasoning now but like BB said, its time to move on
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
Redgineer
I mean where else could he 'hear' negative comments during the game, the fans in the stands? Maybe I doubt it.
I tried to ask a few people who were at the USA game but really got no true answers to the question BUT, during the game in the 4th quarter when we finally scored the TD and got a couple of first downs, it sounded like there were some sarcastic chants coming from the crowd. I have no idea if that was from our fans or from the home side but that's what it sounded like to me. Hud mentioned the fans that traveled during his rant and I'm not sure he was being sarcastic or not when he thanked them for coming. We would have to ask some of them if that was the case.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
"But that’s football. And, man, I love our fan base, because they’re passionate. I want ’em to want us to win, really bad. Because it could be where they didn’t care, and that would really be worse.”
Exactly! It could be worse. Go check out the toolame, Nichollls, Northwestern boards among others to see examples of the non-existent or non-caring" "fanbase". Just look at gameday photos of their home stadiums and all the empty seats to see how it could be without thus passionate fanbase.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
zephyr
I understand how Hud feels. However, there was really only one game for which we truly played great football for a consistent amount of time and that was the ASU game. The team showed what they were capable of doing when playing well and focused. That sticks in everyone's mind, especially when other games are not so pretty. I don't think its "negative" for a fan to say "man, I'm glad we won that game but our defense played horrible" because its been obvious that the play on the field the past 5 weeks or so was a little off and at some point, that's going to jump up and bite you. Also, any negativity he may be speaking of coming from this board is not coming from bandwagoners, at least not from what I've seen. Its come from all of us who are in the stands every saturday and donating our money to the cause. I didn't like his rant then and I don't particularly like his reasoning now but like BB said, its time to move on
I think his comments were aimed at people just like you. We had a record breaking season and it's just not good enough for you because we didn't have a shut out defense.
We had only one defensive first team all sunbelt, one second team and one honorable mention. We only had three senior starters returning and with Gillis getting hurt, the defense was throw into a unusual line up. We had 3 out of 4 starter on the D line returning and only two other wise on the D and one of those got hurt and was out for the season. Also with injuries to Tig, Chris Hill and Anayama the LB corps were constantly getting moved around. There were injuries at all areas of the D and it's tough to build a cohesive unit with all that going on. But hey it's football and injuries will happen.....but as fans we should look at the WHOLE year not just a few choice areas that you think will confirm what you think.
These players and coaches have accomplished more than anyone else before them and they deserve all the praise and admiration we can give them for giving us such times of plenty and the deserve none of the hate and negativity that this board seems to love to spew.
I'm with coach....haters start jumping....we can't afford the drag you are putting on our high speed bus!
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
zephyr
I understand how Hud feels. However, there was really only one game for which we truly played great football for a consistent amount of time and that was the ASU game.
The way I see it, anytime our team scores 1 more point than our opponent, I consider that a great game! I especially feel this way after having suffered through the dark days of the toothpick era.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
Bigbuf
I'm with coach....haters start jumping....we can't afford the drag you are putting on out high speed bus!
He said that?
Wow.
I personally like to dissect every win and every loss and every tie. Just a fan of the sport.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
Bigbuf
I think his comments were aimed at people just like you. We had a record breaking season and it's just not good enough for you because we didn't have a shut out defense.
We had only one defensive first team all sunbelt, one second team and one honorable mention. We only had three senior starters returning and with Gillis getting hurt, the defense was throw into a unusual line up. We had 3 out of 4 starter on the D line returning and only two other wise on the D and one of those got hurt and was out for the season. Also with injuries to Tig, Chris Hill and Anayama the LB corps were constantly getting moved around. There were injuries at all areas of the D and it's tough to build a cohesive unit with all that going on. But hey it's football and injuries will happen.....but as fans we should look at the WHOLE year not just a few choice areas that you think will confirm what you think.
These players and coaches have accomplished more than anyone else before them and they deserve all the praise and admiration we can give them for giving us such times of plenty and the deserve none of the hate and negativity that this board seems to love to spew.
I'm with coach....haters start jumping....we can't afford the drag you are putting on our high speed bus!
Like many others, you can't read and actually take time to understand the meaning of what someone is saying. I don't think its being a bad fan if you criticize something you saw in a game, even if you won. I have had nothing but positive things to say about Hud in his time here and feel he has been a great asset to our program. If you can't see that in my postings, you can move along skippy
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
I love HUD! I am glad he speaks from the heart. However, what kind of questions would he get after that game? It is a post game news conference. The media luncheon is for analyzing the whole season. I understand the frustration and I think that shows that he is genuine. I really like his explanation too. A coach can't listen to negativity though. If he thinks it's negative here, can you imagine an SEC school? To his defense, this is probably the first time that he has really felt any pressure since he has been here. He was at North Alabama as a head coach before and it is a big time Division 2 program. He was very successful there too. So I'm not sure he is experienced with pressure. It is something he will get good at. One week away til I am in NOLA. Getting pumped
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
The Cajuns are to Arkansas St. what S. Alabama is to the Cajuns. Just had a bad day againest a good team. It happens.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bigbuf
I think his comments were aimed at people just like you. We had a record breaking season and it's just not good enough for you because we didn't have a shut out defense.
I'm with coach....haters start jumping....we can't afford the drag you are putting on our high speed bus!
Bigbuf, that's not cool toward Zephyr. I'm another that uses this forum to both praise and criticize. Hud was firing off because he was frustrated, just like we fire off in frustration. You can't say, "I only want the fans that pump sunshine up my butt 24/7" and expect a great fan base. Hud just blew off some steam. No big deal. He was irritated. Someone smarter than him will coach him back up and tell him that's not the way to deal with a bad game.
I love this team and I admire the heck out of Hud and his staff. This forum has not been negative about the players. We rave on here about the players. We have criticized the coaching at times. But this is the best he's ever going to get it.
I took this article to imply Hud understands the passion in this fan base and apologizes for banging on "even the critical" fans. He's a young coach by most standards. He's learning as he goes. But I absolutely guarantee you that he does not want to run off the critical football fan. No way.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
alum81
The Cajuns are to Arkansas St. what S. Alabama is to the Cajuns. Just had a bad day againest a good team. It happens.
Except we are better than stAte 7/10 games in my opinion. SouthAl does not have a better football team than what we have.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
basinbear
I can assure you angel that both Martin Hall and Reinhardt drive monitor our board. They know that a lot of the fans on this board are RCAF members and long time diehard fans.....sometimes things that are stated on this board are emotional. Fans do that. I believe that Hud knows that he is working at a University where Alumni and fans are very passionate... and deeply appreciate what he has done for our University... especially now when he and the staff have delivered a taste of what we have always believed that we can be....onward....to kick Tulane's azz
Basinbear,
I could not have said it better.
Geaux Louisiana
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
TCbacker54
Except we are better than stAte 7/10 games in my opinion. SouthAl does not have a better football team than what we have.
I'll be honest, I thought USA was better than ASU, at least late in the year. They were playing really well. Their QB was second team all SBC and their defense is the best in the league. A loss to ULM was toughly contested game where crucial turnovers late spelled our doom. I can live with that. It happens from time to time, especially against rivals for which you've owned the past 5 or 6 years. I could really handle a tough, hard fought loss to USA had it been a contested ball game that maybe just got decided by the bounce of a ball here or there but we were never in it. However, if Bigbuf is not embarrassed by what he saw last weekend, then maybe his fandom needs to be questioned. Oh, I'm sorry. We aren't supposed to be embarrassed right?
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
Z, do you think we may have peaked as a team too early in the year or are we just one dimensional in that we rely on Broadway more than we should have to? I understand QB is an integral part of the team, but it seems as though it is the only part of the team in regards to our play the last couple of weeks.
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
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Originally Posted by
TCbacker54
Z, do you think we may have peaked as a team too early in the year or are we just one dimensional in that we rely on Broadway more than we should have to? I understand QB is an integral part of the team, but it seems as though it is the only part of the team in regards to our play the last couple of weeks.
I do think we peaked at mid season but I don't think we used Broadway enough. This offense, even dating back to Gautier running it, was at its best when the QB is a true threat to run the ball and pass. Broadway's numbers in both passing and rushing were down this year, even had he played the whole game against ULM and USA. While the running backs are studs, I think our offense is best when the ball is in the QB's hands, at least Broadway's hands. After the ASU game last year where he struggled, this offense simply hummed once we got going and Broadway was leading the conference in total offense. I think we kind of sold our passing game short this year and our receivers talents. However, the running game was able to chew up more clock and if you look at this year's total defensive numbers compared to last year, they are actually better in many categories which shows what a good running game can do
Re: Hudspeth explains postgame rant
I'm good with what Coach Hud said. He's learning, but so are we as fans. We have never been in this position of winning before, and it's a lot of fun to have a very good team to follow, to pull for, and to dissect what's happening on the field. Passion is both a blessing and a curse.
