Dr Maggard Being Proactive (student support)

Recently Dr Maggard requested that the IFC (Greek life governing organization) get 2 to 3 representatives form each fraternity and sorority on campus to have a round table discussion on their thoughts on what needs to be done increase student support at home football games. I don’t know of any detailed changes that will take place but I do all involved through out different suggestions. Those involved were the student organizations, Dr Maggard, Sam DeMuzio, and some of the deans in charge of Greek life on campus.

The good news is Doc sees a problem and is looking for ways to address it.

Just My Opinion. The biggest issues with student support starts and ends with Martin Hall and the way they kick Greek organizations off of campus for basically no reason these days and the way they kick kids out of games for things that back in our day, would have made us look like Boy Scouts. After having a conversations with a few different kids post meeting with Maggard, they said they were afraid to tell him the real reasons support is lacking, because the very people who caused it and hold their fate as an organization were in the room. If Doc wants to fix student support he needs to start with having a heart to heart with Martin hall and ask them to stop running off students which are future alumni and his season ticket purchasing targets.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

If Doc wants to fix student support he needs to start with having a heart to heart with Martin hall and ask them to stop running off students which are future alumni and his season ticket purchasing targets.

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RPCA been saying this for a few years. The Fossil days of sock hops and “beer” usually was preceded by the word “root” are long gone.

And get a handle on music while brainstorming. Especially basketball. Guns, sexually degrading women, trashing law enforcement, vulgarity, etc really sells tickets. Find something family friendly the students listen to. I’ve straight up offered tickets and was told “I’m not bringing my wife and expose her to that crappy offensive music.”

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Originally Posted by ZoomZoom

RPCA been saying this for a few years. The Fossil days of sock hops and “beer” usually was preceded by the word “root” are long gone.

And get a handle on music while brainstorming. Especially basketball. Guns, sexually degrading women, trashing law enforcement, vulgarity, etc really sells tickets. Find something family friendly the students listen to. I’ve straight up offered tickets and was told “I’m not bringing my wife and expose her to that crappy offensive music.”

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If someone told you that, I’m willing to bet they’re too old to hear & comprehend the lyrics! Ha

Glad they are meeting with students. Wonder what some of the ideas were.

Nico has been doing this every year since he got here. Glad someone else picked up this initiative.

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Originally Posted by ManAboutTown

Nico has been doing this every year since he got here. Glad someone else picked up this initiative.

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Sounds like his ideas haven't worked.

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Originally Posted by ZoomZoom

RPCA been saying this for a few years. The Fossil days of sock hops and “beer” usually was preceded by the word “root” are long gone.

And get a handle on music while brainstorming. Especially basketball. Guns, sexually degrading women, trashing law enforcement, vulgarity, etc really sells tickets. Find something family friendly the students listen to. I’ve straight up offered tickets and was told “I’m not bringing my wife and expose her to that crappy offensive music.”

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I think most of the responses were about making it an event. Mostly the pre game stuff. Other than that its the same things you here on the other side other than leave us alone and quit kicking us out. Concession lines and selections…

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Originally Posted by JMV JustMyView

Sounds like his ideas haven't worked.

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I was told Sam the new guy in charge of promotions (I think) called a side meet with kids instrumental in running university twitter and other social media accounts about promoting game day activities. From what I under stand they had some success promoting a few basketball games, unsolicited on their own, after Bob sent some players to talk to each fraternity asking them to come out for a big game. This makes sense students reaching students. They know where students get their information.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Recently Dr Maggard requested that the IFC (Greek life governing organization) get 2 to 3 representatives form each fraternity and sorority on campus to have a round table discussion on their thoughts on what needs to be done increase student support at home football games. I don’t know of any detailed changes that will take place but I do all involved through out different suggestions. Those involved were the student organizations, Dr Maggard, Sam DeMuzio, and some of the deans in charge of Greek life on campus.

The good news is Doc sees a problem and is looking for ways to address it.

Just My Opinion. The biggest issues with student support starts and ends with Martin Hall and the way they kick Greek organizations off of campus for basically no reason these days and the way they kick kids out of games for things that back in our day, would have made us look like Boy Scouts. After having a conversations with a few different kids post meeting with Maggard, they said they were afraid to tell him the real reasons support is lacking, because the very people who caused it and hold their fate as an organization were in the room. If Doc wants to fix student support he needs to start with having a heart to heart with Martin hall and ask them to stop running off students which are future alumni and his season ticket purchasing targets.

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Hopefully someone sends the last paragraph to Dr. Maggard. Problem won't be completely fixed until everyone feels free to voice their opinion without fear of repurcussion. If people held their suggestions back, meeting may not result in much improvement.

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

I was told Sam the new guy in charge of promotions (I think) called a side meet with kids instrumental in running university twitter and other social media accounts about promoting game day activities. From what I under stand they had some success promoting a few basketball games, unsolicited on their own, after Bob sent some players to talk to each fraternity asking them to come out for a big game. This makes sense students reaching students. They know where students get their information.

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We had improved student attendance at a few basketball games this year. Hopefully improvement continues for all sports.

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Originally Posted by CajunJeaux

If someone told you that, I’m willing to bet they’re too old to hear & comprehend the lyrics! Ha

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Doesn't change the need.

That music will "never" pull a player or student in.

But that music will keep entire families away.

A decency protocol is all that is needed.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Doesn't change the need.

That music will "never" pull a player or student in.

But that music will keep entire families away.

A decency protocol is all that is needed.

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Dis right here....!

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Originally Posted by CajunJeaux

If someone told you that, I’m willing to bet they’re too old to hear & comprehend the lyrics! Ha

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He’s about my age. He went to a game last year with a USM friend. I was missing a game and offered. And that was his answer.

Either way, it is one of many issues. Baseball dealt with it, other sports should follow suit.

If they are watching ESPN+ and don’t hear all that, you’ve lost them as potential ticket buyers.

Family friendly sells.

Every game needs to be a Carnaval et Fêtem!!! écrevisse, gombo, cajun, alligator, huître, crevette, randonnée etc. Make it a party!!!

Also improve parking, tailgating, concessions etc. the stuff we known was a problem for years!! Really not that hard to figure out.

Got to get the community involved

I know if I was in charge I could get 10k more a game. Every Game !!

Proactive HA!! What a joke. We can’t even get a mascot !! Takes everyone and Facebook group and local newspapers, and tv stations and still they do not get off there hands and change it!!

We will call this student body and Greek organizations we will hear what they have to say and then we will do nothing !!!

Any real change will require real work!! I be surprise if they do all that !! Sorry I hate to be so negative but that is the way I see it !!

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Originally Posted by Ragin9221

Every game needs to be a Carnaval et Fêtem!!! écrevisse, gombo, cajun, alligator, huître, crevette, randonnée etc. Make it a party!!!

Also improve parking, tailgating, concessions etc. the stuff we known was a problem for years!! Really not that hard to figure out.

Got to get the community involved

I know if I was in charge I could get 10k more a game. Every Game !!

Proactive HA!! What a joke. We can’t even get a mascot !! Takes everyone and Facebook group and local newspapers, and tv stations and still they do not get off there hands and change it!!

We will call this student body and Greek organizations we will hear what they have to say and then we will do nothing !!!

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I only said proactive because it is May. If he had done this in the fall between game one and 2 after the stadium was empty I would have used reactive. Let’s see what comes of it.

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Originally Posted by Ragin9221

Every game needs to be a Carnaval et Fêtem!!! écrevisse, gombo, cajun, alligator, huître, crevette, randonnée etc. Make it a party!!!

Also improve parking, tailgating, concessions etc. the stuff we known was a problem for years!! Really not that hard to figure out.

Got to get the community involved

I know if I was in charge I could get 10k more a game. Every Game !!

Proactive HA!! What a joke. We can’t even get a mascot !! Takes everyone and Facebook group and local newspapers, and tv stations and still they do not get off there hands and change it!!

We will call this student body and Greek organizations we will hear what they have to say and then we will do nothing !!!

Any real change will require real work!! I be surprise if they do all that !! Sorry I hate to be so negative but that is the way I see it !!

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Tell us how you could get 10K more per game.

I Hope you are right !! It hurts because everyone on this board knows what needs to be done. They are just not doing it.

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Originally Posted by JMV JustMyView

Tell us how you could get 10K more per game.

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1. I would get a committee together made up of 30 people from alumni to student leaders, and come up with things that will improve attendance and realistic changes we could make.

2. Setup every home game as some sort of festival , gumbo, crawfish, shrimp pick one and go with it, have restuarants or have people and compete like a bbq cook off, or gumbo cook off with judges.

3. Setup a huge tailgate area bigger and better.
Get food trucks, and vendors and live bands for every home game.

4. Run Ads on local radio stations and small towns, of our schedule for every home football game

5. I would get volunteers, from students to die hard fans, and I would hit every church and every community event in a 12 parish region.
Opelousas, Ville Platte, New Iberia, Franklin, I would try to hit from Lake Charles to Morgan City to Alexandria. Hand out flyers, talk to people be in there face go hand out schedules and events at the local wal-mart every weekend!! Promoting these events and give actual dates and times.

6. Get a mascot.

7. Have a cheerleader day where high school cheerleaders can come and learn how to be a college cheerleader, or have a band day, or have a cub scout day, we have all these different high schools with all these groups let them know that they can do the same in college.

8. We have to make the event something more then just football!! Make it about as many things as you possibly can.

Do I need to go on. I can write about 30 pages on what I would do .

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Originally Posted by Ragin9221

1. I would get a committee together made up of 30 people from alumni to student leaders, and come up with things that will improve attendance and realistic changes we could make.

2. Setup every home game as some sort of festival , gumbo, crawfish, shrimp pick one and go with it, have restuarants or have people and compete like a bbq cook off, or gumbo cook off with judges.

3. Setup a huge tailgate area bigger and better.
Get food trucks, and vendors and live bands for every home game.

4. Run Ads on local radio stations and small towns, of our schedule for every home football game

5. I would get volunteers, from students to die hard fans, and I would hit every church and every community event in a 12 parish region.
Opelousas, Ville Platte, New Iberia, Franklin, I would try to hit from Lake Charles to Morgan City to Alexandria. Hand out flyers, talk to people be in there face go hand out schedules and events at the local wal-mart every weekend!! Promoting these events and give actual dates and times.

6. Get a mascot.

7. Have a cheerleader day where high school cheerleaders can come and learn how to be a college cheerleader, or have a band day, or have a cub scout day, we have all these different high schools with all these groups let them know that they can do the same in college.

8. We have to make the event something more then just football!! Make it about as many things as you possibly can.

Do I need to go on. I can write about 30 pages on what I would do .

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"LIKE"

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Originally Posted by Ragin9221

5. I would get volunteers, from students to die hard fans, and I would hit every church and every community event in a 12 parish region.
Opelousas, Ville Platte, New Iberia, Franklin, I would try to hit from Lake Charles to Morgan City to Alexandria. Hand out flyers, talk to people be in there face go hand out schedules and events at the local wal-mart every weekend!! Promoting these events and give actual dates and times.
.

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The idea of having RCAF "outposts" in each major Acadiana parish has always been in the back of my mind. Empower well-connected alumni in these areas as "capitaines." Give them honorary titles and perks. Simply ask them to spread the Cajun athletic gospel.

This is 100% out of Coach Hud's playbook, recalling Ragin Review's interview with him where he said verbatim:

"Giving people roles, people love to have a role to be a part of something."

Another quote from that interview was:

"...I invited people, people want to be invited to something..."

It's not easy to get someone out in the community with as much energy as Coach Hud, but we can learn a thing or two from him and the success he had "bringing the juice" to CF.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

"LIKE"

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Getting together as a community!! Coming and just coming to hang out, and have a good time. When you just alienate a group of people, or you kick out the average joe you are not making it appealing to them. Chances are they will never come back.

Show the Acadiana area you care. Show them they matter. Can not just make it a Lafayette thing, but we have to make it a Acadiana thing. A regional thing, and eventually a state thing!

You do that you will get your 10k fans !!

The sad thing is, we USED to have huge student support at the games, at a time when we were a much smaller USL!! These were taken when I was in the PoA during the late 1970’s and early 80’s…..

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Originally Posted by RedTails

The idea of having RCAF "outposts" in each major Acadiana parish has always been in the back of my mind. Empower well-connected alumni in these areas as "capitaines." Give them honorary titles and perks. Simply ask them to spread the Cajun athletic gospel.

This is 100% out of Coach Hud's playbook, recalling Ragin Review's interview with him where he said verbatim:

"Giving people roles, people love to have a role to be a part of something."

Another quote from that interview was:

"...I invited people, people want to be invited to something..."

It's not easy to get someone out in the community with as much energy as Coach Hud, but we can learn a thing or two from him and the success he had "bringing the juice" to CF.

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Maybe we could hire him back to build the fan base?

Coach Hud knew how to talk directly to Cajun Nation in podcasts, interviews, social media, and in person. He told you his expectation and invited you to be apart of the growth. Should Coach Des and RCAF do a summer coach’s road tour around Louisiana (Lafayette, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans) to meet and invite fans to the games? I remember when Coach Bustle came to Baton Rouge for a coach’s road tour.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Doesn't change the need.

That music will "never" pull a player or student in.

But that music will keep entire families away.

A decency protocol is all that is needed.

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Amen!