2005: 100% occupancy attainable at Lady Cajun Basketball Earl K. Long Gym!

Having gone to some of the Lady Cajun Basketball games I noticed that there was a whole bunch of room behind where the score keepers sit!! I think Long Gym holds 1,500 now but what if the place sells out(packs) every game this coming year, "Do we add another 500 seats or so on the vacant side"??


DaddyCajun!!!

ps Fill the stands at ALL UL Sports and cause a problem with inadequate seating so the University Officials have to add additional stands!!!!!!!

"COME AND THEY WILL HAVE TO BUILD IT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ..O.. ..O.. ..O.. ..O..

What about going over to Blackham? What is stopping them from doing that? I know that they like the gym because it is loud and gives a homecourt advantage, but if they start averaging 3000, Blackham wouldnt exactly be a cake court to play on for opponents.

I never understood the thought process of putting hundreds of thousands of dollars into Long Gym and not into Blackham. Blackham would definetly cost more to renovate than Long gym did so maybe that is part of what they are thinking. Also as the Ladies get better and better and the FANS come in then they may jump into the CajunDome for more Double headers and or Single games by themselves. If this is NOT the thought process then this money being dumped into Long may have been better spent on Blackham remodels!! But if we can pack 1500 into Long then have to add another 500-1500 on the vacant side, averaging 2000-3000 per game in Womens basketball would be pretty Dawg-Gone-Good!!!!


DaddyCajun!!

Buy your Season tickets to your Favorite UL Sport today!!!

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Originally Posted by lxa656

What about going over to Blackham? What is stopping them from doing that? I know that they like the gym because it is loud and gives a homecourt advantage, but if they start averaging 3000, Blackham wouldnt exactly be a cake court to play on for opponents.

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As the Head Coach I can tell you that once we out grow E.K. Long we will go straight to the Cajun Dome. We need to Avg 1500 to play all our games at the Cajun Dome. Our players LOVE E.K. Long and our OPPONENTS "HATE PLAYING IN E.K.LONG".

I had an Athletic Director from another school tell me last week while we were at the Spring Sun Belt Conference meetings that we were nuts if we moved out. He said "you have every coach talking to their A.D. about having to play in your place". "CRACKER BOX" is what he called it. Well in case you people haven't kept up "HISTORICAL E.K. LONG'' IS HAVING A brand new MAPLE (light Colored) FLOOR BEING LAYED AS WE SPEAK. STOP BY AND CHECK IT OUT. Should be ready by July 15 to play on.

P.S. MEETING WITH NELSON TODAY AT 11. STAY TUNED.
HEADRAGINCAJUN1

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Originally Posted by DaddyCajun

Having gone to some of the Lady Cajun Basketball games I noticed that there was a whole bunch of room behind where the score keepers sit!! I think Long Gym holds 1,500 now but what if the place sells out(packs) every game this coming year, "Do we add another 500 seats or so on the vacant side"??

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If I am not mistaken only 1000 seats exist on the fan side. 500 pullout seats should happen after next year.

There was a time when EKL had seating on the media side.

In fact in the 1970 picture below (according to the news report) about 5000 fans and students fit inside and 1000 stood outside for a protest rally. <i>The stands shown are the ones that no longer exist. </i>

The rally was to protest the fact that UL had the States 2nd largest enrollment, but was working under the constraints of being dead last in per capita funding.
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Originally Posted by Turbine

The rally was to protest the fact that UL had the States 2nd largest enrollment, but was working under the constraints of being dead last in per capita funding.
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Some things never change ::x::

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Originally Posted by headragincajun1

As the Head Coach I can tell you that once we out grow E.K. Long we will go straight to the Cajun Dome. We need to Avg 1500 to play all our games at the Cajun Dome. Our players LOVE E.K. Long and our OPPONENTS "HATE PLAYING IN E.K.LONG".
I had an Athletic Director from another school tell me last week while we were at the Spring Sun Belt Conference meetings that we were nuts if we moved out. He said "you have every coach talking to their A.D. about having to play in your place". "CRACKER BOX" is what he called it. Well in case you people haven't kept up "HISTORICAL E.K. LONG'' IS HAVING A brand new MAPLE (light Colored) FLOOR BEING LAYED AS WE SPEAK. STOP BY AND CHECK IT OUT. Should be ready by July 15 to play on.

P.S. MEETING WITH NELSON TODAY AT 11. STAY TUNED.
HEADRAGINCAJUN1

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Oh my, we actually hear something from the horses mouth! If I had a bow down smiley, I would put it down! So awesome to actually hear from you! Good luck in the meeting and hope you guys are here to stay!

Btw, if EK Long is what you guys like, I am all for it! :ms01:

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Originally Posted by headragincajun1

P.S. MEETING WITH NELSON TODAY AT 11. STAY TUNED.
HEADRAGINCAJUN1

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I'm sure I speak for many cajun fans when I say "Good Luck". ..O..

To Coach Hall. Thanks for taking the time to visit with us and share info/thoughts. I wish more coaches would try to do this; but I'm sure it could blossom into way more time than is available.

Anyway, THANKS! Oops, got to go, here comes the boss :D

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Originally Posted by shof

To Coach Hall. Thanks for taking the time to visit with us and share info/thoughts. I wish more coaches would try to do this; but I'm sure it could blossom into way more time than is available.

Anyway, THANKS! Oops, got to go, here comes the boss :D

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I think sometimes COACHES forget what they are here for. We are here to get these athletes their degrees. SHOW THEM THE WAY. Then, the fans should be listened to and heard. When I get so busy that I can't do what is fun I need to do something else. I'm having the time of my life here building a program where everybody told me not to come (because they didn't care) nobody could win here. I GUESS YOU COULD SAY WE CRASHED THE PARTY. Meredith and I are glad we didn't listen to them.

We have what we need here to win big if we keep going in the right direction. We must continue to move forward. This STEP today was in the right direction (MEETING WITH NELSON). We really need the fans to support us. We need you to show up at our games here on campus.

CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO GET MORE STUDENTS OUT TO OUR GAMES HERE ON CAMPUS. IT IS BIGTIME FUN I PROMISE. I'M OPEN TO ALL SUGGESTIONS. THANKS.

HEADRAGINCAJUN1

Coach did you come to an agreement and/or come closer to what WE all wish you should get, the upper half of the Sunbelt(for now)????

After each game or better yet during the Summer and begining of the Fall speak with the students in the Quad, Orientation, and in/around campus and ask those that have come to some games ask them to bring friends to the games that have yet to come. Put yourself and the girls at the gateways into the football games and again ask them to Be the Reason!!!


Sign it big and Sign it soon,
DaddyCajun!!

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Originally Posted by headragincajun1

"CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO GET MORE STUDENTS OUT TO OUR GAMES HERE ON CAMPUS. IT IS BIGTIME FUN I PROMISE. I'M OPEN TO ALL SUGGESTIONS. THANKS."

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You can start by going talk to all the Fraternites, Sororities, Dorms, and other groups on campus and inviting them to come to the games. Also, going to talk to the freshman orientation groups during the summer and inviting them. Tell them that part of their tuition covers the cost of coming to the games and what their partcipation means to the team.

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Originally Posted by cajun tom

You can start by going talk to all the Fraternites, Sororities, Dorms, and other groups on campus and inviting them to come to the games. Also, going to talk to the freshman orientation groups during the summer and inviting them. Tell them that part of their tuition covers the cost of coming to the games and what their partcipation means to the team.

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UL is somewhat of a commuter school. Therefore going only to fraternities/sororities is not enough. Many kids go home in the aftenoon and weekends. It is tough to get them to come back. I am sorry I don't have an answer for you directly. I can only ask others suggest something to help target commuters.

Coach I would say keep doing what you are doing because the biggest way to draw fans is with success.

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Originally Posted by Clutch0364

Coach I would say keep doing what you are doing because the biggest way to draw fans is with success.

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Well stated Clutch!

<CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO GET MORE STUDENTS OUT TO OUR GAMES HERE ON CAMPUS. IT IS BIGTIME FUN I PROMISE. I'M OPEN TO ALL SUGGESTIONS. THANKS.>

Coach, I went to my first UL women's basketball game last season vs. Arkansas State, and I can't ever remember yelling that loud like I did at that game. Here are a few suggestions you can try to get students to come to the games. Like a few have already said here, you can personally make announcements or post flyers on campus about upcoming games. You can have pep rallies at EKL or somewhere on campus for big upcoming games, I'm not sure if you do this but have like a givaway for one of the games(first 100 students get a free hat), but most importantly, WIN. Keep giving it your best, and pretty soon they'll be standing room only at EKL.

Best of luck in the upcoming months and GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by headragincajun1

CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO GET MORE STUDENTS OUT TO OUR GAMES HERE ON CAMPUS. IT IS BIGTIME FUN I PROMISE. I'M OPEN TO ALL SUGGESTIONS. THANKS.

HEADRAGINCAJUN1

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Ahhh...you have touched my expertise with this one! First off, Fraternities and Sororties should be your first targer, simply because they are the easiest to convince. Offer an incentive like, the Fraternity and Sorority with the highest percentage of active members in attendance to all home games wins a social for the last home game, or something of that nature. Baseball did this a year ago and they gave them some canes chicken along with some drinks during a game. Remember, the greek system is competative, while you dont need to throw the world at them for an incentive, but as long as they are competing for something it would be fine! Also, I would recommend sending some of the girls to their respective meetings to offer the challanges. Simply sending a note through deans usually doesnt spark the interest as much. Another thing too, designate one game as the "greek" game. Most sports do this anyway, have all the greeks go out to the game in their jerseys, let them gather and take a big picture, perhaps with the team, and during half time, let them do some kind of silly games.

For the rest of the students, attack UPC. Get UPC involved with doing some kind functions with the womens basketball games. They are pretty good about spreading the word and getting students involved. I am not familiar with the head of UPC now, but usually the person involved is very energetic and is willing to come up with some fresh ideas to get students there!

Also, maybe you can see about getting an extra stands area for students to sit in!

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Originally Posted by lxa656

...designate one game as the "greek" game. Most sports do this anyway, have all the greeks go out to the game in their jerseys, let them gather and take a big picture, perhaps with the team, and during half time, let them do some kind of silly games.

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This 1971 greek game in flippers looks like comedy central.

If I knew that was the halftime entertainment I would go for sure.
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Wow, that does look crazy! THat would be an excellent idea of something to do and provide some entertainment!

Don't forget to target the Christian organizations. I spend alot of time at Our Lady of Wisdom on campus and have found that the people there are huge supporters of Cajun Atheltics. I always see them at football, M basketball, and baseball games. Im sure it is the same with all the other groups as well.

Just think about it, when your beliefs prevent you from getting drunk and wild every weekend, what else is there to do as a college student?

I don't know how big youth girls basketball leauges are in the area, but it probably wouldn't hurt to throw some tickets their way.

Good luck on the contract coach!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Turbine

If I am not mistaken only 1000 seats exist on the fan side. 500 pullout seats should happen after next year.

There was a time when EKL had seating on the media side.

In fact in the 1970 picture below (according to the news report) about 5000 fans and students fit inside and 1000 stood outside for a protest rally. <i>The stands shown are the ones that no longer exist. </i>

The rally was to protest the fact that UL had the States 2nd largest enrollment, but was working under the constraints of being dead last in per capita funding.
<hr><center>

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That's a never ending saga that seems to define the university. Gives us resolve though, doesn't it?

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Originally Posted by headragincajun1

As the Head Coach I can tell you that once we out grow E.K. Long we will go straight to the Cajun Dome. We need to Avg 1500 to play all our games at the Cajun Dome. Our players LOVE E.K. Long and our OPPONENTS "HATE PLAYING IN E.K.LONG".
I had an Athletic Director from another school tell me last week while we were at the Spring Sun Belt Conference meetings that we were nuts if we moved out. He said "you have every coach talking to their A.D. about having to play in your place". "CRACKER BOX" is what he called it. Well in case you people haven't kept up "HISTORICAL E.K. LONG'' IS HAVING A brand new MAPLE (light Colored) FLOOR BEING LAYED AS WE SPEAK. STOP BY AND CHECK IT OUT. Should be ready by July 15 to play on.

P.S. MEETING WITH NELSON TODAY AT 11. STAY TUNED.
HEADRAGINCAJUN1

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My first thought was that I have no idea. People only have so much time on their hands. People get involved in their personal lives and jobs and such. Then I started searching what motivates me. I think the answer is that a person has to develop a sense of ownership in something in order for it to compete for time in their schedule next to studying, family, work, beer :-) etc. Many of the people on this board are the diehards. They take ownership of the school and everything it does. Even still, men's basketball and other sports and activities compete for time with the Lady Cajuns. People have to take ownership of the Lady Cajuns. I'm not sure how to do that. Maybe put the ladies out there in a way that allows students and the public to feel like they know them. My other thought is to use corporate themes for every home game. example: Have a Moss Motors night. Moss Motors buys a block of tickets, uses cheap radio advertising to promote the game and their business. Free pair of tickets for anyone that test drives a car. Set up a festive display outside. Car brochures, etc. Whatever they come up with. Make contact with the coaches of every youth basketball team you can find and offer a package deal for the coach, team, and family members. Get a fun jump and food going outside if the weather is right. Kids come in packs and they are loud. If the Youngsville Dribblers(?) are coming, make it their night. Get them involved in halftime and post game with the players.

I'm going to echo the coach's sentiments.

With 500 people in the place, EKL is pretty darn loud. With 900-1000, it's a chamber of horrors for visitors. With 1500, it would be amongst the 5-10 toughest places to play in the nation.

Every effort should be made to pack more people into that building as long as possible, because moving to a vastly larger facility like Blackham or the Dome just kills a huge advantage that our women have in there.

Should that come to pass, I don't think renovating Blackham is practical. The place is a dump and would take a lot of money to be brought up to a facility worthy of a women's program good enough outgrow EKL. Like coach said, going to the Cajundome is a much more viable alternative.

No matter if it is the Cajundome or E. K. Long Gym, winning will bring fans into the stands. Coach, you have done that.

Now what needs to be in those stands are fans with a PASSION for not only the University, Athletics, Basketball but most specifically Women's Basketball.
The PASSION is what makes it a "CRACKER BOX" and a hell of a place for opponents to play and least of all WIN.

As someone posted earlier, we on the Rage Page are the diehards and for the most part we will be there, but it is the PASSION of the sport that drives young girls to ask parents and others to bring them to the game to see player they may emulate later in life. Boys are also interested and can buy tickets.

Good point by Turbine, ALL kids going to Louisiana Athletic Summer Camps should be able to buy Young Ragin Cajun Memberships at HALF PRICE, this would have more parent pant legs being tugged at during each sporting season.


Coach you stated earlier that the courts should be good to go in approximately 3 weeks!!! Would it be possible to plan a camp for the last week in July and first week in August??????????

DaddyCajun
I have a camper for you, waiting!! She has some friends waiting also!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by DaddyCajun

Good point by Turbine, ALL kids going to Louisiana Athletic Summer Camps should be able to buy Young Ragin Cajun Memberships at HALF PRICE, this would have more parent pant legs being tugged at during each sporting season.


Coach you stated earlier that the courts should be good to go in approximately 3 weeks!!! Would it be possible to plan a camp for the last week in July and first week in August??????????

DaddyCajun
I have a camper for you, waiting!! She has some friends waiting also!!!!!!

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I would love to do a camp but the answer is NO FOR THIS YEAR ONLY. The reason why was that we were originally told it was shut down til Aug. That was, in case they hit a snag or something. We were not going to do all the work and then something happen and we had to cancel it. Also it is better for us to do it in June every year. We are out the whole month of July recruiting. So July really isn't an option. In the end we just decided to wait it out and do it right. I DIDN"T WANT THE CONTRACTERS TO HURRY THEIR WORK. GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. It's looking good. Hope this helps.
Headragincajun1