2006 Season: The half-life chase for 8 wins is over

[Turbine]

This is a subject with it's roots in 2004 when gorcajun brought up how UL was closing the gap towards an 8 win season . . . 2004 LINK, 2005 LINK

2002: If UL scores 71 more points = 8 wins

2003: If UL scores 32 more points = 8 wins

2004: If UL scores 17 more points = 8 wins

2005: If UL scores 8 more points = 8 wins

[gorcajun]

Very few fans realized the depth of despair that the previous coach left the football program. Yet, still don't realize the work and perseverance needed to BUILD or reBUILD a program by the coaching staff, players and recruits.

[Turbine]

Here is a list that shows how many points each respective UL football team was away from 8 wins

1992: 64 points away
1993: 0 (UL's most recent 8 win season)
1994: 28 (unless you can the NCAA mandated Texas Tech forfeit)
1995: 6
1996: 45 (unless you can the NCAA mandated Texas Tech forfeit)
1997: 195
1998: 106
1999: 98
2000: 104
2001: 81
2002: 71
2003: 32
2004: 17
2005: 8
2006: 25

[BrockMeaux]

I've read it...and I have no idea what this thread means. That said, UL's going to win games. The fan in me makes me say it.

[Turbine]

I've read it...and I have no idea what this thread means. That said, UL's going to win games. The fan in me makes me say it.

It’s academic now this mathematical quirk has run its course.

As far as explaining the thread... it has to do with not scoring enough points to win. Or rather the differential in points needed for a win. I say that because the defense can hold the opponents scoring down and the same would be accomplished.

Last night the differential needed for a Ragin' Cajun victory was 10 points.

Since UL lost by 9 to UNT last night, the best they can hope for is to win the last 3 games. IF somehow that were to happen the team will have missed an 8 win season by 10 points.

[CajunNation]

Very few fans realized the depth of despair that the previous coach left the football program. Yet, still don't realize the work and perseverance needed to BUILD or reBUILD a program by the coaching staff, players and recruits.

There was no program when Baldwin took over.

He received very little help in resurrecting one from certain sources.


He made mistakes, and might not have succeeded otherwise, but it was definitely not all his fault.

Also, remember that virtually no coach worth a darn wanted to come within 100 miles of this program when Baldwin took over, including Rickey Bustle.

[RedCajun]

There was no program when Baldwin took over.

He received very little help in resurrecting one from certain sources.


He made mistakes, and might not have succeeded otherwise, but it was definitely not all his fault.

Also, remember that virtually no coach worth a darn wanted to come within 100 miles of this program when Baldwin took over, including Rickey Bustle.

very, very true. Some people forget just how bad the situation was when Baldwin took over. When he left, it was nowhere near where it needed to be but was head and shoulders above the shape he inherited. That is a fact.

With that said, I am still behind Bustle and think he is doing a good job given his resources.

[CDeb]

Also, remember that virtually no coach worth a darn wanted to come within 100 miles of this program when Baldwin took over, including Rickey Bustle.

We were still an Independent, and there was no Sun Belt football conference on the horizon. That made the job a guaranteed dead-end with no conference championships, TV deals or bowl bids to recruit to.

Early in Baldwin's first season, the SBC deal was announced, with UNT, NMSU, ULM and MTSU joining UL and ASU. Idaho signed on a few months later. Had that deal been cobbled together 9 months sooner, the pool of candidates for the UL job would have been much more attractive and Baldwin wouldn't have sniffed the job.

[AboveAverage]

It was a nice run, and it aint over.

[Kal]

It was a nice run, and it aint over.

You are right in it's not over. Bustle's record has improved each year in small increments. this year will be no different. 6-5 last year to a possible 7-5 this year. It's not what I had predicted at the beginning of the year, but it's still improvement. Next year will be a tough one. We've got 4 conference away games. That will be a really good test for us. The sunbelt has seen a remarkable improvement as a whole this year. You have to factor that in to the equation. It's not over either. I had been counting our game against the warhawks as an easy victory. But after their game against Kentucky, I'm not so sure.

[CajunGuru]

There was no program when Baldwin took over.

He received very little help in resurrecting one from certain sources.


He made mistakes, and might not have succeeded otherwise, but it was definitely not all his fault.

Also, remember that virtually no coach worth a darn wanted to come within 100 miles of this program when Baldwin took over, including Rickey Bustle.

Baldwin made two tactical errors in rebuilding this program to respectability. His first was his decision to recruit high risk athletes and cost him 10 to 12 athletes per year. This lead to a high attrition rate by his third year and the main reason the program showed very little progress on the field. His second was his unwillingness to help raise funds for his football program. His public statement that” it was not his job to raise money for the football program” alienated people inside the athletic program and in the money circles.His plan was to recruit good athletes regardless of academic background and put money into a student athlete academic center to help these athletes maintain eligibility. The problem was his unwillingness to help raise funds contradicted his own plan of investing into a student athlete academic center.

[CDeb]

The "putting fans in the stands isn't my job" comment was the final nail in the coffin.

It was quite humorous at the press conference introducing Bustle as the new coach when RB said, "And putting fans in the stands is certainly one of my jobs." It got a rousing ovation from the fans present.