The Book: 2003 Football

[Turbine]

How is Tech considered a "designated conference game"

[the Big Ragoo]

All Sun Belt Conference teams will not play each other next year, so each team is assigned a "designated conference game". The scheduling problem is due to Utah State entering the conference next year. Every team in the Sun Belt already had schedules somewhat arranged, as did Utah State. The scheduling problems created a need for every team to have at least 6 conference games, so the "designated conference game" was created. It is just that, a game that is designated as a conference game even though the opponent is not a member of the conference. These games will appear on every Sun Belt conference school schedule. Middle Tennessee will play Temple as their designated conference game. We also will not have to play Arkansas State next year. The schedule will sort itself out in years to come when the teams get their scheduling coordinated.

[Cajun1997]

Great update Ragoo. I am suprised by FIU being on the schedule giving us a 6th home game. That is great! I hate that 3 game road trip

Sep 20 @Minnesota
Sep 27 @North Texas
Oct 4 @Oklahoma State

That will be rough, all three bowl teams.

Overall, I like the schedule.

[NOCajun]

"Nov 8 Florida International**"

Where did THIS come from?? And how are we getting a second straight home game against Idaho?? Oh yeah, what happened to USU:confused: I don't mean to be suspicious, but none of the above makes any sense.

[the Big Ragoo]

That's the schedule. If you don't believe it, that's fine. You think maybe the big ragoo is pulling your leg or something. You're a "Doubting Thomas, proofs in the pudding, don't count your chickens until they hatch" kinda guy. The big ragoo can respect that. The big ragoo doesn't want to be known as a "I told you so" type guy, so I'll try to give you another explanation. If this doesn't work, we'll just have to sit back until they release the schedule.

It will be reshuffled again next year to ensure that the conference games work out correctly. That could mean that we play Idaho at home 3 years in a row, or go to Middle Tennessee 3 years in a row. It doesn't make sense, but that's what has to happen when you add another member to the conference with no 2-3 year plan or notification. Most teams already have nonconference games ($$$$$$$) set up that they cannot get out of, so you have to work around it. We've got contracts with Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Southern Miss that we can't get out of due to financial reasons. Everyone in our conference is faced with the same thing. Florida International will probably be in our conference in 2 years anyway.

Ciao

[Turbine]

the big ragoo has me sold.

[NOCajun]

Originally posted by the big ragoo
That's the schedule. If you don't believe it, that's fine. You think maybe the big ragoo is pulling your leg or something. You're a "Doubting Thomas, proofs in the pudding, don't count your chickens until they hatch" kinda guy. The big ragoo can respect that. The big ragoo doesn't want to be known as a "I told you so" type guy, so I'll try to give you another explanation. If this doesn't work, we'll just have to sit back until they release the schedule.

It will be reshuffled again next year to ensure that the conference games work out correctly. That could mean that we play Idaho at home 3 years in a row, or go to Middle Tennessee 3 years in a row. It doesn't make sense, but that's what has to happen when you add another member to the conference with no 2-3 year plan or notification. Most teams already have nonconference games ($$$$$$$) set up that they cannot get out of, so you have to work around it. We've got contracts with Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Southern Miss that we can't get out of due to financial reasons. Everyone in our conference is faced with the same thing. Florida International will probably be in our conference in 2 years anyway.

Ciao

I do understand what you're saying, it just seemed to come out of left field. I didn't mean anything personal by what I said. I also understand that FIU wants to get their football team into the Conference eventually, but it's my understanding that it will be at least another 3-5 years before they can even move up to 1-A status. It's also my understanding, from what I've read on this and other related boards, that UL, among other current Sun Belt teams, may not even stay in the Conference once other conferences begin re-aligning in and around 2005. It WILL be nice to have six home games even if one of them is against a 1-AA team!!

[Turbine]

Originally posted by NOCajun
It WILL be nice to have six home games even if one of them is against a 1-AA team!!

It sure will. Can we look forward to one or more appearances by the Alumni Band?

[NOCajun]

Originally posted by Turbine
Can we look forward to one or more appearances by the Alumni Band?

At Homecoming, like always!!!!

[NOCajun]

...on the ragincajuns.com Atheltics website. Good call Ragoo!!

[NewsCopy]

Advertiser January 12, 2003

LAFAYETTE - Six home games highlight Louisiana's 2003 football schedule announced Saturday, and five of them will mean something in the Sun Belt Conference football race.

The Ragin' Cajuns, in their second year under head coach Rickey Bustle, will host UL Monroe, New Mexico State and Idaho as league foes. Two other home games, against Louisiana Tech and Florida International, will count in the Sun Belt standings as designated conference games.

Louisiana will not play conference schools Arkansas State and new league member Utah State, but the two designated conference games will give the Cajuns seven league outings.

The 12-game schedule, permitted once again in 2003 under NCAA rules, begins Aug. 30 with a first-ever meeting with South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., not far from Bustle's home town of Summerville, S.C. Bustle was offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Gamecocks in 1994 in between his stints at Virginia Tech.

Tech provides the opposition for the home opener Sept. 6, renewing a rivalry suspended in 2000, in the third annual Herbert Heymann Football Classic. In addition to the conference and designated conference games, the Cajuns will host Houston on Sept. 13 in the other Cajun Field outing.

Other than the designated game with Tech, Sun Belt play opens Sept. 27 when the Cajuns visit two-time league champion and New Orleans Bowl representative North Texas. The league champion will again represent the Sun Belt in the New Orleans Bowl.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

Advocate

LAFAYETTE -- Louisiana will play a 12-game schedule for the second straight year and third time in the football program's 95 years.

Under current NCAA rules, UL will not be able play a 12-game regular season schedule again until the year 2008.

The Cajuns will host six games for the first time since 1997, playing five of the six as Sun Belt Conference games.

The Cajuns do not play conference schools Arkansas State and Utah State, but will designate non-conference games against Louisiana Tech and Florida International to count toward SBC standings.

The 2003 campaign begins at South Carolina.

The season's first home game will follow when Louisiana Tech travels to Louisiana on Sept. 6 for the third annual Herbert Heymann Football Classic.

SBC play officially begins on Sept. 27, when UL visits 2001 and 2002 conference champion North Texas. New Mexico State comes to "The Swamp" on Oct. 18 for the school's 58th homecoming.

Twelve weeks after it begins, the 2003 regular season will end, without an open week, on Nov. 15 at Middle Tennessee.

The rest of the story