NOLA Bowl Opponent

[zeppelincajun]

I think the obvious best choice at this point would be ECU. Not sure if they are even a possibility, but the New Orleans Bowl would get another great fanbase with ECU. I could see atleast 50,000 if we play the Pirates.

[Policarp]

If cusa bails (likely)......MAC

[HoustonCajun]

If cusa bails (likely)......MAC

What about a certain 9-3 3rd place WAC team?

[GoneGolfin]

What about a certain 9-3 3rd place WAC team?

Louisiana Tech and the Independence Bowl may be aiming for a Tech - Baylor matchup.

Brian

[Oiler]

I think it'll be UL vs Rice in New Orleans.

[RaginScotsman]

That's my feeling too. Not an appealing opponent, but it would give us a chance to go 2 and 0 in the NO bowl. Ideally we would get someone that would challenge us and have a better record.

[RCAJUN90]

What about a certain 9-3 3rd place WAC team?

They apparently think they are above the NOLA Bowl. It would be a fun atmosphere but it would also be fun to play a team we never play like SDSU last year.

[VObserver]

That's my feeling too. Not an appealing opponent, but it would give us a chance to go 2 and 0 in the NO bowl. Ideally we would get someone that would challenge us and have a better record.

BS... I want the weakest possible opponent and a win. Nobody cares who you beat, unless it is a top 10 team from a power conference.

[CajunFan3406]

I think it will be higher. The way the game ended last year and with all the fun stories that we all had, I think more bandwagoners will be making the trip. People will travel to New Orleans because its a fun city and we will be playing indoors.

Here is my real life example of my opinion above. Magically right after the bowl was announced, my sister in law read the news on Facebook (Facebook is her main source of news). Now all of a sudden, she is expecting us to get her tickets, hotel rooms, etc, etc. Because of my loving relationship with her, she is on her own. But I am sure thousands of others will be making the trip just as she will.

Welcome to the bandwagon, now join the RCAF. That is all I have to say to those "fans".

.....end rant.

I'm with you on that one. I have a buddy who attended every game last year and even came with me to the Arkansas State game last year. But this year he didn't make a game until this past weekend. He sent me a text post game/invite seeing what I could do about tickets because of my RCAF membership. I basically told him all I had were 6 and he was __it out of luck.

[GoneGolfin]

I'm with you on that one. I have a buddy who attended every game last year and even came with me to the Arkansas State game last year. But this year he didn't make a game until this past weekend. He sent me a text post game/invite seeing what I could do about tickets because of my RCAF membership. I basically told him all I had were 6 and he was __it out of luck.

You should have told him he has by Dec. 6th to scrape together a $250 contribution to join RCAF. He would then be eligible to purchase four "priority" seats.

Brian

[RaginScotsman]

After peeking in on the Rice boards to see if they know something we don't, it seems like the general consensus is that they don't want to play us. Just some excerpts (pardon the LaLas and ULLs):

They did...I probably would prefer NO to Ft Worth but I think AFA is a better match for us than LaLa.

In looking at their stats, yeah, I agree. I think Air Force is a better match-up. UL nearly beat Florida in the swamp and seems to have a good mix of run and pass. Air Force, we know what is coming and have 3 weeks to prep.

LaLa reminds me of Troy in 2006. Too much speed and surprising size.

[zeppelincajun]

BS... I want the weakest possible opponent and a win. Nobody cares who you beat, unless it is a top 10 team from a power conference.

I would much rather see UL play a team with an actual fanbase than see our team put a whooping on Rice in front of a crowd where UL is gonna have to account for 90%. East Carolina averaged over 47,000 at home this year. The Pirates are not world beaters either. They have 8 wins because they took care of the weak teams in CUSA. Right off the bat that sets us up against a program with a large fanbase, a good record, and a decent national reputation over the past several years.

Predictions
UL 48 Rice 28 Att 40,000
UL 38 ECU 30 Att 55,000

Maybe nobody else cares, but I would much rather see the latter. I see big benefits from playing a slightly more challenging opponent.