2012 New Orleans Bowl

[CharlieK]

From what I've heard the Monroe fans did their part. Not their fault Tech pussed out killing a sellout and the weather got bad.

Or that their coach was exposed.

[GoneGolfin]

I was at the I-Bowl yesterday. The threat of rain kept a good bit of locals home. The Monroe sideline from 20 to endzone on both ends was full in the first quarter. Place was a ghost town after halftime. It was COLD!! Made me grateful for the dome last week.

Yes, this was what I saw on TV as well. I would guess about 23K or 24K in actual attendance. Much more than the 15,000 Jimmy Watson derisively tweeted. The crowd looked very similar to the 2008 Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois game. In fact, "paid" attendance for 2012 was slightly more than 2008. 2008 saw a "paid" attendance of 41,567 vs. 41,853 this year.

Brian

[Just1More]

J1M, what specifically do you mean by a loan?

And what specifically would you spend the money on?

I don't know what our debt limit is. However, while we had already secured funding for the campus facility improvements, T-Joe and Scott stated that Cajun Field renovations were imminent. They were reviewing plans and costs and were talking about getting approvals in one swipe instead of segmenting it. Then, with state budget cuts, all conversation ceased. At that time, we were barely creeping with RCAF. So, they apparently required no proof of its potential. They also didn't have confirmation of Hud's tremendous abilities, the largest increase in Cajun Field attendance, or record breaking bowl appearances due strictly to UL fan interest (at this embryonic stage of our reawakening). I feel very confident that nothing, from a financial perspective, is any worse for UL, than was the case back then. The state budget cuts to institutions of higher education operating costs are what I believe put T-Joe in a "political" situation... not an incapability of funding of Cajun Field renovations.

Further, we've passed a student facility fee that had not existed, and had no guarantee of existing, when UL bonded the campus improvements. That has to have raised our debt ceiling. Also, federal money was made available due to energy efficiency measures employed by these projects. Plus, additions made are expected to bring in more students. They are regarded as investments, not simply campus maintenance projects.

I firmly believe that if T-Joe wanted Cajun Field renovations to be funded, he can get it done.

[Just1More]

Would anyone be up for one of the bowls in Orlando?

Yes.

[Just1More]

to all you knocking Shreveport, wouldnt you rather see us in the Indy Bowl against an ACC or SEC team than the others vs CUSA or WAC or something like that???

There is something to be said for having an opportunity to knock off a BCS opponent in a bowl... outweighing our current focus on location/venue... but we don't necessarily have to go to Shreveport to make that happen. And, I feel the Indy will come calling on us only when they're not in a position to match us up with a BCS opponent.

[Cityp42]

I was perusing ECU's rivals site and came across the following post from an ECU alum (XBones.com). He says we were more talented than ECU and explains why:

"I certainly don't mean to ridicule anybody with my comments, but guys you need to take off your purple sunglasses. That team we played yesterday is more talented than East Carolina is. Their OL was big and agile. We got less penetration yesterday against these hogs than any team in CUSA. That includes UCF. Their receivers were tall and fast. Our backs looked like children compared to theirs. We may have had the edge on their defense, but it was close. This team reminded me of a good Southern Miss team... and there was a reason. I'd be willing to bet they are loaded with JUCOs and NQs. If you recall, LA Tech is able to take JUCOs with "D" grade credits. I'm sure the entire Louisiana University system allows this. I'm certain there is no limit to NQs in the Sun Belt. There was a reason it took a fluke touchdown from a blocked punt with 7 seconds to go in the game for the Florida Gators to beat them this year. We ran into a Hornet's nest in this situation. I suspected this prior to the game. But after the first couple plays, I realized we were in trouble."

http://eastcarolina.rivals.com/showm...d=1084&style=2

[Hammer58]

The University has raised more money from fundraising in the past two years than it ever has before. Farmer also recently hired an assistant AD who is a "fundraising specialist" and whose main purpose for being here is to focus on fundraising.

I's it perfect? Not by a long shot. We've all pointed out some big weaknesses with the RCAF on this board that we would love to see changed. And our fundraising levels arent nearly where most of us feel they should be. But fundraising has improved tremendously under Farmer. Just look at the numbers. Just look at our budget increases.

We may see an athletics master plan or a facilities master plan but for obvious reasons we'll never see a fundraising master plan. But just because UL doesn't announce it's fundraising strategy to the public doesn't mean they aren't working really hard at it.

Doesn't do any good to hire a specialist if you are going to ignore his suggestions and not let him do his job as his experience tells him it should be done.

[uslol'dog]

This maybe true in Troy's case/ but do we even take any NQ's at all? I don't think so? The only juco starters I can think of is Moten, Peoples, Gibson, Fields...dude just sounds bitter. Maybe they got outcoached, outplayed and outworked.

[RCAJUN90]

A little surprised we were in the middle of pack thus far. However, 2.6 million people watched.

1.) Las Vegas Bowl (Boise/Washington) - 4.4 M [Saturday night, 12/22]
2.) Belk Bowl (Cinci/Duke) - 3.9 M [Thursday night, 12/27]
3.) Holiday Bowl (Baylor/UCLA) - 2.9 M [Thursday night, 12/27]
4.) Potato Bowl (Toledo/Utah St.) - 2.8 M [Saturday afternoon, 12/15]
5.) Little Caesars Bowl (CMU/WKU) - 2.7 M (2.5M for WMU/Purdue in '11, 2.2M for UT/FIU in '10) [Wednesday night, 12/26]
6-T.) New Mexico (Arizona/Nevada) - 2.6 M [Saturday afternoon, 12/15]
6-T.) New Orleans (ULL/ECU) - 2.6 M [Saturday night, 12/22]
8.) Poinsettia Bowl (BYU/San Diego St.) - 2.2 M [Thursday night, 12/20]
9.) Hawaii Bowl (SMU/Fresno) - 2.4 M [Monday night, 12/24]
10-T.)St. Pete's Bowl (Ball St./UCF) - 1.9 M [Friday night, 12/21]
10-T.)Military Bowl (BG/San Jose) - 1.9 M (2.3M last yr w/ Toledo/Air Force) [Thursday afternoon, 12/27]

[ATXCajun]

sat morning.