The Book: 2007-08 Ragin' Cajuns Basketball

[rhineaux]

_ I think rhineaux can back me up on this one, we have been standing at games in the student section for years. Only we got jeers, and were asked by worthless lazy students to sit down. It was great to finally see a fun, lively student section. Now if you really want to do something make up some cheers or chants , bring some signs and lead everyone along. Cause our "cheerleaders" don't seem to know how to do that. _

I tried to get in touch with the cheerleader people before the football season. I did get a response, but nothing ever came of my suggestions. Basically what I told the girl was that all they needed was a big board with a U, and a big one with an L. Also, one with a Red (or Rouge), and one with a White (or Blanc, of course)...And even a one with Ragin and one with Cajuns. Those are simple things that can get fans going during TOs. I always hated when we'd go on a run that would get the crowd going, and the other team would call a TO, and it would take the crowd out of the game. Everyone would be standing and yelling, then the TO, and it's like nothing ever happened. I don't know if the crowd would always chill out because they had to go 90 seconds without basketball, or if it was because "Oh Look, the band's playing 'respect'...again and the cheerleaders and dancers are doing that act...again."

I also told her that they needed to work with the band to get other cheers and chants going, because nobody could ever hear them at football games. At basketball games, it's not much better. But, there's no reason why they can't come up with anything original every so often, instead of the "D D D De-fense" or "Defense Cajuns Defense" all the time. Maybe I'm being too unfair to them, because it's also the job of our mascot to work up some crowd involvement, and the poor cheerleaders don't have a mascot to do that for them. The only thing we have scares children, doesn't do anything but bob his head and clap, and lacks the respect of all of the fans so nobody's gonna pay any attention to it anyway.

[CajunCherokee]

Sun Belt Bracket pdf
I like our positioning in the bracket. If we continue to win, it gives WKU and USA the opportunity to lose before we HAVE to play them.

It should make for an interested tournament...

[CajunCharlie]

_ I tried to get in touch with the cheerleader people before the football season. I did get a response, but nothing ever came of my suggestions. Basically what I told the girl was that all they needed was a big board with a U, and a big one with an L. Also, one with a Red (or Rouge), and one with a White (or Blanc, of course)...And even a one with Ragin and one with Cajuns. Those are simple things that can get fans going during TOs. I always hated when we'd go on a run that would get the crowd going, and the other team would call a TO, and it would take the crowd out of the game. Everyone would be standing and yelling, then the TO, and it's like nothing ever happened. I don't know if the crowd would always chill out because they had to go 90 seconds without basketball, or if it was because "Oh Look, the band's playing 'respect'...again and the cheerleaders and dancers are doing that act...again."

I also told her that they needed to work with the band to get other cheers and chants going, because nobody could ever hear them at football games. At basketball games, it's not much better. But, there's no reason why they can't come up with anything original every so often, instead of the "D D D De-fense" or "Defense Cajuns Defense" all the time. Maybe I'm being too unfair to them, because it's also the job of our mascot to work up some crowd involvement, and the poor cheerleaders don't have a mascot to do that for them. The only thing we have scares children, doesn't do anything but bob his head and clap, and lacks the respect of all of the fans so nobody's gonna pay any attention to it anyway. _

I believe you have been conversing with my wife. She just groans at basketball games when the cheerleaders come out with their tired (her opinion) routine(s).
I have always wondered why the cheerleaders have not employed your big board idea. I particularly like the Ragin....Cajun one. Don't lengthen out the cheer responses. Fans only want to respond about four times. After that they get tired of the routine and its difficult to "whip them up again" if they know it will be another "marathon response cheer".

Good ideas Rhineaux! If at first you do not succeed...try and try again.

[rhineaux]

Great Point. In the Quarterfinals, WKU and UALR could potentially have far easier matchups than USA. You would think that earning the first seed would get you a much easier game in the second round than either against DU or UNO. I'd much rather play FIU or FAU than one of those two. I guess this bracket was created with the assumption that all of the higher seeds would move on. If not, then there are going to be some upset USA fans when they have to face Bo MaCaleb & #8 UNO in the QF's while UALR is facing #10 FIU and/or WKU is facing #11 ASU.

Either way, it doesn't bother me much. We wouldn't face one of the 'top 3' until at least the semi's.

As it shakes down, we beat our first opponent pretty handily at their place. Of our two potential second opponents, we were 2-0 against one, winning both with the last shot of the game, and were 0-1 v. the other, losing at home after we had a large lead, and played w/o Dees. As far as the third round, we were 2-0 v. UNO, 1-1 v. Denver, and 0-1 v. USA, and playing them at home again would be tough, although we did give up a large lead in our game against them.

This ought to be a fun tourney to watch, but it starts on Wednesday. Can't take care of business in Mobile until we take care of business in Lafayette.

[rhineaux]

Don't lengthen out the cheer responses. Fans only want to respond about four times. After that they get tired of the routine and its difficult to "whip them up again" if they know it will be another "marathon response cheer".

I totally agree. One of the cool things about the larger programs is that the students are self-sufficient in terms of making noise or leading cheers, and/or there is variety in what they do. This is why I've also forwarded my ideas to people to have an organized yell team where a certain group of students have some face time with the cheerleaders so they can come up with fresh ideas. Kinda like the 6th man, but for students. I don't know why some of our students don't want to stand up and yell all game...it would make it much more exciting.

Good ideas Rhineaux! If at first you do not succeed...try and try again. _

Duly Noted.

[RaginFan2]

Its a shame! They would be soooo much more enlightened if they did!!!!

Z

Or depressed (depending on which thread they read!).

[Turbine]

The season long turnaround Coach Lee has done is a credit to him, his team, and the University of Louisiana as a whole.

Unfortunately Denver coach Joe Scott gives "Lafayette" the props.

[RaginCajun2010]

O well, one day they will get it right. I did enjoy watching him stomp his feet during the game over plays that really were not a big deal. It gave the fans something to fuss about, which at least gets them involved someway.

[Tripple Threat]

_ I tried to get in touch with the cheerleader people before the football season. I did get a response, but nothing ever came of my suggestions. Basically what I told the girl was that all they needed was a big board with a U, and a big one with an L. Also, one with a Red (or Rouge), and one with a White (or Blanc, of course)...And even a one with Ragin and one with Cajuns. Those are simple things that can get fans going during TOs. I always hated when we'd go on a run that would get the crowd going, and the other team would call a TO, and it would take the crowd out of the game. Everyone would be standing and yelling, then the TO, and it's like nothing ever happened. I don't know if the crowd would always chill out because they had to go 90 seconds without basketball, or if it was because "Oh Look, the band's playing 'respect'...again and the cheerleaders and dancers are doing that act...again."

I also told her that they needed to work with the band to get other cheers and chants going, because nobody could ever hear them at football games. At basketball games, it's not much better. But, there's no reason why they can't come up with anything original every so often, instead of the "D D D De-fense" or "Defense Cajuns Defense" all the time. Maybe I'm being too unfair to them, because it's also the job of our mascot to work up some crowd involvement, and the poor cheerleaders don't have a mascot to do that for them. The only thing we have scares children, doesn't do anything but bob his head and clap, and lacks the respect of all of the fans so nobody's gonna pay any attention to it anyway. _

I agree with everything you've said...those time outs that are called during one of our runs are the opportune times for the cheerleaders/mascot to pump the defense chants and so on...it doesn't seem like anything is timed. My friends and I have tried since about 98' to get a consistent student section going and it's been frustrating. Saturday's game was different b/c there was a large enough group of people standing, that no one could really complain. I'm hoping that eventually, the basketball games will be like the football games and everyone will stand all game long and the family's with kids sitting in the student section (no offense to them/ I'll be bringing my own daughter next year) can be replaced by active participants.

What we need is a student ring leader who will stand in front of the fans and lead the chants/cheers (face paint and the whole nine yards)...bypass the cheerleaders all together.

All this being said, we now have a cajun team that is young enough that they will be around longer than we're used to. Getting to have this team for the time that we will may help build a more passionate connection between us and them (watching them grow). That's my rant...

[jllanclos]

Isn't it fantastic that we're having a conversation about how to make our lively student section even more lively? Finally, we have a group of students who realize it's thier job to create atmosphere instead of waiting around for atmosphere to create itself. This is great!