2008 Recruiting Wars

[Turbine]

_ Seriously, you think there is this groundswell for local kids? Mom, dad, sister uncles maybe, say 6 per student per game. 85 x 6 x 6 = 3060 per year.

For the record: I am for getting the best athete (.)

However your equation leads to expediential growth. When you create fans they adopt programs and don't drop completely off the map when their favorite son is gone. Example: Greg Hodges family have been to several games since his UL career ended.

[crazyraginmomma]

_ I hope these guys are the real deal. I would much rather see local guys on the field. At least they will put people in the stands. If these two recruits are going to turn our defense around, I am all for it. If not, stay in our own backyard and put butts in the seats! _

Defense will be just fine next year. Think you would be surprised to know how many current players we have who's fans travel many of miles for all home games. Putting the best athletes we can get on the field makes a lot more sense.

[Zeebart21]

I'm not getting in arguments here, but I do recall the McNeese game last year where a local boy from Erath, who was dying to come here, came in and beat us on our own turf. My co-worker in the office right next to me, along with others, attended that game for the sole reason of a local guy playing in town. I'm not saying to sacrifice ability for local players. We have some tremendous athletes in the Acadiana area. Let's take advantage of that and get the attendance that goes along with it.

You need to do a little research and find out why that local boy from Erath didnt attend school here.

None of it has to do with UL not wanting him.

Your co-workers need to get a life. We have possibly the most explosive qb in the state, wearing a Cajun uni.....wow he's from N.I.? Thats not much further than Erath. One of our linebackers...I believe he intercepted the Erath boy...is from STM.

Your co-workers used a lame excuse to come see the game.

Z

[Zeebart21]

Defense will be just fine next year. Think you would be surprised to know how many current players we have who's fans travel many of miles for all home games. Putting the best athletes we can get on the field makes a lot more sense.

Amen, and we look forward to seeing you at the Eaque tree again this year!!!

Z

[crazyraginmomma]

_ Amen, and we look forward to seeing you at the Eaque tree again this year!!!

Z _

Can't wait!

[Cajun Express]

_ I'm not getting in arguments here, but I do recall the McNeese game last year where a local boy from Erath, who was dying to come here, came in and beat us on our own turf. My co-worker in the office right next to me, along with others, attended that game for the sole reason of a local guy playing in town. I'm not saying to sacrifice ability for local players. We have some tremendous athletes in the Acadiana area. Let's take advantage of that and get the attendance that goes along with it. _

He would not beat out Des for the job, and frankly we lost to McNutts U because we lacked a lot of defense. But now I see it you are having problems with your McNutts workmates.

[Cajun Express]

_ For the record: I am for getting the best athete (.)

However your equation leads to expediential growth. When you create fans they adopt programs and don't drop completely off the map when their favorite son is gone. Example: Greg Hodges family have been to several games since his UL career ended. _

Ain't they form somewhere in Texas?

The argument is simply not valid. If you want to talk exponential growth, well just win, and win often, and win again. Ain't nobody going to see the locals lose. I see a lot of provincial attitudes on this board.

Did we not want to be the University of Louisiana, not at Lafayette? Seems like whenever you locals want state and national recognition it is about being diverse and big, but really when it comes to culture you want to keep it in house. Sorry Turb, cannot have it both ways.

You know I want Louisiana kids and preferably locals whenever it is a toss up, but these arguments are getting old. Nobody has a bigger reason to put the best kids in the program than Bustle. If he is blind, and stupid it does not matter where he gets the kids. As for local coaches wanting us to take their boarder line players. He ll yea they want their kids to get a free education.

[Cajun Express]

I'm not getting in arguments here, but I do recall the McNeese game last year where a local boy from Erath, who was dying to come here, came in and beat us on our own turf. _

He was dying to play quarterback, we offered him as an athlete. No, no I want to be a quarterback. Ok, good luck son. Again he was not displacing Des, and if he had stayed Hundley who is local.

So friend why don't you find another local kid who was from Lafayette who dominated us on defense that game, oh you cannot because that kid was from Texas.

[Clutch0364]

_ I hope these guys are the real deal. I would much rather see local guys on the field. At least they will put people in the stands. If these two recruits are going to turn our defense around, I am all for it. If not, stay in our own backyard and put butts in the seats! _

Lets look at this arguement....ok I can think of 4 D-1 talented players from this area. Morvant from Acadiana, Alexander and Durasel (spelling is wrong) from Breaux Bridge, and Landry from Carencro. We have gauther committed at Qb and he much better than Morvant. And the other 3 are not eligible so who do you want us to recruit from the local area. It doesn't matter where you recruit form if your getting the best athletes. Should michigan concentrate on recruiting michigan more sense they lost to App. State? No you recruit who you feel is the best player regardless of where they are from.

[CajunShocker]

This argument is silly. At no time has any poster EVER said that they want to sacrifice talent for a local kid. Here are the priorities I think most would like to see:

1 - Get the best talent possible

2 - If two kids are EQUAL in talent and one is local and the other isn't, take the local kid.

No one is saying we should pass on Peyton Manning to sign Joe Blow from Acadiana High. That's ridiculous!!!!!

[Cajun Express]

1 - Get the best talent possible

2 - If two kids are EQUAL in talent and one is local and the other isn't, take the local kid.

No two people are ever equal. That is just a red herring. When you have two candidates for any job they may be similar, but one and only one will be the best candidate. In a football program you can line it up. Speed,strength both measurable, athletic ability ( not measurable), football instincts ( not measurable), intelligence, grades (implies an ability to focus, and work for a long term goal), character, ability to perform under stress are just a few that come to my mind.

While nobody ever says to take an inferior athlete there is an implication, that for some reason our coaches don't want candidates from the local area that are better or at least similar in ability.

So Billy Smith from Lafayette High has similar abilities, or slightly better in the 40. Strength, size, and football smarts are also similar. We have room for one recruit at a spot. Joe Smith from Memphis has all similar abilities but he is a lock dead certain NCAA gold star, but poor Billy is still working on his ACT. Who is coach taking? This is not Manning vs Acadiana Bubba, but the choice is easy.

Those people making these request are never in a coaches shoes who must measure all of the above and more, and oh yea he needs to make the correct decision, his career rides on it. In the end if the coach is not better than Joe Fan at this he will be looking for a new job soon.

[CajunNation]

_ He was dying to play quarterback, we offered him as an athlete. No, no I want to be a quarterback. Ok, good luck son. Again he was not displacing Des, and if he had stayed Hundley who is local.

So friend why don't you find another local kid who was from Lafayette who dominated us on defense that game, oh you cannot because that kid was from Texas. _

You're partially correct.

We, in fact, did offer him a shot at QB at the last second.

He gave a verbal.

His mind was changed the MORNING of signing day.

Had we recruited him from the beginning as a QB, he very well could have ended up here, but there was STRONG opposition to him coming here by someone he trusted. That "someone" is not liked very much in Erath right now.