Should Bustle be fired

[California Cajun]

_ I voted yes based on your criteria. However, knowing that he will be here at least one more year, my recommendation to the new president would be, if he doesn't win at least 7 games and do no worse than second in the conference, then he needs to be fired after next season no matter how much it takes to buy him out. _

Therein lies the problem. Whether a fan comes down on the side of firing or not firing the coach, more is going to be expected next year than I think is realistic.

I don't think this program can deliver seven wins under any coach in 2008.

If a change is inevitable in 2009 you might as well start anew in 2008. If you believe in this staff and think it hasn't been adequately supported by the administration and athletic department you have to give them beyond 2008 and see how they do with a new president and athletic department personnel.

[Cajunsmike]

_ Therein lies the problem. Whether a fan comes down on the side of firing or not firing the coach, more is going to be expected next year than I think is realistic.

I don't think this program can deliver seven wins under any coach in 2008.

If a change is inevitable in 2009 you might as well start anew in 2008. If you believe in this staff and think it hasn't been adequately supported by the administration and athletic department you have to give them beyond 2008 and see how they do with a new president and athletic department personnel. _

I don't think the staff will be changed after 2008 if they have a 6 and 6 record. Some may not agree with that. However, the administration will probably feel that is enough of an improvement to warrant retainment. 5 and 7 may be a different story.

[blackjack]

Well If Those People Dont Attend The Games And Show Support When Times Are Rough Then Do We Really Want Them Apart Of The Cajun Family. How Can We Say They Are True Fans. I Rember The Championship Season When Things Looked Really Bad Then All Of Sudden They Turned It Around. Those Fans Who Gave Up On Those Kids And Stop Coming To The Games Wasnt The Reason For The Turn Around. I Would Rather Have A Few Good Supports That Will Stay With Those Players And Coaches Thru Good And Bad. Im So Tired Of The Excuses That The So Called Know It Alls Are Bring Up. First It Was Why We Recruit Florida And Not Louisisana More, Now Its Lets Make A Change Because Of Attendence Or Support. Whats Next!!! Here Is Something For You What Other Team Is Playing With At Least 15 Freshman Or Red Shirt Freshmen And Winning Ball Games.let Me See Nobody!!!!!! But Like I Said Mybe Cajun Country Is Not As Special As We Try To Make It And We Should Just Do What Everyone Alse Does.

[CajunCanaille]

I know I'm late posting but I will voice my opinion. Do I think Bustle is doing a good job? Yeah, sort of. But I also believe he's far from doing a great job. This guy took over the worst program in the nation. Up until this year everyone was talking about how far this university has come. Now he's had a bad year (with a new coaching staff). It's going to happen. Espcially when you have a new staff. Also, we are not going to get the talent it takes to be a 500 team year after year. Why you ask? Because we can't recruit. Why can't we recruit you ask? It may be partially b/c Bustle has a tough time recruiting but he can't do much when it comes to recruiting due to our budget. We have the second lowest budget in Division 1. That's pitiful! I'm only 25 years old and don't have to wallet to donate thousand of dollars. So those wealthy people who claim to want to support the Ragin Cajuns as well as Lafayette need to fork up the money they claim they would donate if we were somewhat successful. I don't think some people are seeing the connection. Sure they want to donate money but don't want to donate if we suck. It's a catch 22. The Cajuns, with or without Bustle, will suck if there is no budget to recruit. So to say Bustle should be fired is an extremely tough question. You just have to ask yourself, what could Bustle do with a decent budget? So instead of hiring and firing coaches every few years we need to get some sort of funding for recruiting. We have to give our coaches the tools necessary to do their job.

As for the recent post about so called band wagon fans and how they are not wanted. You've got to get the mode of thinking out of your head! We need what band wagon fans. They are what make up a lot of the fan base in sports. Take the Saints, LSU, the Red Sox. Do you think all their fans have been fans since day one. Hell NO! I am a LOYAL supporter of this university and don't miss many games in the major sports but I welcome anyone who wants to be a fan. I welcome them, their attendance, their revenue and whatever else they bring to benefit this universtiy.

If we are going to complain about poor attendence, don't be afraid to point a finger at the students, and the fraternities and sororities in general. As a student you should be proud to be a part of the university and want to go to every game to show your support. But this school lacks that. Our fraternities and sororities are really bad about this. How do you represent your school by showing up to tailgate at 4 pm for a 6 pm game and then not go into the game. What that tells me is that you didn't join your fraternity to be part of a school organization that is all about the pride of UL, you joined b/c you don't have any friends. It's very attractive as a alumnus or local fan to go to a game, look accross from the home side and see thousands of screaming fans. But we don't have that. We have a few students piled up in the two middle section of the student side more worried about what they are doing after the game rather than cheering for their team. So who do I blame for the poor attendence? Sure some of the alumni and locals but mainly the damn students!


Oh yeah....and back to the origional point...I dont' think we should fire Bustle unless he repeats a season like this one.

[Cajun Express]

_ Everyone and there mama was on Bustle's nuts two years ago, have we forgotten that. It is my opinion that he deserves another year. _

Well the truth was he was losing support two years ago, and went on a 5 game win streak to save his job. If he does not get that streak he gets no contract extension and he would be living on borrowed time this year after last, I don't think he would be retained. Funny how one additional single win changed his opportunity to get seven years instead of 5 total.

[CajunProud]

_ Therein lies the problem. Whether a fan comes down on the side of firing or not firing the coach, more is going to be expected next year than I think is realistic.

I don't think this program can deliver seven wins under any coach in 2008.

If a change is inevitable in 2009 you might as well start anew in 2008. If you believe in this staff and think it hasn't been adequately supported by the administration and athletic department you have to give them beyond 2008 and see how they do with a new president and athletic department personnel. _

You may be right, but it is time we all have high expectations. What people forget is that we aren't just having one bad season. Last years collapse was pathetic and there is no excuse.

I know most were high on the new OC saying that he was well respected for the work he did at MT, but the bottom line is that he ran a good offense at frickin MT, not Michigan or Texas but MT, a school like us in the worst football conference in the country. And wasn't this guy selling lumber or something for the last two years?? I am not impressed in the least with what I have seen from him or the new DC. If we have the talent that everyone says we have then the blame falls on the entire coaching staff and they all need to go.

Maybe I do have high expectations, but if I were in charge and Bustle did not have at least 7 wins next season, he would be gone.

[Hammer58]

_ Im So Tired Of The Excuses That The So Called Know It Alls Are Bring Up. First It Was Why We Recruit Florida And Not Louisisana More, Now Its Lets Make A Change Because Of Attendence Or Support. Whats Next!!! Here Is Something For You What Other Team Is Playing With At Least 15 Freshman Or Red Shirt Freshmen And Winning Ball Games.let Me See Nobody!!!!!! But Like I Said Mybe Cajun Country Is Not As Special As We Try To Make It And We Should Just Do What Everyone Alse Does. _

We are tired of the excuses as well. And the "youth" excuse is just as bad as any other you cited. Whose decision was it to play all those freshmen rather than the upperclassmen who contributed last year?

[Hammer58]

_ Also, we are not going to get the talent it takes to be a 500 team year after year. Why you ask? Because we can't recruit. Why can't we recruit you ask? It may be partially b/c Bustle has a tough time recruiting but he can't do much when it comes to recruiting due to our budget. We have the second lowest budget in Division 1. That's pitiful! I'm only 25 years old and don't have to wallet to donate thousand of dollars. So those wealthy people who claim to want to support the Ragin Cajuns as well as Lafayette need to fork up the money they claim they would donate if we were somewhat successful. I don't think some people are seeing the connection. Sure they want to donate money but don't want to donate if we suck. It's a catch 22. The Cajuns, with or without Bustle, will suck if there is no budget to recruit. So to say Bustle should be fired is an extremely tough question. You just have to ask yourself, what could Bustle do with a decent budget? So instead of hiring and firing coaches every few years we need to get some sort of funding for recruiting. We have to give our coaches the tools necessary to do their job.

While I agree wholeheartedly about the need for more fundraising and donations from alums and the community the budget excuse is wearing thin as well. We are 1 and 8 now with the second lowest budget in D1A. Tell me, what is the record of the team with the lowest budget in D1A? Its not great but its better than ours. And how about Notre Dame? The have a tremendous budget and their record isn't that good. While budgets play a big role in this equation it is no exscuse for poor coaching.

[BrockMeaux]

We are tired of the escuses as well. And the "youth" excuse is just as bad as any other you cited. Whose decision was it to play all those freshmen rather than the upperclassmen who contributed last year?

Literally half of the team is either freshmen or sophomores. The numbers dictate that they've got to play at some point, right?

[Hammer58]

_ Literally half of the team is either freshmen or sophomores. The numbers dictate that they've got to play at some point, right? _

Again, who decides the make up of this team? The coaches. So if they allowed themselves to get in a position to have to rely on freshmen and sophmores they have no one to blame but themselves for their recruiting or lack thereof. I'm just tired of hearing it trotted out after every game as an excuse.