New Orleans Bowl

[uslol'dog]

I don't mind going against the tide here. I know what I'm saying is right. Maybe I'm not saying it in the right fashion or as eloquent as others like my friend J1M. But there is not doubt in my mind to elevate this UL program to a higher level of recognition, which is what I want (others I don't think so), we must play opponents that have an already established brand name and then beat them. We are not going to do that by beating Sun Belt teams, or CUSA teams. If, and I said it more than once....If there would be an opportunity to play a better opponent, then we MUST look at it and not just have blinders on, accepting a bowl bid as soon as it's given just so we get one, with the fear (yes that's what it is) of not getting to one. Where did I say we would have a smorgasbord of choices? It may be one. Maybe that's all we need. Do I have a specific one? No, we just don't know at this point, and that includes you.
J1M, I did not give any hypotheticals of bowls, I gave a hypothetical of next year's record being 7-0, and people jumping on the NO Bowl train too soon. Again, I said this also, maybe not this year, but I'm trying to generate the notion of considering more than the NO Bowl against a team that has no respect nationally (tulame is not a respectable team VObserver on a national scale, that is just ridiculous). Turbine, 9 is your number for building the brand? Do you really think we are going to win 9 NO Bowls in a row? Where does travel diversity come from? I said nothing about that. The NO Bowl is a great venue for our fans, I love it too. For those that think winning a bunch of NO Bowls is the trick that will get us to national recognition, you are dreaming. Have you even considered, what if we lose to tulame? I know, not probable, but it could happen. Then how does that look to recruits? So many think winning the game get's the recruits, what does losing do? It's more than that. It's about the whole program, not a recruit.
I'm just repeating myself at this point, so I won't continue press the point that there is more than just the NO Bowl (and yes, I am speaking to some that think it is all about going to New Orleans, just having a blast and not thinking about getting this program to a higher level). I won't respond to mis-quotes, I'm done for now on the subject.
Once more, REPEAT: might not be this year, but it's something to think about in the near future.

Geaux UL!

Blah blah blah. Wall of text.. Blah..
We are a mid major team that has been to two bowl games. Ever. We don't turn down the first bowl we are invited to. The end.

[Turbine]

Blah blah blah. Wall of text.. Blah..
We are a mid major team that has been to two bowl games. Ever. We don't turn down the first bowl we are invited to. The end.

4 ever, but I agree.

[moorecajun]

In what city did you reserve a hotel room?

Monroe?

[moorecajun]

Monroe?

Ruston?

[Just1More]

Blah blah blah. Wall of text.. Blah..
We are a mid major team that has been to two bowl games. Ever. We don't turn down the first bowl we are invited to. The end.

Now in defense of my friend... he really just wants to make the point that he'd like to see us against better opponents... at the expense of a lesser opponent in the NO Bowl. He is a little confused IMO on the bowl invitation obstacles and timing that simply does not place us in a "let's see what might happen down the road that just might be better". There are too many people, in his opinion, loving on the NO Bowl so much that he thinks our school will wear out a trail to New Orleans and never think about another possibility.

The truth of the matter is that there isn't this graduated scale of bowl accessability. We have access to only a couple of bowls in a bowl eligible year of 10 wins or less... NO Bowl being by far the best (all things considered). We only have access to a "better bowl/better opponent" scenario when we are either undefeated, or we beat a BCS or ranked team in a one loss year. We are never going to wait until the end of the bowl matchup process, after all of the ties are done, and all of the bowl eligible BCS programs are selected, to see if a "better bowl/better opponent" is somehow in the cards for us... when we have "a bowl" to go to... and it's the NO Bowl. That is simply not going to happen.

Not to knock our program... but bowl committees are looking at programs as national TV audience draws AND fan travel likelihood. Although we travel extraordinarily well to New Orleans... and that has their attention... most will not acknowledge our fan travel numbers until we've proven we will do it to a much more difficult travel destination.

[Just1More]

I thought you wore thongs!

I do. But I'm not a male prostitute. I accept no money for providing eye candy and fantasy material to all that gaze upon me.

[CrazyCajun]

NIU was a bcs buster last year... Good chance the will finish 13-0 ranked around 15th in the country and they will still be in a MAC tie in bowl game because if Fresno state finishes ahead of them, they get the only bcs slot. Not only is our best shot at a "better bowl" a bcs bowl, but there is only 1 of those slots.

[CajunEXPRESS]

JellyStone

[cajunwarhawks23]

Monroe?

exactly...thats where the NO bowl is right?...we could all go to Scruff's

[cajunhawk]

NIU was a bcs buster last year... Good chance the will finish 13-0 ranked around 15th in the country and they will still be in a MAC tie in bowl game because if Fresno state finishes ahead of them, they get the only bcs slot. Not only is our best shot at a "better bowl" a bcs bowl, but there is only 1 of those slots.

A date with Ball State is looming on the horizon for NIU. Should be their best chance to get a loss. Fresno will prolly go undefeated. SDSU had them and gave the game away in OT. Those kind of teams that escape a loss like that...usually don't get put in that position again for the rest of the year.