New Orleans Bowl

[CajunJack55]

Not true, how do you know what bowls will ask when? Don't worry about Lo-Tech, they have too many issues and I don't like comparing UL to them. If we keep getting asked to go to the NO Bowl after the 6th win, then I say that's too early to be able to judge what is best for the team and the program. It is tunnel vision, I can see it from here, I guess because I'm outside the state, but all of you need to step back and see how it's done with other programs. I know NO Bowl is fun and it's a great venue...etc. but at some point, this program needs to try and move up and playing tulame is lame, because not a single person (some exaggeration but not much) will care outside of Lafayette and maybe a couple in New Orleans. If the opportunity is there to play a better opponent, we need to at least say "hey, can we do this" for the better of the program. The NO Bowl will always want UL at the 6th win, because it makes money for THEM. They don't care about our interest, and they can wait if they want us that bad.

ONLY sunbelt tie in bowls can offer us after 6 wins. A bowl like the Houston or Liberty Bowl cannot offer the Cajuns an invite after 6 wins because they have to give them to the conference members tied in first. IF and only IF they do not have enough school eligable then they are filled with other conference members. Untill we are in a better conference with better bowl tie ins we must play the cards we are dealt. Another reason we need to leave the Sun Belt.

I do agree with you regarding Tulane. I would rather play an outside program because we would get more exposure and outside viewers.

[CajunAmos]

Not true, how do you know what bowls will ask when? Don't worry about Lo-Tech, they have too many issues and I don't like comparing UL to them. If we keep getting asked to go to the NO Bowl after the 6th win, then I say that's too early to be able to judge what is best for the team and the program. It is tunnel vision, I can see it from here, I guess because I'm outside the state, but all of you need to step back and see how it's done with other programs. I know NO Bowl is fun and it's a great venue...etc. but at some point, this program needs to try and move up and playing tulame is lame, because not a single person (some exaggeration but not much) will care outside of Lafayette and maybe a couple in New Orleans. If the opportunity is there to play a better opponent, we need to at least say "hey, can we do this" for the better of the program. The NO Bowl will always want UL at the 6th win, because it makes money for THEM. They don't care about our interest, and they can wait if they want us that bad.

y only issue would be right now we stand no chance of a BCS bowls guaranteed money. At this time in our programs growth, I don't think a half-million loss going to another bowl game is worth the possible prestige of playing a "bigger" name versus a break even or maybe make a little of playing in N.O.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Other programs? In the sunbelt? Or do you mean other programs in other conferences that have more than 2 bowl tie ins? I'm not saying we could never have dialogue with the New Orleans bowl about waiting to accept, but sitting in the "nationally perceived" worst conference in America, why do you assume we are even next in line to fill a a bowl slot of conference that can't fill all their tie ins? For example, if the big 10 can't fill the texas bowl, you think the big 12 will agree to fill that slot with a sunbelt team? There is so much that goes into bowl selections that people don't understand. Of all people that should understand this, it should be us who have sat at home numerous times while being bowl eligible.

No, not other programs in the SBC. True, it's not cut and dry the way bowls are decided upon and UL doesn't have any assurance of getting another bowl. I'm just saying, the NO Bowl wants UL, we know that, and this came about just recently after the our strong attendance the past 2 years. There may be others also, like last year, the independence bowl offered, we turned it down and accepted the NO Bowl. I'm by no means saying not to go to the NO Bowl, I'm saying don't jump too soon, there may be other opportunities. Maybe not this year, but at some point, we must wait past the 6th win, in order to see what else we can get. It's scary to some, but it must be done to get this program on a national stage, not a local or regional one.

[CrazyCajun]

No, not other programs in the SBC. True, it's not cut and dry the way bowls are decided upon and UL doesn't have any assurance of getting another bowl. I'm just saying, the NO Bowl wants UL, we know that, and this came about just recently after the our strong attendance the past 2 years. There may be others also, like last year, the independence bowl offered, we turned it down and accepted the NO Bowl. I'm by no means saying not to go to the NO Bowl, I'm saying don't jump too soon, there may be other opportunities. Maybe not this year, but at some point, we must wait past the 6th win, in order to see what else we can get. It's scary to some, but it must be done to get this program on a national stage, not a local or regional one.

If we were 7-0 right now, we might be able to look at that. 10-2 sunbelt champ, 9-3 sunbelt champ, 8-4 Cajuns, 7-5 Cajuns.... All will be in New Orleans dec 21st.

[CajunAmos]

No, not other programs in the SBC. True, it's not cut and dry the way bowls are decided upon and UL doesn't have any assurance of getting another bowl. I'm just saying, the NO Bowl wants UL, we know that, and this came about just recently after the our strong attendance the past 2 years. There may be others also, like last year, the independence bowl offered, we turned it down and accepted the NO Bowl. I'm by no means saying not to go to the NO Bowl, I'm saying don't jump too soon, there may be other opportunities. Maybe not this year, but at some point, we must wait past the 6th win, in order to see what else we can get. It's scary to some, but it must be done to get this program on a national stage, not a local or regional one.

We turned down the independence bowl because they tried to lowball us on the revenue distribution.

[ULGrad@HOU]

y only issue would be right now we stand no chance of a BCS bowls guaranteed money. At this time in our programs growth, I don't think a half-million loss going to another bowl game is worth the possible prestige of playing a "bigger" name versus a break even or maybe make a little of playing in N.O.

I'm not for UL losing money either, I know we don't have spare money laying around, but I also don't think we would lose a half-million, so I'm not sure where that comes from. How do we know how many would go to Houston or Dallas or Memphis until we try it? Who knows, but locking in the NO Bowl after 5 wins is early, and it sets us up to never accept another bowl bid, because we would have already accepted one after 6 wins.

[ULGrad@HOU]

We turned down the independence bowl because they tried to lowball us on the revenue distribution.

Exactly, we looked at what they offered and didn't take it. That's what should be done.

[STPacronym]

Please see previous post. I want to add, it's not just BCS bowls that can give a better opponent. Also, the BCS bowls aren't determined until much later in the year, so not this year, but if we were 7-0, the NO Bowl will have already given the invite, and people would be willing to accept it, because they are afraid we might not go anywhere else? This is not smart, and being afraid of what the NO Bowl will do is not the way to run the program and achieve a higher exposure nationally.

I don't think anyone is afraid of what the NO Bowl will do or not do is the issue. I would agree that playing a "big name" opponent would give us great exposure and would be a better marketing opportunity. However, it's not that simple. You have to weigh the cost involved with going this route. Many teams lose big money playing in bowl games because they have to "eat" the tickets that they can't sell. With the current size of our athletic budget even a small loss on a bowl game has a big financial impact. At our current state of affairs, the NO Bowl is the best option. Who knows, that may change next year...

[Boomer]

Just think about the # of HS players in the ALA MISS and Louisiana maybe TExas areas that can come and see us practice in the Dome and come to the game---I am pretty sure that they can come to practice but have to pay for the game ticket--not sure but it has got to influence the kids in these areas!!!

[CrazyCajun]

Exactly, we looked at what they offered and didn't take it. That's what should be done.

And what big opponent would that have been? Ohio?

[CajunRage]

Please see previous post. I want to add, it's not just BCS bowls that can give a better opponent. Also, the BCS bowls aren't determined until much later in the year, so not this year, but if we were 7-0, the NO Bowl will have already given the invite, and people would be willing to accept it, because they are afraid we might not go anywhere else? This is not smart, and being afraid of what the NO Bowl will do is not the way to run the program and achieve a higher exposure nationally.

Slow down turbo. Boise state went to the humanitarian bowl 3 straight years when they started their run. Until we get that signature bcs win, we are still a bottom rung program. 10-2 with a bowl win and knocking off a bcs opponent early next season changes things, but until then, ask for a reserved parking spot in New Orleans.

[ULGrad@HOU]

I don't think anyone is afraid of what the NO Bowl will do or not do is the issue. I would agree that playing a "big name" opponent would give us great exposure and would be a better marketing opportunity. However, it's not that simple. You have to weigh the cost involved with going this route. Many teams lose big money playing in bowl games because they have to "eat" the tickets that they can't sell. With the current size of our athletic budget even a small loss on a bowl game has a big financial impact. At our current state of affairs, the NO Bowl is the best option. Who knows, that may change next year...

I agree with you, I just wanted to state my opinion that we need to think of getting more exposure for the betterment of the program as a whole and not just focus on the NO Bowl. We are currently stuck in the SBC and must try anyway we can to gain some recognition. This success we are having is the catalyst to get us more attention and possibly get us out of the SBC, it won't last forever.