The Book 2008 Football

[RCAJUN90]

_ Well we went almost an entire week without negativity. _

Hey I said we were 1-2. USM didn't count. We should get a do over.
A "W' over ULM would do wonders for Bustle and UL. Beating ULM would add so many positives. His record against ULM is horrible. It would also be a conference win. It is very doable and if I was a betting man, I would bet the Cajuns will win.

[zephyr]

_ Since last season most of us have been screaming for Bustles head. In fact, it was a very popular topic in the offseason. So I have to ask.....does our current level of play show enough for Bustle to keep his job. The team has clearly improved and (SO FAR) we have played some very good football.......Opinions??? _

If the play is sustained, yes. Unless of course the university can come up with about 400k to hire a new coach. I just don't think we will necessarily get better with the money we pay. The play has been at a much higher level so far this year and I think the youth we have in the program shows a lot of promise. If we get to 6-6 or 7-5, I have no problem giving more time.

[zephyr]

_ Hey I said we were 1-2. USM didn't count. We should get a do over.
A "W' over ULM would do wonders for Bustle and UL. Beating ULM would add so many positives. His record against ULM is horrible. It would also be a conference win. It is very doable and if I was a betting man, I would bet the Cajuns will win. _

I must admit that it is nice to be here when you are in such a positive frame of mind. Where have you been all this time??

[Zeebart21]

_ Hey I said we were 1-2. USM didn't count. We should get a do over.
A "W' over ULM would do wonders for Bustle and UL. Beating ULM would add so many positives. His record against ULM is horrible. It would also be a conference win. It is very doable and if I was a betting man, I would bet the Cajuns will win. _

Ya'll be careful on your trip up.

Z

[RCAJUN90]

_ I must admit that it is nice to be here when you are in such a positive frame of mind. Where have you been all this time?? _

I've always been here. When you are in the _____ and people are pulling rainbows after crushing defeats and praise the coach well I just don't see the logic in that. We all want the same thing. I successful Ragin Cajun football program. Bustle was the one that must do it. We really can't afford another regime change unless it is necessary. After USM I thought well here we go again. If it is this year then God bless him and let's forget the pass and enjoy. If not run the dude out of town.

[RaisingCajun08]

Answer these simple questions.

1. How long is Bustle under contract with us?
2. If he is fired, will we have enough money to pay 2 coaches?
3. We can not accept another coach at the "newbie" level. With that said it will take $$ to bring someone here.
4. Again, will we have enough money to pay 2 coaches?

In my opinion, Bustle is here for a few more years (I do not know the length of his contract. 2012?). Lets put our effort in supporting this team who is showing us they have HEART. They want to win more than we do.

GEAUX CAJUNS!

[zephyr]

_ Answer these simple questions.

1. How long is Bustle under contract with us?
2. If he is fired, will we have enough money to pay 2 coaches?
3. We can not accept another coach at the "newbie" level. With that said it will take $$ to bring someone here.
4. Again, will we have enough money to pay 2 coaches?

In my opinion, Bustle is here for a few more years (I do not know the length of his contract. 2012?). Lets put our effort in supporting this team who is showing us they have HEART. They want to win more than we do.

GEAUX CAJUNS! _

I was under the impression that this was his last year with the exception of 2 incentive years meaning if he was to have a winning season he'd get a 1 yr extension and if he won conference, he'd get a 2 yr extension

[BrudaCajun]

_ I was under the impression that this was his last year with the exception of 2 incentive years meaning if he was to have a winning season he'd get a 1 yr extension and if he won conference, he'd get a 2 yr extension _

As was I, I think you are correct

[LSUConnMan]

If a coach has job security after multiple losing seasons, then it must be accepted that the administration at his institution has decided that athletics aren't a priority in the university's mission, they're merely another necessary expense, like groundskeeping maintenance.

Although I'm admittedly an outsider, I cannot understand the "can we afford?" line of questioning. No school can afford the going rate for a quality coach, let alone the costs involved in maintaining the arms race...but, conversely, football is one of the very few areas in higher ed where the initial investment and continued commitment has the ability to turn a profit. Currently, the real question for any school is "can we afford not to perpetuate the growing expense?"

I'll have to dig through my files, but I saved a few good articles and spreadsheets from the NCAA website that broke down NCAA football profit/loses by institution. What I found fascinating weren't the huge profits made by the traditional programs, but the trend over the past 10 years for everybody else. Even some D1AA schools have started to cut losses/break even, and amazingly enough a couple actually are turning profits. The numbers defy all reason and are entirely counter-intuitive. For instance Connecticut put forth a mediocre effort for upgrade to 1A in '00...yet somehow football already out-earns a basketball program with 2NCs in the last 10 years...by a significant amount.

Furthermore, being a Troy Alum as well, I've seen how signing on for 'rent a slaughters' can finance the entire athletics dept. If UL merely dropped the McNeese State game and the annual MAC matchup, they could earn $600K-$1mil/game signing on for another school's open dates. Without even batting an eyelash, the athletics dept has another $1-1.5 mil to upgrade their staff.

Look at UNC, that program was terrible for a long time, and still has substandard facilities...Paying Butch Davis $2.1mil/yr has quickly changed from a perception of gross fiscal responsibility, to that of an astute investment in less than 2 years.

[NewsCopy]

  Tucked away atop a filing cabinet in the front office of ULM's Malone Stadium sits a boot-shaped trophy known to few. In 2002, the trophy was created for the UL-ULM football game, which was named "The Battle on the Bayou" that year in an attempt to spark interest for the in-state contest.

The Warhawks beat the Ragin' Cajuns that season, 34-10, at Malone Stadium. It marked the end of a 3-9 campaign for both teams.

A plate with the date and score was added to the trophy for that game. There was space for the addition of future dates and scores.

But the trophy never left Monroe.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 4, 2008

[RaisingCajun08]

OK I found the it in a previous post .... "LAFAYETTE – University of Louisiana at Lafayette head football coach Rickey Bustle has agreed to a two-year contract extension, keeping him on the sideline through the 2010 season, ..."

Also, if I am not mistaken he has options for automatic extensions. I can not recall exactly what they are. Possibly winning the Sun Belt and a bowl game. 1 year for each accomplishment.

If we win the Sun Belt, will this be a topic of discussion? I am sure it still will be ...

Again, I say we focus on what we have good on the field right now. A group of guys who truly want to win and who put forth 110% on the field each game.

[DestinCajun]

This is like putting lipstick on a pig.

Do I want the Cajuns to win it? Absolutely, just like the other 8 games left on the schedule. But, it's no "rivalry game" to me.