2014 Branding Fiasco: UL-Lafayette or UL-L (SBC Reference Guide)

[Boomer]

Dude, now you're blaming the Advocate? Come on Boomer, you know where the responsibility belongs. This is the same thought process that has gotten us to this point after how many years? Let's take a look in the mirror, because that is where it begins. In this case, the mirror is Martin Hall.

----T you draw wrong conclusions from posts----I never blamed them, I choose one that goes along with the wishes of our fan base---so here you go--the DA calls us UL and Louisiana and the MA calls us ULL--that is my point--not blaming but choosing --there is a huge difference!!!!

[Turbine]

The latest on the name flap per KATC:... As for the abbreviation, we advised the conference that UL Lafayette has been our official abbreviation since 1999 ...

-Aaron Martin, UL Director of Communications and Marketing

This is what happens when Athletics kicks the ball to Martin Hall.

In answer to a purely "Athletic" question, you get a convoluted Academic marketing based answer.

Fact is when it comes to "Athletics" the claim that "UL Lafayette has been our official abbreviation since 1999" is wrong.

Aaron Martin left UL pre name change (2nd go round) in 1995, worked at places like Tulane (who can't market to their hometown) and just came back to UL two years ago. He missed a lot of background story, and it doesn't appear he tried to catch up. His answer shows a serious disconnect between the reality of Reinhardt Drive and Martin Hall.

It appears Aaron Martin is giving an answer based on his close association with his underling the editor of La Louisiane, who -by the way- has never been able to come up with a variation other than 'UL Lafayette' even if it meant using it seven times in the same paragraph.

As Director of Communications and Marketing publications, Aaron Martin in fact oversees publications, so his day to day UL view mirrors a relentless push of the Lafayette focused academic abbreviation found in the hard to read publications.

He is the wrong person to be answering an athletics question.

I wonder to what degree he is aware of the Lafayette Leopards.
jmo

[iedmunds]

How about this one...

UL^

The last digit is a caret (it's on your keyboard if you look hard enough)...

If you squint, it reads like ULA... but has more designy edge to it. If Miami can be "The U" - we can be UL^

At minimum we'd get some buzz for creativity.

[Turbine]

UL^ nice

UL up

[California Cajun]

Ultimately, our desired brand name will need a constituency, the fans, and not just Martin Hall, to make this stick. Never giving up is crucial. If we never give up, we will prevail over someone whose ambition is to thwart somebody else's dream. There are more battles ahead, so no wimping-hyphen-out.

[Oiler]

----------Well he is right about something and that is how suddenly things changed---we went into the Monroe game and we were all pumped up with our name of Louisiana and UL----We got there and were just shocked to hear and see what followed with the first down and not see Louisiana on the scoreboard---Something radically happened -----Somebody had to get to T-Joe and threatened him ---that is all I can see---Now where it came from I don't know but the UL Board or the Regents or the Governor----but obviously something came down that must have scared the hell out of T-Joe----and now this---As an alumn, backer, and whatever else----I want to know what the hell happened!!!

I agree that someone or something had to have laid down the law to T-Joe. LSU is the only entity in Louisiana that has the stroke to make something like this happen, and I think they're behind it.

[barisaxman]

Prediction--If-StevieP-addresses-the-issue-AT ALL-on-his-show-this-morning, he-will-say-we-are-wasting-time-being-upset-because-NOTHING-has-changed-since-the-Belt-says-no mandate!

Funny,-the-space-bar-on-my-keyboard-has-mysteriously-been-replaced-by-a-"hyphen"-per-Sunbelt-edict!

[basinbear]

Prediction--If-StevieP-addresses-the-issue-AT ALL-on-his-show-this-morning, he-will-say-we-are-wasting-time-being-upset-because-NOTHING-has-changed-since-the-Belt-says-no mandate!

Funny,-the-space-bar-on-my-keyboard-has-mysteriously-been-replaced-by-a-"hyphen"-per-Sunbelt-edict!

Excellent use of hyphens......

[Hammer58]

The latest on the name flap per KATC:

The University submitted Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns as the team nickname. Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson agreed to that. We are asking him to correct the nickname to include "Louisiana."

As for the abbreviation, we advised the conference that UL Lafayette has been our official abbreviation since 1999 and is in compliance with UL System board guidelines. When the conference insisted that it needed a letter abbreviation of two to four characters for "score and time bug" instances, we submitted that "UL-L" could be used only for such statistics, but is not otherwise an acceptable abbreviation.

The University asked that the abbreviation for statistical use be explained in a footnote and the conference office declined our request.

We request that the University not be referred to as "ULL" in any instance. Local media have almost never used ULL. Recently, several major daily papers throughout Louisiana, at our request, have moved away from use of ULL as an abbreviation: New Orleans Advocate, Baton Rouge Advocate, Acadiana Advocate, The News Star (Monroe), The Town Talk (Alexandria) and The Shreveport Times, as well as many other media throughout the state. We greatly appreciate everyone's support.

-Aaron Martin, UL Director of Communications and Marketing

Well Aaron in that case "you "(the "we" used in your release) are ____ing morons. UL is two letters. Or if you didn't have the stones to insist on UL the use of LA, as others suggested, meets the criteria as well.

[Hammer58]

Maybe you can assist in the interview.

LOL! Cali, I don't think they would be able to afford the FCC penalties of having me on the radio especially interviewing those two.

[Hammer58]

You know he will crawfish this whole issue. I know this from how we crawfished the whole name issue at Monroe game. It is Louisiana to me forever. Suck my hyphen.

A local vendor needs to make some t-shirts with this mantra. Would make appropriate apparel to wear at the big televised basketball game against WKU

[basinbear]

Again....when we decided to hand them ANY version of "ULL" it was over. The media, as I stated yesterday 2 hours before game time, ran with this. the media, as far as they are concerned, have been officially told that ULL is legal and acceptable and a hyphen is not going to matter....good luck getting this fixed....