The Name Game

[Just1More]

Let's get our funding methodology right and all else will follow.

[HoustonCajun]

_ I always use UL without the extra L when talking to people but I think any argument is moot until we seperate ourselves from these other schools. I know the name issue is much deeper than the football field but unless we start beating people on the field no one will refer to us as anything because we will be an after thought. If we put more wins on the stat page we will have much more bargaining power to be called whatever we want to be called. We can argue that we be called UL or LU or La La State but unless we prove that we deserve the name nothing will change. _

I agree that winning will solve a lot of problems. However, our identiy problem is the mixed message that the university athletic department sends out. We are referred to as primarily Louisiana Lafayette, but also as UL, Louisiana, Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana. Then, there is a statement about what NOT to call us. We continue to be referred to nationally and statewide (outside of Lafayette) as Louisiana Lafayette and ULL. Winning alone will not solve the identity problem.

When our athletic department says we are LU and Louisiana and that is all you should call us, that is what we will be called, period, whether we are winning or not. Currently, they will not use UL only because of the law. My point is to create that singular identity with LU if it will circumvent the law. UL will not and unless we get the law changed, this will be a long term continuing problem. Combine a singular identity that we want with winning and we have a "winning" combination.

[Sonsissymia]

_ I just realized that this website does not allow the extra L to show up in any reference, so it is difficult to state ones point. My concern is with the UL L (I hope that works). _

it's that kind of mature thinking that will get the "UL" moniker universally known.

[Turbine]

I know the city of Lafayette is a drawing card, but its popularity might hamper promoting the external use of UL.

An upcoming game conversation often sounds like this; "Where is the game?" "Lafayette." That sounds normal and it is, unless you are trying to limit the use of the city tag nationally.

It might help if the conversation sounded like this; "Where is the game?" "UL"

jmo

[DestinCajun]

_ I know the city of Lafayette is a drawing card, but its popularity might hamper promoting the external use of UL.

An upcoming game conversation often sounds like this; "Where is the game?" "Lafayette." That sounds normal and it is, unless you are trying to limit the use of the city tag nationally.

It might help if the conversation sounded like this; "Where is the game?" "UL"

jmo _

I'm a UL fan hope you are too.

[Cajun Power]

UL is the best. It is our official name: The University of Louisiana. We're not Louisiana University. I liked ULA, but I could see that easily becoming ULaf on a scoreboard which is probably worse than ULL. UL is pretty much the default name which people call us by, except LSU people. In many publications I now see only UL, the one huge exception being the Advocate which I have a sneaking suspicion even adds the second L in direct quotes where it wasn't originally present. The only thing that will solve our name problem is continued growth in academics and much better athletic performance.

I think one thing that would help us become "Louisiana" is to drop the " 's " in Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns. While it may be unique, it only complicates things. Announcers and media outlets would probably call us Louisiana if our name was the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, like the Michigan Wolverines or Texas Longhorns. Instead they are forced to consciously choose between saying Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana-Lafayette. "Louisiana's" just doesn't sound as natural. We've got to make things as simple as possible, because most people in the media aren't super bright.

[CajunNation]

As long as our administration focuses almost all of our marketing efforts on "Ragin Cajuns" and a flaming vegetable, the name issue will never be resolved.

[Sonsissymia]

_ UL is the best. It is our official name: The University of Louisiana. We're not Louisiana University. I liked ULA, but I could see that easily becoming ULaf on a scoreboard which is probably worse than UL. UL is pretty much the default name which people call us by, except LSU people. In many publications I now see only UL, the one huge exception being the Advocate which I have a sneaking suspicion even adds the second L in direct quotes where it wasn't originally present. The only thing that will solve our name problem is continued growth in academics and much better athletic performance.

I think one thing that would help us become "Louisiana" is to drop the " 's " in Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns. While it may be unique, it only complicates things. Announcers and media outlets would probably call us Louisiana if our name was the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, like the Michigan Wolverines or Texas Longhorns. Instead they are forced to consciously choose between saying Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana-Lafayette. "Louisiana's" just doesn't sound as natural. We've got to make things as simple as possible, because most people in the media aren't super bright. _

true, but you present a false issue. someone earlier in this thread mentioned how the cajuns has just played "NU" and how great it was that everybody knows what that means. "NU" is the University of Nebraska--they switch it up a bit for NU, probably because something else is obviously known as the "UN." "OU" of the big 12? that school is the University of Oklahoma--they switch it around for their catchy acronym for whatever reason they chose. UL is, around the country, Louisville. There really is nobody known as "LU." You may not like LU, and frankly i don't much either, but the fact that the school is the university of louisiana at lafayette technically is not an impediment for trying it out.

[Zeebart21]

true, but you present a false issue. someone earlier in this thread mentioned how the cajuns has just played "NU" and how great it was that everybody knows what that means. "NU" is the University of Nebraska--they switch it up a bit for NU, probably because something else is obviously known as the "UN." "OU" of the big 12? that school is the University of Oklahoma--they switch it around for their catchy acronym for whatever reason they chose. UL is, around the country, Louisville. There really is nobody known as "LU." You may not like LU, and frankly i don't much either, but the fact that the school is the university of louisiana at lafayette technically is not an impediment for trying it out.

Why do you think CBS had Louisville listed as Lou. during the NCAA tourney? Odd, huh?

Z

ps look for an LHS graduation invite in the mail. Jr accepts $10's and $20's.

[Sonsissymia]

_ Why do you think CBS had Louisville listed as Lou. during the NCAA tourney? Odd, huh?

Z

ps look for an LHS graduation invite in the mail. Jr accepts $10's and $20's. _

i still have a couple of cannon's 20's--send it on. and the deal is, you get my daughter's next year from LOUISIANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!