What Makes a Winning Program? Part I

[RaginFan2]

I think attendance and all of the psychological stuff as ALOT to do with performance on the field. The goals set out earlier for the team was to put out of their minds all the negative stuff said about them and their coaching staff. To concentrate on going forward. If people don't think the players don't know what is said about them then they are sorely mistaken. A crowd in a stadium drives the momentum of a football game in so many ways. I am very excited about this team. Excited about the hard work they have all put forward all summer and their incredible excitement and drive to please the fans. This is a different team.

That's what I'm hearing. And that's what I'm hoping! A lot of signs are pointing towards a positive season. I agree with you that the crowd does have an impact on the players. Whether or not it should, it does. How's KP doing? Looking forward to seeing him rack up some pancakes (and I'm not talking about IHOP!). Are you going to the Fan Day on Sunday?

Geaux Cajuns!!!

[Crawfish]

_ duh....

Between 1 and 2, it really is 1. Gotta start somewhere. _

Gotta disagree, number one is irrelevant when playing on the road. Road wins are critical to a successful season.

I like the choice 3 mentioned by another post, coaches and players.

[DestinCajun]

The goals set out earlier for the team was to put out of their minds all the negative stuff said about them and their coaching staff. To concentrate on going forward. If people don't think the players don't know what is said about them then they are sorely mistaken.

The avowed "k-sippers" among us will do our level best to let every kid who straps on a Cajun helmet know we are 100% behind them and we'll be at the stadium to show it. Other attitudes don't much matter.

[MissingMandy]

_ That's what I'm hearing. And that's what I'm hoping! A lot of signs are pointing towards a positive season. I agree with you that the crowd does have an impact on the players. Whether or not it should, it does. How's KP doing? Looking forward to seeing him rack up some pancakes (and I'm not talking about IHOP!). Are you going to the Fan Day on Sunday?

Geaux Cajuns!!! _

KP is great and looking forward to the same thing this year. It is impossible to get a hold of them during camp but the brief moments I hear from him he says everyone is working hard and it's been a great camp this year. I wish I could come to fan day but we are getting ready to move Aug 28th so I am stuck here until moving day. We plan to be at the Kent State game. My whole family lives in Michigan so they are going to the Illinois game for us. Should be an exciting year.

[RaginFan2]

KP is great and looking forward to the same thing this year. It is impossible to get a hold of them during camp but the brief moments I hear from him he says everyone is working hard and it's been a great camp this year. I wish I could come to fan day but we are getting ready to move Aug 28th so I am stuck here until moving day. We plan to be at the Kent State game. My whole family lives in Michigan so they are going to the Illinois game for us. Should be an exciting year.

Great to hear! Good luck on the move. See you all at the Kent State game. Glad to hear the clan will be attending the game in Champagne. How many will they bring? We need to have a vocal group there.

[MissingMandy]

_ Great to hear! Good luck on the move. See you all at the Kent State game. Glad to hear the clan will be attending the game in Champagne. How many will they bring? We need to have a vocal group there. _

There are 10 coming at least. I am really sad to miss the Southern Miss game as it will be KPs first game but we'll be on the road then. Hope there is a big group heading to that one.

[CajunFun]

That's what I'm hearing. And that's what I'm hoping! A lot of signs are pointing towards a positive season. I agree with you that the crowd does have an impact on the players. Whether or not it should, it does. How's KP doing? Looking forward to seeing him rack up some pancakes (and I'm not talking about IHOP!). Are you going to the Fan Day on Sunday?

Geaux Cajuns!!!

Thanks, Mandy.

So basically, you guys are agreeing with me, right?

The reason money and seated butts are important, is because of the impact it has on the players' mindset.

So teamwork and the players' attitudes are #1. Because we have seen over and over, if a team can somehow generate the right attitude, without fine uniforms and fancy equipment, and without a big crowd, they beat teams that have the money, but not the mental; teams who have the appearances, but not the attitudes.

The team's attitude, teamwork, character, is #1. We need to insure that everything we do supports that. So what we can do, is insure that everything we do-- and say-- supports teamwork and the players' attitudes.

Which means it's not enough to give money & show up at games, if you have a "fair-weather fan" attitude. For those of you who whine after every loss, and after every disappointing season, you're hurting us.

That's the bottom line, the THP: your money and attendance aren't enough to offset your negativity.

[CajunFun]

Which comes first? Do someone's donations and attendance give them the right to whine?

Or does the negativity more than offset the money and the crowds?

You all know very much why I'm asking... who we do NOT want to become.

It's an important question. It's a question about who we are, what we value, and where we want to go.

[DestinCajun]

Which comes first? Do someone's donations and attendance give them the right to whine?

Or does the negativity more than offset the money and the crowds?

You all know very much why I'm asking... who we do NOT want to become.

It's an important question. It's a question about who we are, what we value, and where we want to go. _

I went with "A" and I'm sticking with "A" because it is how we can help build a foundation for success for athletes who select UL as their university. It's a first the horse and then the cart POV. That's the context in which I looked at the two (and the only two) options offered.

I don't see "donating, buying tickets and attending games" as any sort of right to just whine but, versus the folks who do none of those things, I do feel donors, buyers and game attendees are entitled to constructively criticize the administration and operation of our athletic program.

[ShowDog]

_ Which is more important for on-field success? _

It's a combination of a lot of things and they all have to be hitting on all cylinders. Financial support/fan support/great coaching/top-notch recruits/ someone who knows how to market our product/great facilities/and outside perception that we have a program to be emulated.

I don't think we have one of these segments to the degree it ought to be. IMOHO-I think we've let the best name in sports be undiscovered by the most pitiful marketing group in college athletics. More people know who Slippery Rock is than they know who we are.

[DrumRoll]

A desire to do what is required...

By the fans...

By the Administration...

By the staff...

By the players...

All of the effort and cohesiveness on the planet is not going to help someone armed with a toothpick to kill an elephant, so without the proper tools, you are lost...

Conversely, an F-18 is not going to be much use to a second grader in a dirt clod fight if he cannot fly it, so without the proper knowledge and know how, you are lost...

The one thing that a fan wakes up every morning and decides for himself, is what his or her attitude will be...

It does not matter what the question is about the program, rest assured, that attitude will be the reason...for the good and the bad!

[NOCajun]

A desire to do what is required...

By the fans...

By the Administration...

By the staff...

By the players...

All of the effort and cohesiveness on the planet is not going to help someone armed with a toothpick to kill an elephant, so without the proper tools, you are lost...

Conversely, an F-18 is not going to be much use to a second grader in a dirt clod fight if he cannot fly it, so without the proper knowledge and know how, you are lost...

The one thing that a fan wakes up every morning and decides for himself, is what his or her attitude will be...

It does not matter what the question is about the program, rest assured, that attitude will be the reason...for the good and the bad!

I can honestly say I think we see these very things happpening RIGHT NOW.