UL signs star Houston RB

[Just1More]

We have a lot of Louisiana and local kids on our football team. Our stands would be filled moreso by a greater football program, than by the reduced cumulative mileage from the center of Lafayette to each kid's parent's house. Oh... and "Acadiana" has stretched thru east Texas into Houston... so you might as well get used to it. Welcome again Yobes!

We do need to recruit better locally (original Acadiana). But, that has a whole lot more to do with the actual success of and the perception of our football program. It's an age old misconception that our coaching staff does not focus on the key local talent. NOT TRUE. We have a local issue we need to overcome. On one end, we aren't always the pick of a preferred local kid... and the rest, much to the disagreement of many, are not good enough.

One of my coworkers over here in BR is a UL grad, originally from Kaplan. He isn't a fan of UL. I asked him why he doesn't care for UL football. He said, real agitated, that UL didn't recruit him out of HS for football and that he was really, really good. I asked him who did recruit him. His answer: "nobody... but I was good enough to play for U S L". Always amazes me... but I guess it happens everywhere.

[CajunT]

_ We have a lot of Louisiana and local kids on our football team. Our stands would be filled moreso by a greater football program, than by the reduced cumulative mileage from the center of Lafayette to each kid's parent's house. Oh... and "Acadiana" has stretched thru east Texas into Houston... so you might as well get used to it. Welcome again Yobes!

We do need to recruit better locally (original Acadiana). But, that has a whole lot more to do with the actual success of and the perception of our football program. It's an age old misconception that our coaching staff does not focus on the key local talent. NOT TRUE. We have a local issue we need to overcome. On one end, we aren't always the pick of a preferred local kid... and the rest, much to the disagreement of many, are not good enough.

One of my coworkers over here in BR is a UL grad, originally from Kaplan. He isn't a fan of UL. I asked him why he doesn't care for UL football. He said, real agitated, that UL didn't recruit him out of HS for football and that he was really, really good. I asked him who did recruit him. His answer: "nobody... but I was good enough to play for U S L". Always amazes me... but I guess it happens everywhere. _

Unfortunately, that is more common then people think. There are some local coaches as well that get upset because UL didn't offer some of their athletes. But you later learn these athletes sign with programs like Ark. Montecello, Louisiana College, Southern or even prefrerred walk-ons at McNeese St. But the Cajun staff was expected to give these athletes scholarships.

[DestinCajun]

Unfortunately, that is more common then people think. There are some local coaches as well that get upset because UL didn't offer some of their athletes. But you later learn these athletes sign with programs like Ark. Montecello, Louisiana College, Southern or even prefrerred walk-ons at McNeese St. But the Cajun staff was expected to give these athletes scholarships.

There is no explaining some people's mindset.

I recall hearing complaints that Dale Brown did not recruit enough local players. Didn't seem to matter that there weren't enough Dwayne Scales and Shaq O'Neals locally to take the LaState program where Brown took it.

[Hammer58]

_ We have a lot of Louisiana and local kids on our football team. Our stands would be filled moreso by a greater football program, than by the reduced cumulative mileage from the center of Lafayette to each kid's parent's house. Oh... and "Acadiana" has stretched thru east Texas into Houston... so you might as well get used to it. Welcome again Yobes!

We do need to recruit better locally (original Acadiana). But, that has a whole lot more to do with the actual success of and the perception of our football program. It's an age old misconception that our coaching staff does not focus on the key local talent. NOT TRUE. We have a local issue we need to overcome. On one end, we aren't always the pick of a preferred local kid... and the rest, much to the disagreement of many, are not good enough.

One of my coworkers over here in BR is a UL grad, originally from Kaplan. He isn't a fan of UL. I asked him why he doesn't care for UL football. He said, real agitated, that UL didn't recruit him out of HS for football and that he was really, really good. I asked him who did recruit him. His answer: "nobody... but I was good enough to play for U S L". Always amazes me... but I guess it happens everywhere. _

And what team is he a fan of? Think he sees the contridiction of being fan of a school that not only did not recruit him but that he never attended while not being a fan of his alma mater because they didn't recruit him?

[Boomer]

I am about half way on Slam-Dunked-----Denny Wright hasn't been mentioned as the reason for UL's success yet--Definitely not a knock on Denny --but to have more Ohioans starting than those from Louisiana and before more from Tenn and Kent. then La.---Same story--Love to win with the locals but better to win with the out of staters than lose with the locals.

[Just1More]

_ And what team is he a fan of? Think he sees the contridiction of being fan of a school that not only did not recruit him but that he never attended while not being a fan of his alma mater because they didn't recruit him? _

He's a fan of where 2 of his children attend (Texas, U of). I know a huge number of dormant UL folks... I don't believe you can make them a fan of something thru guilt... they will fill the empty seats when we provide them a better product to root for. It's the law of the fan pyramid... loyalty only fills up the upper 5%. But, when we hit the prime time, I'm welcoming them all back like they were always there.

My point was about his belief that he should have been entitled to serious consideration by U S L because he was local, wanted to play for them, and was "real good" in high school.

[Hammer58]

_ He's a fan of where 2 of his children attend (Texas, U of). I know a huge number of dormant UL folks... I don't believe you can make them a fan of something thru guilt... they will fill the empty seats when we provide them a better product to root for. It's the law of the fan pyramid... loyalty only fills up the upper 5%. But, when we hit the prime time, I'm welcoming them all back like they were always there.

My point was about his belief that he should have been entitled to serious consideration by U S L because he was local, wanted to play for them, and was "real good" in high school. _

I understand your point about not being able to guilt them into support (although that doesn't stop me from trying it with the lapsed fans I know ). I just find that with his logic of not supporting a team because they didn't recruit him should, when carried out to its logical conclusion, eliminate him as a fan of any college team. But logic doesn't enter into the equation when it comes to being a sports fan.

[RaginFan2]

I understand your point about not being able to guilt them into support (although that doesn't stop me from trying it with the lapsed fans I know ). I just find that with his logic of not supporting a team because they didn't recruit him should, when carried out to its logical conclusion, eliminate him as a fan of any college team. But logic doesn't enter into the equation when it comes to being a sports fan.

Amen!

[MetryCajun]

_ Unfortunately, that is more common then people think. There are some local coaches as well that get upset because UL didn't offer some of their athletes. But you later learn these athletes sign with programs like Ark. Montecello, Louisiana College, Southern or even prefrerred walk-ons at McNeese St. But the Cajun staff was expected to give these athletes scholarships. _

One final thougt on this subject. I think our poor play strenghtens this type of sentiment. I am sure there are guys in the stands watching corners get burned, LB's get run over or WR drop passes and say to themselves...I'm better than that guy. In some cases he might be. As a low level D1A team we have to take chances on people. Some of those chances don't pay off. It has got to be tough as a coach to decide who gets those final 5-7 scholarships. Often times I bet it is decided not on athletic ability, but an inch or a few pounds.

[Zeebart21]

_ One final thougt on this subject. I think our poor play strenghtens this type of sentiment. I am sure there are guys in the stands watching corners get burned, LB's get run over or WR drop passes and say to themselves...I'm better than that guy. In some cases he might be. As a low level D1A team we have to take chances on people. Some of those chances don't pay off. It has got to be tough as a coach to decide who gets those final 5-7 scholarships. Often times I bet it is decided not on athletic ability, but an inch or a few pounds. _

You're back. When do we start building board roads in ANWAR?

Z