Warning: more name stuff

[Just1More]

ULGrad@HOU and I made the trip in 1984 to the state capital as well. Knowing the history and circumstances of the name are important. We did get the name changed to "UL" by the people in charge of doing so at the time. That is our claim to "UL". It was done and it was legal. That situation did not happen to ULM or anyone else... it was our legacy and despite having processed and accepted "UL-Lafayette" as the legal name, we see no reason to use the complete name as many other universities use shorter versions of their official names when they desire to do so.

"We" did not change our name. The governing system we applied to granted our name change. Those who did not like us having the name UL (granted due to academic success and size of the university comparatively) leaned on their state representatives who changed the law and rescended the name change by retroactive application of the new law. And it wasn't a surprise to me that we did not win the state lawsuit.

When the UL System and naming conventions were created, we went thru the required steps to get our official name changed to U of L at L. We abide by the legal name where it explicitly states we must... but the reason for sticking to the "UL" shortened version when and where we can, is perfectly understandable when you know the history. We will stick to the shortened version and it does not matter if there are conflicts at times.

If we get our athletic system act together... it would make it much easier to clear up our name request in regional and national circles. Other than those passionately connected to other Louisiana institutions, if we achieve sustained major sports athletic success, there are few reasons that "UL" will not become much more common on regional and national coverage opportunities (we just need to capitalize on those opportunities).

[CajunCanaille]

Can we just go back to USL and ULM go back to NLU and end all of this ridiculous name crap. I to hate being called UL_L or UL Lafayette. I know it won't happen but going back to USL would end it all. I loved that name.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Can we just go back to USL and ULM go back to NLU and end all of this ridiculous name crap. I to hate being called UL_L or UL Lafayette. I know it won't happen but going back to USL would end it all. I loved that name. _

Many thought changing from Southwestern Louisiana to South Louisiana was still too regional a name. Given the success of schools like East Carolina, S. Mississippi, South Florida, and Central Florida, keeping USL as the University of South Louisiana might not have been too bad. It is at least a clearer identity than our current hyphenated national identity, as you pointed out. But, we will not go back to USL. Looks like we will have to find a way to make UL and Louisiana our athletically recognized name.

[CajunCanaille]

_ Many thought changing from Southwestern Louisiana to South Louisiana was still too regional a name. Given the success of schools like East Carolina, S. Mississippi, South Florida, and Central Florida, keeping USL as the University of South Louisiana might not have been too bad. It is at least a clearer identity than our current hyphenated national identity, as you pointed out. But, we will not go back to USL. Looks like we will have to find a way to make UL and Louisiana our athletically recognized name. _

Actually, it looks like we will have to suffer and continue using UL_L for years to come while continuously fighting for the use of UL as well as constantly commenting in name threads on RaginPagin.

[Cajunsmike]

_ FYI,
U L already has national respect in Computer science(top50), nursing(top10)architecture(top10), Moody Shcool of Business(top300) and the Masters program in Biology is tops in La. Notwithstanding, a tier two academic standing, which according to SREB is the same as Ole Miss, Miss state, and Alabama.
Very good for an underfunded University! _

We also have one of only 19 petroleum engineering degree programs in the country. Obviously, it is one of quality due in large part to the support of the local industry.

[CajunFun]

_ We weren't set up.

Getting another school to change with us was the only way lsu and their lapdogs(tech,mcneese,etc,) would allow it to pass.

The fact that our name fight is hampered by having ULM in the same conference means absolutely nothing to the people who got the name change through.

They only wanted the name change for academic purposes, and it has served us well in that area. Trust me when I say that they couldn't care less about any difficulties we are having now in the athletic realm due to our name issue. _

CN,

I'd like to offer some corrections, because it's important to realize the lay of the land. In some ways, the old problems are still with us, and we have to recognize them in order to deal with them effectively.

McNeese & the others weren't LSU lap-dogs. That's not the problem.

I have one of those big maps of Louisiana hanging in my home, printed in 1960. There are only 3 public universities: LSU, SU, and USL. Everyone else was a college. But after we changed our name, there was a scramble for the other schools to do the same thing.

We got a research park. UNO & LSU followed suit; but most of them didn't.

We made Doc II. UNO and Tech moved up after us, but most of them didn't.

When we went to 1A, Tech & ULM followed a few years later, but most of them didn't.

Next, you need to know that the NCAA investigation of 1973 was very much supported by the other schools in the SLC. We had a Top 10 basketball program, they didn't.

Then, when we went 1A in 1981, we asked the SLC if we could remain in all other sports except football. "Hell no," they said. "Get out."

But when Tech went 1A a few years later? The SLC let them stay in for all sports but football.

When ULM went 1A a few years after that? Same thing.

Now, look at some of the fans of Louisiana SLC schools today: they frequently come on our boards trying to tell us that we are fooling ourselves, wasting our time in 1A, we'll never succeed, and we should drop back to 1AA and re-join the SLC.

Stop and think about that: Why should they care?? It's because the schools in Louisiana have a 'crabs in the barrel' mentality. One tries to crawl out, the others drag him down.

UL has for most of our history aspired to greater things. The other schools do not, they only respond to our initiatives. And Louisiana has traditionally had only two tiers: LSU and everyone else.

So when we grow and move up, it raises a disturbing question with the other schools: "If UL can do it, why can't we?" But they're too afraid to answer, "Maybe we can."

So they try to say instead, "UL can't do it."

That's why they fight us: because they're too afraid to try to follow us.

[HoustonCajun]

_ UL will never be an officially recognized title. The fact of the matter is LSU has been granted Flagship status and unfortunately, at some point in history, LSU's education system decided to move forth by going backwards. To my knowledge, every other state aside from Ohio attaches the University system as the flagship, and the State university system as the second tier.

Ohio is almost setup exactly like Louisiana in that regard. The Ohio State University is the state Flagship, is head of a single Board and is a BCS member of the Big 10. Yet, Ohio University also exists as a member of the MAC along with Kent State and Miami Ohio. The other university is Cincinnati which has now worked its way up to the Big East. Other private schools include Dayton and Case Western. Miami University in 1986 and Ohio State in 2001 were noted as "public ivy" institutions, the state/public equivalent of a private Ivy League institutions. Ohio University's journalism school ranks, with Columbia University's journalism school, as one of the nation's best. Ohio State and Ohio University certainly co-exist nicely along with other accomplished universities and there is no question which is both the Flagship and BCS program.

Why can't that exist in Louisiana? LSU is the Flagship and only BCS school in the SEC. UL, ULM and LA Tech exist in the SBC and WAC, much like the MAC. Tulane is in C-USA. There is absolutely no reason the University of Louisiana cannot exist in Louisiana without detracting from LSU's status as the 1st Tier school. Just ask The Ohio State University how that is working out for them. There is no reason for LSU to fight this.

Likewise, there is no identity problem with the names. In Texas, there is Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech and UTEP, UTA, and UTSA. Am I leaving any out? Texas A&M constantly refers to itself as the Texas Aggies, dropping the A&M. Still no problem. There is no confusing, LSU, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and ULM. Its too bad ULM doesn't go the Louisiana A&M route to solve the name issue. Then, we would be almost identical to Texas. No one confuses any of those schools.

[MakoMaker]

Trust me when I say that they couldn't care less about any difficulties we are having now in the athletic realm due to our name issue. _

I just have to roll my eyes at this. Total garbage.

As far as the being known 'nationally' as UL...won't happen. Ever. Louisville has it tied up and ESPN and the others wouldn't allow it to be an issue. We need to go back to USL and be done with it.

[CajunNation]

I just have to roll my eyes at this. Total garbage.

As far as the being known 'nationally' as UL...won't happen. Ever. Louisville has it tied up and ESPN and the others wouldn't allow it to be an issue. We need to go back to USL and be done with it.

Open your eyes, dude.

Louisville has it "tied up"? What the heck does that mean? I didn't know a school can claim ownersip of alphabets.

I have seen several channels use the letters USC when describing the Trojans and the Gamecocks.

I have seen ESPN use UT when referencing Texas, Tennessee, and Toledo... in the same season.

For someone who uses "we" when discussing the Cajuns, you sure think an awful lot like a tank topper.

[CajunSaint]

_ Ohio is almost setup exactly like Louisiana in that regard. The Ohio State University is the state Flagship, is head of a single Board and is a BCS member of the Big 10. Yet, Ohio University also exists as a member of the MAC along with Kent State and Miami Ohio. The other university is Cincinnati which has now worked its way up to the Big East. Other private schools include Dayton and Case Western. Miami University in 1986 and Ohio State in 2001 were noted as "public ivy" institutions, the state/public equivalent of a private Ivy League institutions. Ohio University's journalism school ranks, with Columbia University's journalism school, as one of the nation's best. Ohio State and Ohio University certainly co-exist nicely along with other accomplished universities and there is no question which is both the Flagship and BCS program.

Why can't that exist in Louisiana? LSU is the Flagship and only BCS school in the SEC. UL, ULM and LA Tech exist in the SBC and WAC, much like the MAC. Tulane is in C-USA. There is absolutely no reason the University of Louisiana cannot exist in Louisiana without detracting from LSU's status as the 1st Tier school. Just ask The Ohio State University how that is working out for them. There is no reason for LSU to fight this.

Likewise, there is no identity problem with the names. In Texas, there is Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech and UTEP, UTA, and UTSA. Am I leaving any out? Texas A&M constantly refers to itself as the Texas Aggies, dropping the A&M. Still no problem. There is no confusing, LSU, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and ULM. Its too bad ULM doesn't go the Louisiana A&M route to solve the name issue. Then, we would be almost identical to Texas. No one confuses any of those schools. _

it's interesting to note that the co-existence you mention in ohio has produced nationally recognized excellence in several of their institutions, ohio st., ohio, and even kent st. with its excellent humanities studies. this is a model of co-existence that works to benefit more than one university in their state. granted, the population difference plays some role in this because it affects funding through taxes, etc. their "flagship" actually leads an able-bodied fleet. ours, because of petty bickering and protectionism, doesn't lead by example as much as it bullies and intimidates to protect its position at the top- much to the detriment of the entire higher ed. system of our state.(not the only reason we have problems in that area: funding, too may 4 year univ., legislative interference, on and on.) your points on the situation in texas with the names is well-taken. geaux THE University of Louisiana. i think i'll have a bumper sticker made with that on it.

[ULtimateCajun]

_ it's interesting to note that the co-existence you mention in ohio has produced nationally recognized excellence in several of their institutions, ohio st., ohio, and even kent st. with its excellent humanities studies. this is a model of co-existence that works to benefit more than one university in their state. granted, the population difference plays some role in this because it affects funding through taxes, etc. their "flagship" actually leads an able-bodied fleet. ours, because of petty bickering and protectionism, doesn't lead by example as much as it bullies and intimidates to protect its position at the top- much to the detriment of the entire higher ed. system of our state.(not the only reason we have problems in that area: funding, too may 4 year univ., legislative interference, on and on.) your points on the situation in texas with the names is well-taken. geaux THE University of Louisiana. i think i'll have a bumper sticker made with that on it. _

Very good point. What is so wrong with Universities playing nice with each other? Instead of having one good school, why not have 2 or 3? It could only improve the state. I never understood this big brother little brother model that seems to be the norm in this state. What benefit is it to LSU for UL to not succeed?

[CajunRed]

_ I just have to roll my eyes at this. Total garbage.

As far as the being known 'nationally' as UL...won't happen. Ever. Louisville has it tied up and ESPN and the others wouldn't allow it to be an issue. We need to go back to USL and be done with it. _

Wow... spoken like a true fan.