Notes from Coach Robichaux interview on the Cajun Redzone Show

[HoustonCajun]

Coach Robichaux interviewed with me tonight on the Cajun Redzone and here are some of the notes from the show. I won’t spend anytime reviewing his comments from the championship game because his comments have been noted in interviews the past few days.

On the subject of facilities: He mentioned that the national coverage of the team and regionals has changed the conversation on the facilities and the needs of investing into the program. To that point, I mentioned that the over flow crowds and the number of fans watching the game outside the stadium in fact only increased the awareness that the investment is needed. He stated that “The new facilities are needed and the fans, former players and supporters deserve better.”

Finishing in the Top 10 in Attendance: We have some of the best fans in the country and they’ve been attending games in large numbers for some time now. There is no doubt that our fans have shown a new stadium would be not be an empty field.

2015 Schedule: Coach said that they will have to season a very young team early on the road opening the season at U. Texas San Antonio, Stony Brook at home and Alabama on the road. The Cajuns will also play LSU in the Wally Pontiff Classic in New Orleans next season. The Cajuns will also host South Alabama, Arkansas State, Troy, ULM, UALR and App. State or Georgia Southern. In 2016, the Cajuns will return to the Minute Maid Classic College Tournament in Houston.

On who is returning at this point: On Michael Strentz possibly returning, Coach stated that he believes that some team will come in late and offer Strentz money to sign as a free agent similar to what happened to Dex Kjerstad last season. This is how he broke down the roster for the fall and competition at each position.

Pitching
Returning

LHP Conner Toups- Coach said that he believes Toups could have a breakout season in 2015.
LHP Riley Cooper
RHP Martin Anderson
RHP Hayden Guidry
RHP Chris Charpentier
RHP Nick Zaunbrecher
RHP Trace Guidry
RHP Regan Bazar

New Signees

LHP Gunner Leger- 17-0, 1.55 ERA
LHP Trey Jeans
LHP Ty Ewart
RHP Wyatt Marks
RHP Harrison Fife
RHP Evan Guillory
RHP Alex Shelton
RHP Orynn Veillon
RHP Blaine Suehs
RHP Colton Lee

Note: Dylan Moore RHP has not signed his papers…did not discuss

Catchers
L/R Nick Thurman
R/R Evan Powell
R/R Logan Stoelke

1st Base
R/R Greg Davis
R/R Joe Trahan
L/L Gunner Leger

2nd Base
R/R Joe Robbins
R/R Stefan Trosclair

SS
R/R Blake Trahan

3rd Base
L/R Brenn Conrad
R/R Kennon Fontenot - .489 BA/21 HRs/69 RBI

Outfield
R/R Adam Angelle
R/R Dylan Butler
L/R Kyle Clement
L/L Nolan Brown
R/R Brian Mills
R/R Cole Jackson
R/R Derek Herrington
R/R Orynn Vellion


Recruiting Class- Coach agreed with me that this class is very athletic and the pitchers have stature. They wanted to sign athletes that were similar to what we’ve had the past two seasons and that is the model they are following. This group isn’t as physical yet because they have been in the weight and conditioning program for one year yet, but they have the potential to be that type of players.

Coach said the fall will be critical to see which athletes are willing to buy into the offseason program and each returning player was asked if they were on board with doing that again because those are the guys that will be setting the example for the younger kids. He said last year 90% committed to toughening out the program and those that didn’t were not in the program.

These are just a few notes, we didn’t have him for an hour. Jay will have coach longer tomorrow, so I’m sure he will have a few more details. I didn’t type his comments about some of the young athletes because it’s so late, but we talked about a hand full in detail.

While our facility looked good on tv, ESPN announcers talked about being located in a duck blind kept together with duct tape. Sports writers talked about how bad an area they had to work in. Seems to me a great opportunity was lost by Farmer in not getting on TV or at least presenting information to the announcers about our Master Plan, commenting on knowing that our facility is outdated and that in the next couple of years we expect to build a new stadium seating 7,000 or whatever. Putting some kind of bandaid on our facility perception could have been done. With 3 days of national TV exposure, not hearing from our AD on our successes and how we are growing our fanbase, our funding, our facilities, and moving to another level was a major opportunity lost, IMO.

[CajunRage]

While our facility looked good on tv, ESPN announcers talked about being located in a duck blind kept together with duct tape. Sports writers talked about how bad an area they had to work in. Seems to me a great opportunity was lost by Farmer in not getting on TV or at least presenting information to the announcers about our Master Plan, commenting on knowing that our facility is outdated and that in the next couple of years we expect to build a new stadium seating 7,000 or whatever. Putting some kind of bandaid on our facility perception could have been done. With 3 days of national TV exposure, not hearing from our AD on our successes and how we are growing our fanbase, our funding, our facilities, and moving to another level was a major opportunity lost, IMO.

Of course you fail to mention the best atmosphere and fanbase they've ever seen. It's ok though, Farmer sucks. Blah blah blah. What other AD spoke on camera with ESPN over the past two weekends? The answer is easy. NONE. It's all Farmers fault though...

[Duggie35]

I think it is safe to assume that ESPN didn't give Farmer a mic and tell him to use it as necessary and jump in front of a camera anytime he felt the urge to do so!

[ManAboutTown]

Information on Carson Baranik T?

[CajunT]

I believe that Southern Miss comes to Lafayette next year as well.

Jay answered the question below, no Southern Miss for the next two years.

[CajunT]

Information on Carson Baranik T?

Carson wasn't mentioned as coming back.

[CajunT]

Coach Robichaux interviewed with me tonight on the Cajun Redzone and here are some of the notes from the show. I won’t spend anytime reviewing his comments from the championship game because his comments have been noted in interviews the past few days.

On the subject of facilities: He mentioned that the national coverage of the team and regionals has changed the conversation on the facilities and the needs of investing into the program. To that point, I mentioned that the over flow crowds and the number of fans watching the game outside the stadium in fact only increased the awareness that the investment is needed. He stated that “The new facilities are needed and the fans, former players and supporters deserve better.”

Finishing in the Top 10 in Attendance: We have some of the best fans in the country and they’ve been attending games in large numbers for some time now. There is no doubt that our fans have shown a new stadium would be not be an empty field.

2015 Schedule: Coach said that they will have to season a very young team early on the road opening the season at U. Texas San Antonio, Stony Brook at home and Alabama on the road. The Cajuns will also play LSU in the Wally Pontiff Classic in New Orleans next season. The Cajuns will also host South Alabama, Arkansas State, Troy, ULM, UALR and App. State or Georgia Southern. In 2016, the Cajuns will return to the Minute Maid Classic College Tournament in Houston.

On who is returning at this point: On Michael Strentz possibly returning, Coach stated that he believes that some team will come in late and offer Strentz money to sign as a free agent similar to what happened to Dex Kjerstad last season. This is how he broke down the roster for the fall and competition at each position.

Pitching
Returning

LHP Conner Toups- Coach said that he believes Toups could have a breakout season in 2015.
LHP Riley Cooper
RHP Martin Anderson
RHP Hayden Guidry
RHP Chris Charpentier
RHP Nick Zaunbrecher
RHP Trace Guidry
RHP Regan Bazar

New Signees

LHP Gunner Leger- 17-0, 1.55 ERA
LHP Trey Jeans
LHP Ty Ewart
RHP Wyatt Marks
RHP Harrison Fife
RHP Evan Guillory
RHP Alex Shelton
RHP Orynn Veillon
RHP Blaine Suehs
RHP Colton Lee
RHP Logan Stoelke

Note: Dylan Moore RHP has not signed his papers…did not discuss

Catchers
L/R Nick Thurman
R/R Evan Powell
R/R Brock Kenner

1st Base
R/R Greg Davis
R/R Joe Trahan
L/L Gunner Leger

2nd Base
R/R Joe Robbins
R/R Stefan Trosclair

SS
R/R Blake Trahan

3rd Base
L/R Brenn Conrad
R/R Kennon Fontenot - .489 BA/21 HRs/69 RBI

Outfield
R/R Adam Angelle
R/R Dylan Butler
L/R Kyle Clement
L/L Nolan Brown
R/R Brian Mills
R/R Cole Jackson
R/R Derek Herrington
R/R Orynn Vellion


Recruiting Class- Coach agreed with me that this class is very athletic and the pitchers have stature. They wanted to sign athletes that were similar to what we’ve had the past two seasons and that is the model they are following. This group isn’t as physical yet because they have been in the weight and conditioning program for one year yet, but they have the potential to be that type of players.

Coach said the fall will be critical to see which athletes are willing to buy into the offseason program and each returning player was asked if they were on board with doing that again because those are the guys that will be setting the example for the younger kids. He said last year 90% committed to toughening out the program and those that didn’t were not in the program.

These are just a few notes, we didn’t have him for an hour. Jay will have coach longer tomorrow, so I’m sure he will have a few more details. I didn’t type his comments about some of the young athletes because it’s so late, but we talked about a hand full in detail.

Corrected one omission, Catcher Brock Kenner

[HoustonCajun]

Of course you fail to mention the best atmosphere and fanbase they've ever seen. It's ok though, Farmer sucks. Blah blah blah. What other AD spoke on camera with ESPN over the past two weekends? The answer is easy. NONE. It's all Farmers fault though...

The atmosphere and fanbase were obviously great and the announcers said so. Our facility, however, wasn't great and they said that too. In over 10 hours of prime air time, a 2 minute interview with Farmer could have been done. They do it at football games, surely could have been done at at least one of the 3 baseball games is all I am saying. Did you watch every game on TV to make that statement? Every other stadium I saw was not as outdated as ours and didn't take the media criticism we did on it. It was an opportunity to help improve the facility perception to go along with the accolades for fanbase and atmosphere.

[jumboragncajun]

Wow. That is 38 not including the unsigned guy, Baranik and Milhorn (if they return).

[BirdofParadise]

The atmosphere and fanbase were obviously great and the announcers said so. Our facility, however, wasn't great and they said that too. In over 10 hours of prime air time, a 2 minute interview with Farmer could have been done. They do it at football games, surely could have been done at at least one of the 3 baseball games is all I am saying. Did you watch every game on TV to make that statement? Every other stadium I saw was not as outdated as ours and didn't take the media criticism we did on it. It was an opportunity to help improve the facility perception to go along with the accolades for fanbase and atmosphere.

We get it. But do you get the fact in order for that to happen, you would need an INVITATION to come on and talk about it?????