Notes from Coach Robichaux interview on the Cajun Redzone Show

[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?????

[Rebel02]

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.

Sounds like your beef is with ESPN, not with Farmer.

[CajunRebel]

It would be nice if ESPN had a desire to throw up softball questions for Athletic Directors, but that's evidently not the case. Also, I would have to imagine the NCAA, who owned the rights to the regional and pushes for "neutrality" in their tournaments and broadcasts, wouldn't be okay with it either.

The softball interviews we do get only come with games that either we or the Sun Belt own the rights to. In these cases, the broadcaster tends to be much more accommodating.

[Cajun90]

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?????

And since this is an NCAA event I'd bet money that they aren't going to let that happen. They certainly limit a lot of things that you normally do in your stadium and I would imagine allowing a host institution air time to pimp their program is a big no no.

[moorecajun]

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.

They were already at double capacity in their duck blind ... no room for anyone else!

Kind of kidding there but you get the point. We have what we have and we know what we need to do. An interview isn't going to help that, unless you think someone watching the game is ready and willing to step up. I think those people were already around the Tigue.

[CajunT]

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...

Just for the record, AD's speak at half times all the time. When Dr. Savoie and Scott Farmer held the ground breaking ceromony on the Tuesday night ESPN game, they televised it because the producer and the production crew were told that is was planned and they agreed to do it. So it's not exactly true that you have to be invited, but you certainly just can't walk into the both with your own agenda. Now, I agree it really didn't matter if Scott Farmer or any one else spoke about the need of a new facility, everyone could see it on national television or read the comments from the media every day.

The larger picture is that Cajun supporters and alumni help address this need ASAP because it's not going to get done without people stepping up and donating. And this is where a full time Fundraiser for RCAF is critical, because Farmer has his hands full now with the RCAF General Fund and addressing the many other criteria of his job.

[CajunRage]

Just for the record, AD's speak at half times all the time. When Dr. Savoie and Scott Farmer held the ground breaking ceromony on the Tuesday night ESPN game, they televised it because the producer and the production crew were told that is was planned and they agreed to do it. So it's not exactly true that you have to be invited, but you certainly just can't walk into the both with your own agenda. Now, I agree it really didn't matter if Scott Farmer or any one else spoke about the need of a new facility, everyone could see it on national television or read the comments from the media every day.

The larger picture is that Cajun supporters and alumni help address this need ASAP because it's not going to get done without people stepping up and donating. And this is where a full time Fundraiser for RCAF is critical, because Farmer has his hands full now with the RCAF General Fund and addressing the many other criteria of his job.

The point is that according to a lot of people, it's Farmer's fault that it rained today. No rhyme or reason. Just anything bad is his fault. I got news for you people. Farmer and T-Joe aren't going anywhere. We are heading in the right direction. Bringing up old ____ and blaming every single thing that goes wrong along the way on them doesn't do anyone any good. You are actually hurting the university as prospective students and athletes get to this site by googling "ragin cajuns" and clicking on the 2nd highest link in the results.