University of Louisiana Snubbed

[MetryCajun]

_ Well from what I see your nuggets of wisdom are no better than anyone else's. I am just saying quit depending on winning a certain number of games because as we all can see you get screwed any way. From some of the things you have written you seem to only hang your hat on the magical 6 wins oh big deal 6-6 means average. _

If you knew me you would know I am pretty cynical fan. I have been watching Cajun games for 20+ years. Almost all of those years I have seen bad football. The team this year was one of the best I have seen during this time. Before our QB got hurt ,we were a legitimate d1A team. Post injury we were just another mid-major trying to scrape by.
With the talent we have 5 to 7 wins is all we are capable of getting right now. Nick Saban would be hard pressed to get more than 7 wins with our talent.
Bustle's biggest weakness has not been on Saturdays, but on the recruiting trail. This is the first Senior class he has produced that has any NFL aspirations. Until we recruit better, 5-7 wins seasons are what we can realistically obtain.
Does this make me happy? Hell no, but until we get or Athletic department in order we will probably stay where we are, no matter who our coach is.

[Cajunsmike]

_ How much easier does our schedule need to get? We already have one of the easiest. _

One of the issues we faced this year with the schedule was only five home games. We went 4 and 1 at home this year. We also had only three home conference games. Finally, we played a complete 1A schedule. Many of the teams with 7 wins had a victory over an FCS team.

[MetryCajun]

_ One of the issues we faced this year with the schedule was only five home games. We went 4 and 1 at home this year. We also had only three home conference games. Finally, we played a complete 1A schedule. Many of the teams with 7 wins had a victory over an FCS team. _

Mike,
Put our schedule next to Troy's and FAU's. We had it easy. Yesterday and today have been tough.

[tdncz]

How, how does FAU go to a bowl at 6-6, and UL with an explosive, nationally ranked offense not?
Regardless, get Savoy on board for football, rid us of Bust-(always a bust never a treasure)-le, hire some one on their way up, PAY him, and let's try this again next year (only been saying THAT for 26 years now).

Mike,
Put our schedule next to Troy's and FAU's. We had it easy. Yesterday and today have been tough.

igeaux.mobi

[GoneGolfin]

Texas Bowl media relations director Zac Emmons told The Daily Advertiser on Friday that the Cajuns, Notre Dame (6-6) and North Carolina State (6-6) were the top three choices for the game. But Mid-American Conference member Western Michigan (9-3) got the nod because all bowl-eligible teams with winning records, per NCAA rules, had to be placed before any six-win teams.

OK. According to this (if it is to be believed), we can say that the Cajuns were the #3 choice of the Texas Bowl behind Notre Dame and North Carolina State. That is, they preferred the Cajuns over Western Michigan.

"Our selection committee was asked to list order of preference of teams a few days ago," Independence Bowl media relations director Patrick Meehan wrote via e-mail. "Notre Dame was first, North Carolina State was second, Western Michigan was third, Northern Illinois was fourth and Arkansas State and (UL) tied at the bottom of the order.

If the Independence Bowl really had Western Michigan at the top of their list (with Notre Dame and NC State being gone), certainly it could have been easy for them to work a deal with the Texas Bowl for a team the Texas Bowl supposedly did not want to take (behind UL in preference) in Western Michigan, which would have freed UL for the Texas Bowl since Western Michigan (at 7-5) had a home per NCAA rules.

It looks to me as if Rice did not want to play UL and may have voiced that concern to the Texas Bowl. This forced the Texas Bowl to relent and take Western Michigan.

Brian

[CajunZ1]

_ It looks to me as if Rice did not want to play UL and may have voiced that concern to the Texas Bowl. This forced the Texas Bowl to relent and take Western Michigan.

I'll buy that. But don't you think the Texas Bowl would want to sell more tickets rather than placate Rice? I dunno...

[GoneGolfin]

I'll buy that. But don't you think the Texas Bowl would want to sell more tickets rather than placate Rice? I dunno...

Rice may have threatened to bolt. That would have really damaged ticket sales.

Brian

[rcarte3]

_ If you knew me you would know I am pretty cynical fan. I have been watching Cajun games for 20+ years. Almost all of those years I have seen bad football. The team this year was one of the best I have seen during this time. Before our QB got hurt ,we were a legitimate d1A team. Post injury we were just another mid-major trying to scrape by.
With the talent we have 5 to 7 wins is all we are capable of getting right now. Nick Saban would be hard pressed to get more than 7 wins with our talent.
Bustle's biggest weakness has not been on Saturdays, but on the recruiting trail. This is the first Senior class he has produced that has any NFL aspirations. Until we recruit better, 5-7 wins seasons are what we can realistically obtain.
Does this make me happy? Hell no, but until we get or Athletic department in order we will probably stay where we are, no matter who our coach is. _

It's cool and by the way a caller to the Tim Brando show asked why the I-Bowl picked Northern Illinois. Brando who lives in Shreveport stated that the biggest reason is that if they picked ULL to play Tech there would be very few hotel rooms reserved. He said most fans of both schools, ULL and Tech, would drive in the day of the game. He stated that Northern Illinois would bring more fans than people realized and that they would require hotel rooms. He didn't despute that ULL wouldn't sell tickets but that they want to sell hotel rooms too. He also said that they had no choice in who to bring into the game. He didn't explain it real but they could have had NC State but for some reason allowed the PapaJohn's bowl to have them even though the I Bowl got to pick ahead of PapaJohn's. Again he didn't explain it very well but it just goest to show that the smoke filled room is alive and well among the bowls.

[SportsFan]

I think I'll throw my 2 cents in today!

I heard the above mentioned Brando conversation. He is correct. One of the great lies about most bowl games is that they are a "reward" for a good season. No. Bowl games are for bringing tourists into a city and making money for the Chamber of Commerce. That's the real reason they exist. Therefore, the object is to bring in the 2 teams that will bring in 1. the most people for the longest period of time. And 2. the highest ratings in the largest market possible. A Tech/UL game would do neither one of those things for Shreveport. Why did FAU make it? Market size. Howard Shnellenbrger(sp?). It is considered an up and coming program. Sure, the Cajuns had 2 exciting players on offense. but, that was known only to Cajun fans and around the SBC. The bowl committees and TV people have to consider "how will this play in Peoria. or Boise. or Los Angeles and New York. This is all about money. Nothing more. The only promise of a bowl is winning the conference championship. Now, 7-5 helps a lot. A couple of those wins against schools that are known in those above mentioned cities will get notice. beating North Texas, or Ark State won't. Beating Southern Miss, or a BCS school will. It would have to be done consistantly. And, of course, once that starts happening, they won't play you anymore! The "name" problem is meaningless outside of Acadiana. As someone mentioned earlier, if you win, they will know you by your real name. It might be Louisiana. If the program wins, who gives a crap whether it's Louisiana, Louisiana-Lafayette, or ULL. Which, by the way, it should be, ULL. Because of Louisville, it will NEVER be UL on a national stage. NEVER. That's just a reality. USL was original. No other one in the country. Should have become South Louisiana as opposed to Southwestern Louisiana. (see South Florida.) But, the name is not as important as winning.
I know this will draw many nasty replies. Hey, that's part of the deal on these boards. I do not have a dog in this fight either. I enjoy the conversation. These are just observations from a sportsfan outside of Acadiana. I mean no disrespect toward anyone here or at your school. And, I don't expect to change anyone's mind. That's not my purpose. Just wanted to throw in my thoughts. The thoughts of someone not emotionally invested in Louisiana.

[CajunZ1]

USL was original. No other one in the country. Should have become South Louisiana as opposed to Southwestern Louisiana. (see South Florida.) But, the name is not as important as winning.

When we were "USL," we weren't "USL." We were "SW LA"

So while USL may be nice and unique, it wasn't what we were called.

I would have like University of South Louisiana.

But who cares, what's done is done.

[chauncey]

I don't believe many cajun fans would have attended the game and bolted back to Lafayette. Its not about the money, the independence bowl lost money last year with 2 BCS teams. You can't tell me that NIU would have more fans staying in Shreveport than the Cajuns.

[SportsFan]

The University of South Louisiana would have been good. USL. Still unique. No question who you are talking about.

I do believe more fans from south Louisiana would make the trip to Shreveport. But, I also believe NIU fans would stay longer and spend more money. Yes, it is all about money. It may be that the Independance Bowl has gotten tired of losing money.