Tech's Intervention

[DestinCajun]

_ Honest question: In what game did we ever consistently pressure the QB this year (even when we were healthy)? We did get a key sack against Leonard vs. ASU, but I think that was the FIRST one of the night!

I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one. Pressuring the QB is something everyone likes to think they can do, but I never really saw that as our strength, even with healthy LB's. _

Well, maybe my old eyes deceived me but I think our defense made Lancaster of ULM miserable up in Monroe. Not to mention all the field goals they were forced to go for after their offense was stufffed.

The other two that come to mind I saw were Kent and a pretty good team this year in FIU.

The sack on Leonard by McCoy was simply a great play. A player making a huge play.

[DestinCajun]

_ looking for rhyme or reason in media markets, strength of the teams, or ticket sales will only frustrate you. This is very simple...

A former I-Bowl employee is now employed at NIU. He used his connections to get his team in the bowl. Simple as that. _

Whatever. You Latextsers got your wish of no SBC team so live with it. Pretending this game is anything but a pig in a poke is ridiculous.

The icing on the cake so to speak would be an ice storm at kick off.

[rcarte3]

_ It just goes to show you how terrible the perception of UL is. That is the most depressing thing for me.

At the end of the day, a MAC school from N. Illinois that will bring a thousand or so fans is more attractive to a bowl than UL, who would bring 15-20k.

We are the ugliest girl on the dance floor (and we're not dancing). _

I think your estimate of 15 to 20K is pie in the sky. What did you guys average during the sesaon in attendance at home? Granted you would have brought in more fans than NIU will but I find it hard to believe 15,000 or more??? I think you will find in most cases programs similar to ULL bring about half to three fourths of the fans they have at an average home game.

[DestinCajun]

I think your estimate of 15 to 20K is pie in the sky. What did you guys average during the sesaon in attendance at home? Granted you would have brought in more fans than NIU will but I find it hard to believe 15,000 or more??? I think you will find in most cases programs similar to UL bring about half to three fourths of the fans they have at an average home game. _

15 k is what you Latextsers are likely to bring to the bowl game. The TV audience will be maybe 10 households outside the Ruston city limits and the cornfields of Dekalb, Illinois.

[RCAJUN90]

_ I think your estimate of 15 to 20K is pie in the sky. What did you guys average during the sesaon in attendance at home? Granted you would have brought in more fans than NIU will but I find it hard to believe 15,000 or more??? I think you will find in most cases programs similar to UL bring about half to three fourths of the fans they have at an average home game. _

You guys think you landed Notre Dame? NIU will bring about 20 people. Louisiana would have brought about 20,000. Our first bowl game within driving distance?! Enjoy the easy parking, no lines at the bathroom or concessions oh yea GEAUX HUSKIES!!!

[Just1More]

_ looking for rhyme or reason in media markets, strength of the teams, or ticket sales will only frustrate you. This is very simple...

A former I-Bowl employee is now employed at NIU. He used his connections to get his team in the bowl. Simple as that. _

I was convinced that it was hotel room sales and the Chicago media market that did it. A couple of Techsters convinced me that they could not have influenced the Indy Bowl committee... and I started buying it. Now, you are telling me (simplified) that a "former I-Bowl employee" has enough stroke/connections to get "NIU" into this bowl. I think it all played a factor into this decision.

I don't blame the NIU group for doing what they could to get in. I also don't blame Tech for using their influence to exploit their sinful wishes. Dooley is still a tool, and he will put the tool to Tech eventually. I want our administration to learn a valuable lesson and do what it takes to be immune from having this kind of horseshat played on us. Simple as that.

[rcarte3]

_ 15 k is what you Latextsers are likely to bring to the bowl game. The TV audience will be maybe 10 households outside the Ruston city limits and the cornfields of Dekalb, Illinois. _

If you read the orginial quote it was said ULL would bring 15 to 20K. I doubt Tech is bringing more than 10K at best. I am not a Latextser by the way. I don't think ULL would bring more than 10K either. What was your average attendance for a home game 15K? Using ULL logic that means that when LSU plays in the Sugar bowl all 90K plus fans will be at the game. Not true. The tickets are limited to each team no matter what two schools are playing. A lot of tickets are reserved for the people in the hosting city. Granted ULL would bring a lot of folks but I don't believe it would be the average of your home attendance.

[KAjunRaider]

My question is this-- Why did the Cajun Athletics Administration state that they never even received a return phone call from the I-Bowl ?

Apparently, the Cajuns had tried to get in contact with the I-Bowl even before the game on Wednesday.

Would that not have been before NIU had even entered the picture?

I am referencing the "UL Snubbed" article that came out in the Advertiser today.

That points to the I-Bowl would have taken anyone over a 6-6 SBC team.

They would have taken Bowling Green if NIU had gone elsewhere.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article...812080324/1006

Independence Bowl chairman Keith Bergeron and executive director Missy Setters could not be reached via cell phone seeking comment. The Huskies finished fourth in the MAC West Division this season at 5-3. They suffered losses to Minnesota, Western Michigan, Tennessee and Central Michigan by a combined 14 points. NIU's other losses came to Ball State and Navy.

Of those six teams, all but Tennessee advanced to a bowl.

"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.

"That's the best answer I can give why (UL) was not selected."

According to Walker, UL was never seriously considered for the Independence Bowl.

"We were contacted early on by the Texas Bowl, but we never heard anything from the Independence Bowl until I called them last week," Walker said. "We sent them some information, but we never got a return call or anything."

[Bankruptcyman]

_ looking for rhyme or reason in media markets, strength of the teams, or ticket sales will only frustrate you. This is very simple...

A former I-Bowl employee is now employed at NIU. He used his connections to get his team in the bowl. Simple as that. _

I understand, but come July the Indy Bowl is going to come back to the Louisiana legislature and ask for more of my tax dollars as a subsidy ($560,000.00 in 2008). That has to be the most short-sighted payback I have ever heard. How does the Indy Bowl feel their request for money will be received this Legislative session. They had a chance to do the right thing and make a sound business and political move but chose to pick a friend.

[CajunZ1]

_ I think your estimate of 15 to 20K is pie in the sky. What did you guys average during the sesaon in attendance at home?

Over 21k average attendence.

Arguing how many people would have gone is stupid, so I won't do it. Fine, we would have only brought 10k. Happy?

NIU will have orders of magnitude less people come to Shreveport. THAT is my point.

[ULtimateCajun]

_ There is a certain element among our fan base that is saying that. Their hate of you guys and the Sun Belt is irrational, but every Sun Belt school has an equal element that irrationally hates Tech. As for Tech backing out of a bowl: are you serious? We've won exactly one bowl game...ever. We've sat at home with 8 or more wins twice the last decade. There's no way in HELL Tech would back out of anything. We aren't exactly Notre Dame, and we're very, very fortunate to be bowling. The Big XII and SEC couldn't take care of business....that is the only reason we are playing in the Indy Bowl.



True dat. _

I should have been a little more specific about the "tech pulling out of the I-Bowl". I read numerous post on your message boards (yes I know that is a fan board and 80% of it is fiction, but apparently you guys have a member that is on the bowl commitee or is connected somehow. "Luminaire") that if the I-Bowl chose a Belt team that Tech would pull out and be able to go to Texas and play Rice. It sounds crazy, I know, but what's even crazier is that Tech would rather play a 7-5 MAC team in a 75% empty stadium than a belt team with a 70% full stadium and actually have something on the line. No one outside of Ruston will remember this game in 5 years whether you guys win or lose. BUT if UL had been selected, imagine how many people would remember the 2008 I-Bowl. It's all moot now so Good luck to you guys.

[Just1More]

_ If you read the orginial quote it was said UL would bring 15 to 20K. I doubt Tech is bringing more than 10K at best. I am not a Latextser by the way. I don't think UL would bring more than 10K either. What was your average attendance for a home game 15K? Using UL logic that means that when LSU plays in the Sugar bowl all 90K plus fans will be at the game. Not true. The tickets are limited to each team no matter what two schools are playing. A lot of tickets are reserved for the people in the hosting city. Granted UL would bring a lot of folks but I don't believe it would be the average of your home attendance. _

This has nothing to do with normal circumstances. UL brought 12k-15k to the Superdome for a regular season game with Tulane. I was there (oh, and I got a hotel room because I'm a responsible partier... Mr. Hotel Shreveport) and have a good handle on counting the crowd. With our first bowl in 38 years... there is no way we don't arrive in force in Shreveport. With the economy in the tank, the distance and flight issues for NIU, and it being Dec 28th... NIU is not going to be traveling in hords. This hotel talk is bogus. UL would have as many people in hotels as NIU. They may have 800 people at the game. I guarantee you they do not eat or out drink 15k Cajun fans. Indy Bowl people pulled a brain fart economically.

Another argument is that UL people may just like something they see in Shreveport and come back. I'm real curious how many NIU fans will be wanting to do business with, or take a weekend trip down to Shreveport in the next 5 years. What "marketing" is going to happen in Chicago that is going to help the "Chamber of Commerce" in Shreveport?

I absolutely assure you that the NIU guy and the Tech connections had far more to do with this than this purported economic justification. But, it certainly "sounds" better.

[DestinCajun]

_ If you read the orginial quote it was said UL would bring 15 to 20K. I doubt Tech is bringing more than 10K at best. I am not a Latextser by the way. I don't think UL would bring more than 10K either. What was your average attendance for a home game 15K? Using UL logic that means that when LSU plays in the Sugar bowl all 90K plus fans will be at the game. Not true. The tickets are limited to each team no matter what two schools are playing. A lot of tickets are reserved for the people in the hosting city. Granted UL would bring a lot of folks but I don't believe it would be the average of your home attendance. _

I did read your post which is why I figured you have to be a Latextser. Otherwise, you would know something about Cajun fans and how much they would support our team in a bowl game EVEN in place like Shreveport.

[rcarte3]

_ I did read your post which is why I figured you have to be a Latextser. Otherwise, you would know something about Cajun fans and how much they would support our team in a bowl game EVEN in place like Shreveport. _

How would you know how you would support a team in a bowl game? You haven't been to one in 38 years. In addition don't think for a second that bowl committees don't look at how fans attend their team's home games as a gauge as to how many will come. You have a 30K plus staduim and what have you averaged in attendance for the Bustle years 15K give or take a couple of thousand. I am NOT SAYING NIU gets bigger crowds than you do at their games therefore they will bring more fans but its preception by the bowl committees.

[Project10]

_ I should have been a little more specific about the "tech pulling out of the I-Bowl". I read numerous post on your message boards (yes I know that is a fan board and 80% of it is fiction, but apparently you guys have a member that is on the bowl commitee or is connected somehow. "Luminaire") that if the I-Bowl chose a Belt team that Tech would pull out and be able to go to Texas and play Rice. It sounds crazy, I know, but what's even crazier is that Tech would rather play a 7-5 MAC team in a 75% empty stadium than a belt team with a 70% full stadium and actually have something on the line. No one outside of Ruston will remember this game in 5 years whether you guys win or lose. BUT if UL had been selected, imagine how many people would remember the 2008 I-Bowl. It's all moot now so Good luck to you guys. _

Yeah, I realized later what you meant about us "backing out." Look, we are who we are...do you honestly think we had multiple bowl bids and were negotiating one against the other?...neither do I. I would've rather played you guys, no question. NIU (no offense, Huskie lurkers) is about as unsexy of an opponent that I can think of. At least a Tech-Cajun tilt would've put butts in the seats.

I also believe ESPN had some say in the decision. Considering the dire straits the Indy Bowl is in, I cannot believe they acted alone in picking NIU.

It will be interesting to see the bowl details as they become available (tickets that must be purchased, bowl payouts, etc).