Louisiana vs. UL Laf Louisiana (ESPN)

[rcarte3]

_ Let me shed some light on this subject. I am not defending espn because they lost their edge on sports reporting years ago. They've turned into a fat giant. Here is the story, for the younger cajuns or those who forgot. We need to go back to the year 2000. All the stars were in order. The 1999 name change that really happened in 1984, the sky was clearing and the sun seemed bright. The BB team was on its way to 25 wins and ncaa's, softball was in postseason as usual and we all know what baseball did in the cws. The ragin cajuns were on fire on the national scene. I remember watching Louisiana play a non conference game that season on espn against Siena. The cajuns won the game and looked really good doing it. The play by play guys on espn called us Louisiana the entire game and even told the story of the 15 year battle of the name change and that we prevailed. I watched the game at a public restauant with some friends and remember it clearly, they had words on the screen as the game was being called. Every time is showed Louisiana (it had to be say 100 times) I felt so good. I always liked the adage of "good things come to those who wait" and we waited 15 years. So espn was on board from early on with Louisiana. Then in March, during to ncaa bb pairings they had 2 lafayette's, us and the real U of lafayette. This confused and kinda angered espn, so they looked into how this happened. Then many of us on the university of louisiana delphi board emailed espn and cbs and explained the entire story to them and guess what? They agreed and sided with us, we were Louisiana on both channels. That was the time the administration should have stepped in and made it crystal clear that we are Louisiana, not leave it up to fans that know the story like us. We got it done though and it lasted on espn until January 2002, that is when they switched over to what they have now. during the 2000 cws they called us mostly louisiana and showed us as ULA. So our administration had from 1999 to 2002 to explain the truth to espn. They never did. I know this because there is a legend on espn that you might never guess who loves the ragin cajuns. Yes, it is dick vitale. He is from detroit and he still loves detroit. He comes here often for charity. He is 100% real and stated several times that he loves Louisiana ragin cajuns and that he understands the struggle since he was at U of Detroit. He said all its takes it the AD to make it offical and it would be done. Louisiana it is. He gave an example from U of D. The legal name is now university of Detroit Mercy. If espn got thousands of emails telling them to call them Det. Mcy. they would not do it unless it comes from the administration, which sounds fair and makes sense. I know many of you down there blame Doc. A. for much of this confusion and you were correct. I know his intentions were good but this inaction for years allowed this stuff to go on to where we are now. What I can not understand is that he (doc.A) thought sw louisiana was too regional. hello doc, but lafayette is even more regional. I give him a world of credit for what he done in 1984 and now I pray that this new adminstration finishes what was started in 1984. How about a 25 year historical statement made by the president on April 27, 2009. Now that would be true justice at the highest order. The new president has the power and I have a good feeling in my heart that he will take the right path for the University of Louisiana. _

Interesting information but I would like to correct you in one area. There is no University of Lafayette. It is Lafayette College and they are in the Patriot League. When you see their name on ESPN's Bottom Line they are generally listed as simply Lafayette. Thats why I say UL-L should do like Memphis State did and change to The Univerisity of Lafayette.

[rcarte3]

_ Last year when I graduated, I went to the Balfour booth to look at rings. I noticed all of them said, "The University of Louisiana at Lafayette" or "UL Lafayette."

I asked her, "Do you have any that just say 'University of Louisiana'?"

Her reply (in an aggravated tone), "The name of the school is 'UL Lafayette,' so that's the rings we have."

So no ring for me. _

I am not a legal expert but it maybe because they offical name designated by the State of Louisiana is the Univeristy of Louisiana at Lafayette. There maybe some copy right issues involved if they just put University of Louisiana which could land them in court.

[CajunZ1]

_ You know from my postings that I am adamant about us being called UL, athletically. But, like Texas at Austin, we are Louisiana at Lafayette. I don't mind that academically, just not athletically. Even Texas rings have the UT on the stone and University of Texas Austin on the ring. So, I don't mind having my ring say University of Louisiana Lafayette, as long as the UL is on the stone. _

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Unfortunately, the rings I saw were like this:

UL LAFAYETTE or
LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE

Where it would be better if it was
UL LAFAYETTE or
LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE

[HoustonCajun]

_ Yeah, I get what you're saying. Unfortunately, the rings I saw were like this:

UL LAFAYETTE or
LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE

Where it would be better if it was
UL LAFAYETTE or
LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE _

The Art Carved Ring says:

University of Louisiana
Lafayette

The stone is red with a UL interlocking.

It looks really nice.

I thought Art Carved bought out Balfour. In any event, contact Art Carved in Austin and see about getting a new ring. You will not be disappointed.

[CajunFun]

_ I gotta agree with HoustonCajun here. I generally don't like the UL-L arguments, but I believe HCajun's point brings up a disturbing trend that most everyone here refuses to realize. We ARE NOT the "University of Louisiana" to almost everyone else in the country. And we won't be until we (the admin) at least try to declare it so.

Seeing things like "UL LAF" is beyond ridiculous (add in the fact that LC was called Louisiana, and I just start puking in my mouth). Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those "we should have stayed USL" guys, but this is starting to get silly. And it would be nice if T-Joe would show his face on athletics(we're waiting...).

When will this all end? _

Back when we got the name change, I realized that no one in Louisiana controlled our name, the Leg couldn't control our name, the Regents couldn't, the UL System couldn't.

I realized there is is only one group that can change our name: the AP. Once they start calling us "Louisiana," it will all be over. I also knew that we had a powerful inside contact at the AP (alas, no longer).

So back then, we had it lined up that the AP would call us "Louisiana". That was from NY, in the AP HQ.

But... someone in Martin Hall nixed it. Long story.

Anyway, the AP will decide. But they will decide once our conference starts using it. And no conference containing ULM and housed in New Orleans will ever call us "Louisiana."

So, again, I just wish you guys & gals would drop it. All that complaining does nothing, but distract us from more important stuff.

When we get in a different conference, it will all take care of itself.

But not before.

[CajunZ1]

Anyway, the AP will decide. But they will decide once our conference starts using it. And no conference containing ULM and housed in New Orleans will ever call us "Louisiana."

When we get in a different conference, it will all take care of itself.

But not before. _

I completely agree with this.

And I'm aware complaining about it does mostly no good, but HoustonCajun brought up a good point.

[BrudaCajun]

I got a great one for you guys, check out the calender. LOL what BS

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebas...teams/page/NTX

[RaginDetroitCajun]

_ Hey, RDC, nice info! What you say makes a lot of sense. Did you speak to Vitale personally or hear someone else talk to him? If he really said that (and I am not doubting you), that is awesome. We need to get him to come down to Lafayette to speak. _

thanks for the good words. I live by logic, it seems to work real well. Like I explained, he comes to detroit often for charity, book signings and just to visit. He is very approachable when he is here in detroit, went to see him and even got a free book. I remembered how highly he talked about Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns during the 2000 and 2005 ncaa's. The 2000 season he was at his best going on and on how Jessie Evans and the cajuns were really slighted by the 13th seed and that how some really questionable calls against them vs Tennesse denied them a sweet 16 spot or maybe even a final 4 with some breaks. I would like to have a tape of the 2000 ncaas when we were Louisiana getting all that national attention. Maybe utube can bring it up. In 2005 dickie went on about how Rick Pitino and Louisiana were both slighted by the seeding, and said Pinto's team (the other UL) should have been a #1 seed and The Ragin' Cajuns should have been #11 and never should have been playing one another in the 1st round. He did not say in 2005 that we could have made the final 4 with breaks like he did in 2000. Then when I turned on CBS, Clark Kellog (the black guy incase I got his name wrong) had Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns as his "dark horse" to get to the final 4. I was shocked that someone other than Dickie V would go out on a limb for Louisiana like that. I really liked him (Clark) ever since then. It was awesome! I know and he (Dickie V) knows that he rubs some people the wrong way, but im here to tell you that he is real as it gets. I think he relates to the Louisiana's of the world because he knows what is was like at the university of Detroit and all it took to elevate that program. He is very busy and had some health issues but if he had the chance I am sure he would be glad to come to the university of Louisiana. I really hope and pray we get to the ncaa's this year and maybe he would come down in March for a story.

[rcarte3]

_ Back when we got the name change, I realized that no one in Louisiana controlled our name, the Leg couldn't control our name, the Regents couldn't, the UL System couldn't.

I realized there is is only one group that can change our name: the AP. Once they start calling us "Louisiana," it will all be over. I also knew that we had a powerful inside contact at the AP (alas, no longer).

So back then, we had it lined up that the AP would call us "Louisiana". That was from NY, in the AP HQ.

But... someone in Martin Hall nixed it. Long story.

Anyway, the AP will decide. But they will decide once our conference starts using it. And no conference containing ULM and housed in New Orleans will ever call us "Louisiana."

So, again, I just wish you guys & gals would drop it. All that complaining does nothing, but distract us from more important stuff.

When we get in a different conference, it will all take care of itself.

But not before. _

I think both the Legislature and/or UL System board control how you use the name. You had to get permission from the legislature to do the name change to begin with. If they didn't control the name you could have called yourself the University of Louisiana. But there was a big stink when this all came up years ago and thats when they created the University of Louisiana System and said all schools in that system could change their name but they have to use the city they are located in as part of the name. A state school can't just change their name because they want too. You have to get permission or approval from someone higher up.

[RealCajun70]

_ Fun,

If you say the second is stronger than I'm going with that. You could make it into a T-shirt with "L'Université de Louisiane" on the front and "We are Louisiana" on the back. It would look pretty cool and unique. _

Cool..yes but unique it is not. Marshal University is famous for their "WE are Marshall" chant. Unique in my opinon would be getting the stands to chant the old french saying that they try and renew every year( sorry it doesnt come to mind.....the actual words). Unique to me is something that no one does. I am all for seperating however the biggest problem is that academically LSU is in their own sys while the rest of us (maybe not TECH) are in the "LOUISIANA" system. Im not sure if we can afford it or if the State will even let us start our own system. UL should have stayed USL, again my opinon, even though we were all in the same system ( USL, NSU, Northeastern (which was ULM) and SLU) we were the only one with the U first. Despite fighting for our name change for almost 10 years now people still know us as USL. Unfortunaley the majority of this state see's only one State school (LSU). The biggest thing that can help UL is to get out of the Sunbelt. I say get into C-USA, if nothing else that renews the TULANE series which would sell out everytime it was at THE SWAMP. Or even better make us the 4th Louisiana team to be in a conference by ourselves (LSU=SEC, La Tech= WAC, Tulane=CUSA). But if non of this happens all i want is this damn streak of not going to a bowl game to end. We should fill '09's non conference game before LSU with TECH and prove to the Indy Bowl that they made a mistake. Again all of this is just my opinon.