Louisiana vs. UL Laf Louisiana (ESPN)

[California Cajun]

_ I just saw a partial score on ESPN that UL was leading 69-40. BUT, more interestingly is how ESPN showed the score:

LOUISIANA 40 UL Laf 69

It is obvious we still have a LONG way to go on this name issue on a national level. UL needs to get more aggressive and take a position on this. It is totally rediculous.

And, while we are at it, it is time to find our own separation in Louisiana from the other schools. LSU certainly has its separation. And, LA Tech has developed its separation in the WAC and now another bowl game while we sit home. In the meantime, UL is nicely joined at the hip with ULM and stuck in the SBC. And, we continue to play Louisiana teams each year in Northwestern State, McNeese and now Southern. Have we really left the Gulf States Conference, er Southland? Why is it so difficult for UL to find that separation? Why are we always at the low end of the totem pole? Why are we screwed every year in sports as CajunFun pointed out in his article? Why do we have a loser mentality every year, expecting the worse to happen and, of course, it usually does?

When does all of this change? When will our new President come out with a 5Year or 10 Year Plan and outline where we want to go and how we are going to get there? When will UL make a formal announcement of all the things we have been hearing about for a year now, i.e. RCAF, baseball and softball stadium enhancements/replacements, football stadium improvements, and other needed facility improvements? And what about the big signage that was supposed to be built this past year? Everything continues to be hush hush and the rumor mill goes crazy, but still no word from our leaders.

Will Dr. S push the envelope for use of Louisiana and UL athletically? Will we just continue as Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns, Louisiana-Lafayette, UL Laf and U LA LA indefinately?

Seeing the Louisiana vs. UL Laf tonight on ESPN is sickening. It is time for UL to do something and make a major statement about who we are and the things that truly set us apart from the rest of the state. And then, take steps to separate ourselves athletically and academically. We can no longer afford to be the "sleeping giant" and "best kept secret" as UL is often called. _

I have hit on these themes for years, but I do separate this year from previous years because we have the opportunity of new leadership and the football program impressed me with the way they stepped up to the challenge before injuries killed them.

The missing ingredient is a holdover from the past. We just aren't playing well enough in the major sports to command the kind of attention we need from the people whose attention we need to get. That is what is needed to wake up the sleeping giant.

Although I see improvement, I remain disappointed by the lack of communication by our new leaders. The average fan can't be expected to understand what UL can do or what it needs or wants to do unless it is explained to them. For fans going to BCS schools, many never knew a time when the niche wasn't in place while many of our fans can't remember a time when we had a niche. We can't understand why schools we have been associated with in the past such as Tech and McNeese have been to bowl games and we haven't. I think Dr. Authement is the reason, but I could be all wet. If anyone knows, please correct me.

As far as the name is concerned, there is no way anyone who got it in a legal and constitutional manner like we did and had it ripped out from under us the way we did will ever give up, no matter how long it takes or how discouraging it might get. I know instinctively that the pursuit of what is rightfully ours will never end and it will inevitably be achieved. That's a premise I'm so sure of I would stake my life on it. Do I ever scratch my head and wonder what the hell they are doing sometimes? Yep. Do I wear stuff with "Lafayette" prominently displayed? Hell NO!

[barisaxman]

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

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

Did anyone go to that link?!? Not only did it have us as "SWLA", when I went to our
"homepage" it listed our enrollment as 1,390!! What the HELL? It's hard enough
making a point when there is accurate info, but this is ridiculous! Our enrollment is larger
than several SEC schools, but you wouldn't think that the way we are treated by the
national media.

[California Cajun]

_ Did anyone go to that link?!? Not only did it have us as "SWLA", when I went to our
"homepage" it listed our enrollment as 1,390!! What the HELL? It's hard enough
making a point when there is accurate info, but this is ridiculous! Our enrollment is larger
than several SEC schools, but you wouldn't think that the way we are treated by the
national media. _

We got to win more games to get people's attention.

Both double-directional and hyphenated names are a dime a dozen in the long-run with few exceptions (UCLA, UNLV).

[DestinCajun]

Originally Posted by barisaxman
Did anyone go to that link?!? Not only did it have us as "SWLA", when I went to our "homepage" it listed our enrollment as 1,390!! What the HELL? It's hard enough making a point when there is accurate info, but this is ridiculous! Our enrollment is larger than several SEC schools, but you wouldn't think that the way we are treated by the national media. _

We got to win more games to get people's attention. Both double-directional and hyphenated names are a dime a dozen in the long-run with few exceptions (UCLA, UNLV). _

You are correct, we need to make noise with wins but the info at the linked site is the result of sloppy work by a lazy or ignorant employee. Plain and simple.

[rcarte3]

_ Did anyone go to that link?!? Not only did it have us as "SWLA", when I went to our
"homepage" it listed our enrollment as 1,390!! What the HELL? It's hard enough
making a point when there is accurate info, but this is ridiculous! Our enrollment is larger
than several SEC schools, but you wouldn't think that the way we are treated by the
national media. _

Will you stop complaining about what they call ULL. YES they should know its not SWLA and the enrollment thing is probably just a typo. This inferiority complex ULL fans have has got to stop. I think that is part of the reason you don't get respect is because you guys keep complaining you aren't being called the University of Louisiana. YES whether you like it or not or realize it you deep down feel you are inferior because of a name. YOU ARE NOT the University of Louisiana until the Legislature and/or the University of Louisiana System Board gives you permission to do so. You know if you go out there and win games and kick peoples butts in football, basketball, or whatever sport you could call yourself the University of Crappolla and the media will pay attention to you. I don't see other directional schools complaining about their name. They just go out and play for goodness sake. The Univerisity of South Flordia got pretty high in the polls in 2007 and did pretty well this year and they don't complain. Who knows if you stop complaining about it and win they just might over time call you the University of Louisiana. Some people may screw up your name just to get a raise out of you because they know you will hit the ceiling. GET OVER the name thing and just try and help make your university the best it can be not matter what the name.

[rcarte3]

_ We got to win more games to get people's attention.

Both double-directional and hyphenated names are a dime a dozen in the long-run with few exceptions (UCLA, UNLV). _

Winning is the key not the name. You know no one knew who UNLV was in basketball until guess what they started winning. By the way here is the problem with football at ULL. ULL has played football for 106 years with a .469 winning pct. (466-496-31) and in the 2000's so far .359 (36-67). Enough said.

[CajunNation]

We got to win more games to get people's attention.

Both double-directional and hyphenated names are a dime a dozen in the long-run with few exceptions (UCLA, UNLV).

We both know that the name change has been a rousing success academically and an absolute catastrophe athletically. This is why the administration couldn't care less about this issue it seems. They got theirs.


If the administration truly wanted to become known in the athletic world as LOUISIANA or UL, these things should happen.

1) IMMEDIATELY discontinue all use of "lafayette", "louisiana's", and "ULL" on EVERYTHING marketed to the public. Grow a pair and let the chips fall where they may.

2) LOUISIANA, UL, and UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA take precedence in all marketing efforts over Ragin Cajuns and that idiotic flaming vegetable.
i.e., placing UL on the helmets, replacing the hot wheels logo with simply UL......


3) Join the WAC. (I will never surrender)

[AirBill]

Google Ragin Cajuns. You get a USL, a UL_L, and many Louisiana-Lafayette's. Oh look one Louisiana reference. Face it, we are Louisiana-Lafayette. I'm over it. What I would like to see more than UL on ESPN is some wins in Basketball.

Post of the year. Agree wholeheartedly. Nothing succeeds like success.

[California Cajun]

_ Post of the year. Agree wholeheartedly. Nothing succeeds like success. _

Why would the pursuit of success and the name be mutually exclusive?

Beyond the message boards, the pursuit of the name is transparent. And what percent of fans participate on the message boards? If the name issue was declared dead it wouldn't die. It's like life. If discussion of the name on the message boards stopped, it would be replaced almost immediately by another subject that irritates a certain element of posters equally.

So relax. Support the Cajuns. Wear red. When making a major purchase, buy from Cajun supporters.

[DestinCajun]

Why would the pursuit of success and the name be mutually exclusive?

...... it would be replaced almost immediately by another subject that irritates a certain element of posters equally.

So relax. Support the Cajuns. Wear red. When making a major purchase, buy from Cajun supporters.

I can list a few but I won't. lol!

PS I agree with your advice.