Future Recruiting

[MetryCajun]

_ It has been stated many of these 3 stars are props!!!!!! _

If that is the case, then I stand corrected. However, I would be surprised if Tech is taking a chance on this many props. That would be suicide.

[DestinCajun]

If that is the case, then I stand corrected. However, I would be surprised if Tech is taking a chance on this many props. That would be suicide. _

Relax, it's LaTex not Ga Tech. They'll all be playing as grad students.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Clutch, for the various reasons I listed above IMO the "Idaho level" is exactly where we would have been playing (not to mention in far off places like Idaho that no one gives a ratsass about).

The number of variables and the pointlessness of arguments has never kept any of us from posting opinions on anything. Check it out if you don't believe me. _

Although a pointless argument, and this is just my opinion, but I think we would still have been better off in the WAC. We have played at the Idaho level in the Belch, the worse conference in the country. And, no, the SBC is not at the same level as the WAC or the MAC. A couple of wins vs. MAC teams doesn't make that so, just as a couple of wins over C-USA teams doesn't put the SBC at that level. Perception wise, membership in the WAC would have benefited UL immensely, especially with the success of Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii. Is playing Idaho any worse than playing in a high school stadium vs. FAU/FIU? And, who gives a rats ass about playing football vs. ULM, FIU or FAU and being in a conference where half the members don't even play football? At least the WAC would recognize us as UL and we would gain national recognition as such instead of being tied to the hip with ULM as UL L in the SBC. More bowl tie-ins, games vs. Top 25 conference teams, a renewed rivalry with LA Tech, separation from ULM, more national attention when we do win, a better football and basketball conference, which is where all revenue is generated, not to mention actually getting conference revenue from the WAC vs. SBC. Hey, you sometimes have to spend money to make money, a notion foreign to UL. No vision and no investment in athletics is why we are where we are. Again, just my opinion. I know I am in a definite minority with that position.

[DestinCajun]

Is playing Idaho any worse than playing in a high school stadium vs. FAU/FIU? And, who gives a rats ass about playing football vs. ULM, FIU or FAU and being in a conference where half the members don't even play football?

To continue this pointless nonsense (), Miami and Boca in south Florida or in Moscow, Idaho and Logan Utah? Hmmmmm, give me a few minutes to decide.


At least the WAC would recognize us as UL and we would gain national recognition as such instead of being tied to the hip with ULM as UL L in the SBC.

Can you be certain of that considering your past comments about how we have handled the name issue? I do not see the certainty in any case because LaTex would probably fight it tooth and nail. This name stuff is a minor issue in all this anyway.


Hey, you sometimes have to spend money to make money, a notion foreign to UL. No vision and no investment in athletics is why we are where we are. Again, just my opinion. I know I am in a definite minority with that position. _

I well understand that and if that had been the case we would likely have played in the bowl invites the SBC has gotten instead of the achieving SBC member programs like FAU and Troy. We would have gotten all the post season attention they have AND in the East Coast and Central region of the country where it matters.

[Cajunsmike]

_ Although a pointless argument, and this is just my opinion, but I think we would still have been better off in the WAC. We have played at the Idaho level in the Belch, the worse conference in the country. And, no, the SBC is not at the same level as the WAC or the MAC. A couple of wins vs. MAC teams doesn't make that so, just as a couple of wins over C-USA teams doesn't put the SBC at that level. Perception wise, membership in the WAC would have benefited UL immensely, especially with the success of Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii. Is playing Idaho any worse than playing in a high school stadium vs. FAU/FIU? And, who gives a rats ass about playing football vs. ULM, FIU or FAU and being in a conference where half the members don't even play football? At least the WAC would recognize us as UL and we would gain national recognition as such instead of being tied to the hip with ULM as UL L in the SBC. More bowl tie-ins, games vs. Top 25 conference teams, a renewed rivalry with LA Tech, separation from ULM, more national attention when we do win, a better football and basketball conference, which is where all revenue is generated, not to mention actually getting conference revenue from the WAC vs. SBC. Hey, you sometimes have to spend money to make money, a notion foreign to UL. No vision and no investment in athletics is why we are where we are. Again, just my opinion. I know I am in a definite minority with that position. _

You are not in the minority when it comes to the WAC from a football only perspective. Most of us agree it would have some benefit in that sport. Coaches of other sports did not want to move and that is part of the reason we did not do so. By the way 4 of the 13 teams don't play football and that will change to 3 of 13 when South Alabama starts. That is not "nearly half" That is 23%, not 50% which equals half. I know I am being picky and agree we would be better off in an all sports conference.

[MissingMandy]

_ 1 four star... that never played. How many three stars did we have in that class? (the answer is zero). That explains the lack of supreme excitement for the previous class.

If we had multiple three stars HoustonCajun, RC90, etc would not be posting realistic/negative things, they'd be crowing just like we all would.

Let's say we do have success this year. And go to a bowl. Maybe we might even win the bowl. I'll bet you anything we'll get a couple of 3 star recruits. Will we not be excited for this jump in perceived stature? Will we still call the star system "BS"? _

The Star system is BS but is the only rating system used right now.

[RCAJUN90]

_ 1 four star... that never played. How many three stars did we have in that class? (the answer is zero). That explains the lack of supreme excitement for the previous class.

If we had multiple three stars HoustonCajun, RC90, etc would not be posting realistic/negative things, they'd be crowing just like we all would.

Let's say we do have success this year. And go to a bowl. Maybe we might even win the bowl. I'll bet you anything we'll get a couple of 3 star recruits. Will we not be excited for this jump in perceived stature? Will we still call the star system "BS"? _

You really hit it out of the park. If we had the recruiting year Tech had we would all be crowing and excited. Since we didn't and an instate rival did we call the star system BS. Sometimes facing reality is ugly but it is the first step to recovery. Let's hope we have that success this year. We need it in the worst way. I don't know about you guys but I want to see us crush Troy.

[J-Town Cajun]

Since 2002 we have had 12 3 star recruits. Only Atwaine Spann and Korey Raymond have been starters for us. We have had much more bust than than stars. Here is the list of the others:

Jordan Jackson huge let down.
Devin Williams never got eligible
Ricky Thomas 2nd stringer for the most part for 2 years
Brit Framel ok he started a few years but was not that great
John Hundley never started a game then transferred
Deon Wallace pretty good player but only played as a back up for 2 years
Jermaine Rodgers only a backup so far. Still has time
Ryan Glazer drop out and transferred after 1 week of school

Other players that were 3 star players out of HS that later transferred to UL was WR Eddie Brown and TE Tommy Briggs who neither ever factored in.

[Turbine]

If UL had moved to the WAC the football program would be head and shoulders above where it is now and it wouldn't have been because UL was in the WAC.

What?

That is right. If UL had possessed the aggressive mentality to make the move to the WAC that same mentality would have precluded ever hiring a coach that had been demoted 3 times at his former job.

The upwardly mobile mentality that it takes to make the scary jump would never have allowed UL to hire Baldwin in the first place. But it goes farther back than that. The football program would be head and shoulders above where it is now because that same aggressive mentality would have never abandoned Stokley by cutting his budget.

UL wouldn’t be head and shoulders above where it is now because it was 'in' the WAC, rather it would be because it had made the bold 'move' in the first place.

That same missing mentality would do just as well in the Sun Belt, UL just needs to find a way to express it.

[DestinCajun]

_ If UL had moved to the WAC the football program would be head and shoulders above where it is now and it wouldn't have been because UL was in the WAC.

What?

That is right. If UL had possessed the aggressive mentality to make the move to the WAC that same mentality would have precluded ever hiring a coach that had been demoted 3 times at his former job.

The upwardly mobile mentality that it takes to make the scary jump would never have allowed UL to hire Baldwin in the first place. But it goes farther back than that. The football program would be head and shoulders above where it is now because that same aggressive mentality would have never abandoned Stokley by cutting his budget.

UL wouldn’t be head and shoulders above where it is now because it was 'in' the WAC, rather it would be because it had made the bold 'move' in the first place.

That same missing mentality would do just as well in the Sun Belt, UL just needs to find a way to express it. _

You are absolutely correct, It's all about the "IF's". The "IF's", the "IF's", and all the other "IF's".

"IF" we had what you refer to (way back then), we would have been in the Metro Conference and then involved in the formation of CUSA.

The lack of leadership, the great ennui, the tiny budget, the terrible outcomes on the field 1997-circa 2004 and hires such as "JB" are the gold plated "facts" and "proof" that underscore our grand ineptness and why we are what we - The Univeristy of Pogo.

RCAJUN90 conveniently ignores all of this as he pines over the lost WAC invite (which was never offered anyway).

With apologies to Yogi, It's beating a dead horse to death all over again.

[IHateLaState]

_ If UL had moved to the WAC the football program would be head and shoulders above where it is now and it wouldn't have been because UL was in the WAC.

What?

That is right. If UL had possessed the aggressive mentality to make the move to the WAC that same mentality would have precluded ever hiring a coach that had been demoted 3 times at his former job.

The upwardly mobile mentality that it takes to make the scary jump would never have allowed UL to hire Baldwin in the first place. But it goes farther back than that. The football program would be head and shoulders above where it is now because that same aggressive mentality would have never abandoned Stokley by cutting his budget.

UL wouldn’t be head and shoulders above where it is now because it was 'in' the WAC, rather it would be because it had made the bold 'move' in the first place.

That same missing mentality would do just as well in the Sun Belt, UL just needs to find a way to express it. _

Post of the Year...errr.. month.... err.. well good post Turbine... Thats what I am looking for from T-Joe.... change the mental approach or you will lose the fan base that remains....

[MiamiCajun32]

_ I found this on another site and I like that UL was mentioned with nice company in regards to an OL prospect for next year's recruiting class:

"Ashton Duhe (6'3", 296, 5.0) from Destrehan. Duhe has a 3.0 GPA and will take the ACT test in February. Duhe is going to be a very highly recruited player and at this time is receiving a lot of interest from LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, SMU, UL-L, Nebraska, Oregon, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee."

I like how the Coaches are getting to the recruits earlier as with other "Big" schools. I also would like to mention I am pleased with the way this year's class is turning out. From what I can remember, I don't recall seeing so many stars (or any for that matter) next to the kids UL recruits.

My 2 cents _

I went to Destrehan, graduated in '89, and started at G at 175. We were always a solid AAA playoff team back then and for years, but something must have gotten in the water over there because lately that program is one of the very best in the country, two time 5A champs, with major college talent coming out year after year. I don't know if I would have made the team if I played there today!! ;-) While I was there we only had one major college recruit, Deron Smith, who went to Tulane (he was recruited by bigger programs) and started one season at QB. A few other guys went to USL, Nicholls St., Southern, etc.