Future Recruiting

[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.

[bdub]

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

who is stating this? of the 25 verbals we have so far, only 1 player is not eligible.

[Boomer]

_ Ok, so within 30 miles of Ruston you have maybe 100K people. Within 30 miles of Lafayette you have 600K people or more and we can only average 20,000 while they average 18K. So who does a better job getting people in the stadium? _

They had the same amount of fans before they joined the WACy!!!!!

[zephyr]

_ 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. _

I don't know if Destrahan is one of the best programs in the country but they are in the state. They have had a nice run of success lately so lets see if they will be able to continue that over a long period of time which we all know is extremely difficult.

[anhil8tor]

Aren't all our kids 2 starts with the exception of Walker which is a 3?


In the past we wouldn't even land 2 stars?

[CajunZ1]

_ Aren't all our kids 2 starts with the exception of Walker which is a 3?


In the past we wouldn't even land 2 stars? _

The new star rules call for all 1 stars that sign with FBS schools to automatically become 2 stars. So it is somewhat misleading.

However we did have more than a few 2 stars before the "change" happened

[DestinCajun]

They had the same amount of fans before they joined the WACy!!!!! _

Boomer, like you I see LaTex football and basketball games on TV from time to time and I never see much fan support. I think overall that LaTex fans just aren't especially interested in WAC programs.

While listening to the Cajuns game last night I had the LaTex - Hawaii game on TV. There were maybe 600 fans in the stands. I saw them on TV against league leading Utah St a couple of weeks ago and there were even less present. Maybe 200.

Compared to what I see at LaTex we have nothing to be ashamed about in terms of attendance the past couple of years at our football and men's basketball games.

[CajunZ1]

_ Compared to what I see at LaTex we have nothing to be ashamed about in terms of attendance the past couple of years at our football and men's basketball games. _

I agree with you. Our attendence reflects the deep faith our fans possess.

Like I said earlier: Wouldn't it suck if we were good, and nobody cared? I'm not saying that's
happened at Tech (<-LA) but if they keep winning it will be interesting to see.

[Just1More]

_ I agree with you. Our attendence reflects the deep faith our fans possess.

Like I said earlier: Wouldn't it suck if we were good, and nobody cared? I'm not saying that's
happened at Tech (<-LA) but if they keep winning it will be interesting to see. _

Tech, and Derek Dooley in particular, are almost completely selling out on football. He knows he has no way of "separating" with the whole athletic program. I cannot blame him. The situation is completely different at UL. We don't have to do anything spectacular, and have proved it over and over... and we average more fans than they have a chance of getting into Ruston, for any sport. Tech is not very attractive to the WAC. But, not withstanding some unattractive character traits, Dooley is a very sharp guy. He is going to build his resume in any and every way he can. He will likely bolt from Tech when they least expect it. I cannot see this year's recruits seeing Dooley at Tech for their senior seasons.

I don't mind using Tech and their recruiting success as a barometer for UL. It is indicative of what an underfunded program can do if their admin decides to give it a shot. Tech definitely has smarter administrators than we do. We still have far greater potential. Long live potential.... but please realize a little of it at some point before I croak.