Commentary: Business as Usual at UL

[RaginCajun77]

Commentary: Business as Usual at UL
Adrian Perron
RaginPagin.com Moderator

The rumblings started around noon on Friday and seemed to reach a peak when a prepared statement was read by Jay Walker host of Birds Eye View. The direction of Ragin’ Cajun Basketball would remain the same, Robert Lee and Errol Rogers would be retained as coaches for their respective programs. While some Cajun fans were disappointed that these two programs would not be taken in a new direction, those of us that have followed Ragin’ Cajun athletics for a long period of time could already see the writing on the wall. UL has extreme difficulty making tough decisions about athletics. Those decisions become even more difficult when they are going to cost the university money. So we continue with business as usual, at least until next year.

While one can understand the reasons given in the statement for retaining both coaches, there are still many questions left on the minds of alumni, fans, and students of UL. This is where UL has done a horrible job in dealing with this situation and past issues with athletics. The information first appeared on The Daily Advertiser website around noon on Friday. Coincidentally the university closes at 12:30 P.M. on Friday. That makes it difficult to reach individuals for comment. Why wasn’t a press conference held so that some of the questions fans and/or the media may have could be answered? The answer is simple, we as alumni, fans, and students are expected to take our medicine and not ask questions. David Walker not only owes us an explanation about this fiasco but, also needs to let us know the overall direction of athletics at UL and plans for the future. What steps are being taken to correct the APR issues and to prevent them in the future? Why did we find ourselves in this position with the APR in the first place? Were concerns not raised initially? Do we have a concrete start date for the Ragin Cajun Athletic Fund? What improvements are scheduled for our athletic facilities? These are just some of the questions that come to mind. However, Athletic Director David Walker has yet to come forward to talk about these issues in a press conference or on the radio. This is why people become frustrated and lose interest in UL athletics. The business as usual approach is not working for Ragin’ Cajun athletics and in the process it is alienating alumni, fans, and students.

The Acadiana area is desperate to have successful athletic programs at UL. For this to happen University President T-Joe Savoie needs to urgently change the overall approach the university has towards athletics from business as usual, to an aggressive machine focused on building a new era of Ragin’ Cajun athletics. While doing this we must deal with situations and coaching changes that do occur in a timely manner, all the while communicating diligently with the public. For these events to occur the University President and the Athletic Director need to step from behind the curtain and address the alumni, fans, and students of UL and share their vision for Ragin’ Cajun athletics. The other option is continue with business as usual and hope the remaining alumni, fans, and students do not change their mind about Ragin’ Cajun athletics.

[ULtimateCajun]

Wow great minds think alike, i've been working on one of these for the past hour that I will be sending to the DA, the Times, and Ind.

Here's the rough draft. It's pretty much the same thing as yours

Accountability

As a devoted and life long fan of the University of Louisian’s Ragin Cajuns, these are very frustrating times. The recent news of the Athletic Department’s decision to retain Head Basketball coach Robert Lee only added to that mounting frustration. The root of this frustration does not come from the decision to keep Coach Lee; it comes from the obvious lack of program control that is on display in the Athletic Department at UL. The reason’s for the retention of Coach Lee was clear. But the accountability is not so clear.

On Friday March 20th at approximately 12 o’clock, the story broke that the UL men’s basketball coach would be back next season. Following that announcement was a statement from Athletic Director David Walker explaining how they came to the decision to keep the Coach Lee. Yet there was no press conference. No one from the University’s Athletic Department was available for questions regarding the situation. Emails went unanswered. The life blood of this University’s athletics, the fans, was left scratching their heads.

It is apparent that egregious errors have been made behind the closed doors of the offices on Reinhardt Drive. Many fans have questions as to why this department can’t seem to get things right. Why this office consistently fails season after season and no one is held accountable for not living up to the goals and standards that are set? Year after year the fans are told to wait till next year; fans are tired of waiting for next year. This department has failed to deliver. And now with the announcement on March 20th, it proved what the fans already knew. The current Athletic Director will never get this program to where the fans see it going. The fans are fed up and the silence will be deafening.

[shof]

My initial thoughts after reading the first post was whether or not it could be submitted to the DA for publishing. Do they accept these type of "commentaries"? It would reach a much broader audience and maybe ping a few university officials to respond in public. Well, you would hope so anyway.

[RaginCajun77]

My initial thoughts after reading the first post was whether or not it could be submitted to the DA for publishing. Do they accept these type of "commentaries"? It would reach a much broader audience and maybe ping a few university officials to respond in public. Well, you would hope so anyway.

I will email it to the editor of The Daily Advertiser and see what happens.

[RaginCajun77]

Wow great minds think alike, i've been working on one of these for the past hour that I will be sending to the DA, the Times, and Ind.

Here's the rough draft. It's pretty much the same thing as yours

Accountability

As a devoted and life long fan of the University of Louisian’s Ragin Cajuns, these are very frustrating times. The recent news of the Athletic Department’s decision to retain Head Basketball coach Robert Lee only added to that mounting frustration. The root of this frustration does not come from the decision to keep Coach Lee; it comes from the obvious lack of program control that is on display in the Athletic Department at UL. The reason’s for the retention of Coach Lee was clear. But the accountability is not so clear.

On Friday March 20th at approximately 12 o’clock, the story broke that the UL men’s basketball coach would be back next season. Following that announcement was a statement from Athletic Director David Walker explaining how they came to the decision to keep the Coach Lee. Yet there was no press conference. No one from the University’s Athletic Department was available for questions regarding the situation. Emails went unanswered. The life blood of this University’s athletics, the fans, was left scratching their heads.

It is apparent that egregious errors have been made behind the closed doors of the offices on Reinhardt Drive. Many fans have questions as to why this department can’t seem to get things right. Why this office consistently fails season after season and no one is held accountable for not living up to the goals and standards that are set? Year after year the fans are told to wait till next year; fans are tired of waiting for next year. This department has failed to deliver. And now with the announcement on March 20th, it proved what the fans already knew. The current Athletic Director will never get this program to where the fans see it going. The fans are fed up and the silence will be deafening.

Yeah I had been thinking about what I was going to write for the past couple of days.