Athlon: 2009 University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Preview

[Clutch0364]

_ Actually, I think it expires after the 2010 season. A crappy year this year means a buy-out. Parrott knows for sure though.



66 days until kickoff. Excuses already flowing. Just once I'd like to go into a season, any sport, and not have questions about how good a team might be, or have people cautioning against getting excited because they might suck.

Did you seriously drop a "youth" excuse? I thought the defense was supposed to be so much better because all of the "youth" got valuable playing time last year? I thought the offense was going to be good because of the better talent at skill positions and the experience on the O-Line? I thought that losing players wasn't going to be as big of a deal anymore because they're recruiting better athletes now.

If Bustle wins 6 or less this year, the relationship should end, with the only potential savior being whether or not he limps into a bowl game. He's never won more than 6. He's had teams go 4-2 and 5-3, only to finish with 6 wins. Another 6 win season this year will be the 3rd since reaching that mark in 2005.

If he wins 6 and stays, and happens to win 8 next year...then to me, you're in the same position with Robert Lee if he's successful this coming season. You have a coach without a contract, who is coming off a successful season, but has never shown the ability to be above average on a consistent basis. Can't go year by year because that hurts the stability of the program. Can't go long term because he hasn't shown that he fully deserves it.

If he wins 6 and stays, and happens to win 6 or less next year...then all you've done is prolong the next, hopefully more successful, stage of Ragin Cajun football. _

[Cajunsmike]

_ I agree with this.

The problem is though that Bustle's contract is up after 2009. So do you give him a 1 year extension to play out the 2010 season even if he only wins 5 games in '09?

That will be a very tough decision. I believe 2008 was "our year" to get it done. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your POV), Bustle may end up paying for it after this season. _

Coach Bustle's contract expires after 2010, not 2009. If he is released after this season, he will receive a buyout.

[CajunZ1]

I stand corrected about his contract. The only way he gets bought out after this year is if he only wins 4 games. 5 games and a few close losses and he'll be back with no extension. It does matter how you lose, so if it's 5 wins and a bunch of blowouts, he could get bought out. Jmo

to clarify, the reason I think 5 wins may be enough to save his job is because he may get some slack from te admin since we lost dez, fenroy and chery. Not saying I agree, just saying...
igeaux.mobi

[4LSU]

.....Actually, I think it expires after the 2010 season. A crappy year this year means a buy-out.......

This is just a thought and I don't know how valid it might be, but I think buy-outs are going to be a tough sell considering the hit college budgets are gonna take. I guess you always have the "private funds" thought, but I think the idea of paying 2 coaches from any funds for the same job when you have people laid-off or being furloughed or positions not filled and school presidents crying to anyone who will listen bout their funding woes is gonna be a real problem for anyone who wants to fire someone with a contract that's gonna have to be paid.

I think letting the contract run out will be a mighty temping path to follow at this time...just thinking out loud.

[Sonsissymia]

_ I stand corrected about his contract. The only way he gets bought out after this year is if he only wins 4 games. 5 games and a few close losses and he'll be back with no extension. It does matter how you lose, so if it's 5 wins and a bunch of blowouts, he could get bought out. Jmo

to clarify, the reason I think 5 wins may be enough to save his job is because he may get some slack from te admin since we lost dez, fenroy and chery. Not saying I agree, just saying...
igeaux.mobi _

if this is anywhere near true, i'd love to be able to read the "damn, ain't we got it good" text messages that must go between him and lee.