Only One Bowl Better Than New Orleans From the Bird’s Nest

[Hammer58]

Two points to make here in regards to Jay's article. First, with the conference sharing bowl revenue, UL is not making money and cuts will have to be made. In fact, some are being made this year that hurt both the staff and program. Second, the move to C-USA is not just a football move but about Basketball and Baseball as well. There is no debate both are better in C-USA in most years and reduces travel cost on the west side of the conference. New Orleans is ideal for Cajun fans with a short drive and the game is indoors. Going to bowl games will always beat the alternative of staying home. But to say going to New Orleans ever year is not somewhat stagnate, is saying you are satisfied with just enough progress that anything else is inconvenient.

Is it convenient to play in a baseball regional in South Carolina? Is it convenient to travel to a NCAA Basketball tournament site in most years? The New Orleans Bowl is not the great deal financially for UL it was the first year because of conference sharing bowl revenue. Ironically it was the athletics directors the voted for that change with the approval of the presidents. Right not, its the only deal for UL and that is the larger picture.

One last point, clearly Jay's article was about playing in the New Orleans Bowl but the discussion of cuts to the program aren't part of his blog. In the DA's article today, Scott Farmer stated that cuts would have to made in cost because of the SBC Bowl revenue share. While he wasn't specific, does everyone realize the coaches bowl bonuses are paid out of the money? Perhaps it would be nice if someone would have asked Scott Farmer exactly how would those cuts in cost be implemented.

Let me take another sack at the deceased equine. Maybe if we had an independent RCAF with an executive director raising funds we wouldn't have to be relying on Bowl revenue for those bonuses and wouldn't be talking cuts. Maybe if the admin wouldn't be dragging their feet on the separation of RCAF from their control and gad it in place OVER A FREAKIN' YEAR AGO we could have actually been striking while the iron is hot (baseball super regional, softball WCWS, 4th straight football Bowl appearance and victory). Not sure if the iron will ever be hotter. Meanwhile our admin comfortably sits on their hands while the iron grows cold.

[Zeebart21]

Let me take another sack at the deceased equine. Maybe if we had an independent RCAF with an executive director raising funds we wouldn't have to be relying on Bowl revenue for those bonuses and wouldn't be talking cuts. Maybe if the admin wouldn't be dragging their feet on the separation of RCAF from their control and gad it in place OVER A FREAKIN' YEAR AGO we could have actually been striking while the iron is hot (baseball super regional, softball WCWS, 4th straight football Bowl appearance and victory). Not sure if the iron will ever be hotter. Meanwhile our admin comfortably sits on their hands while the iron grows cold.

Oh no you d'nt!

Z

[RaginCajun309]

Two points to make here in regards to Jay's article. First, with the conference sharing bowl revenue, UL is not making money and cuts will have to be made. In fact, some are being made this year that hurt both the staff and program. Second, the move to C-USA is not just a football move but about Basketball and Baseball as well. There is no debate both are better in C-USA in most years and reduces travel cost on the west side of the conference. New Orleans is ideal for Cajun fans with a short drive and the game is indoors. Going to bowl games will always beat the alternative of staying home. But to say going to New Orleans ever year is not somewhat stagnate, is saying you are satisfied with just enough progress that anything else is inconvenient.

Is it convenient to play in a baseball regional in South Carolina? Is it convenient to travel to a NCAA Basketball tournament site in most years? The New Orleans Bowl is not the great deal financially for UL it was the first year because of conference sharing bowl revenue. Ironically it was the athletics directors the voted for that change with the approval of the presidents. Right not, its the only deal for UL and that is the larger picture.

One last point, clearly Jay's article was about playing in the New Orleans Bowl but the discussion of cuts to the program aren't part of his blog. In the DA's article today, Scott Farmer stated that cuts would have to made in cost because of the SBC Bowl revenue share. While he wasn't specific, does everyone realize the coaches bowl bonuses are paid out of the money? Perhaps it would be nice if someone would have asked Scott Farmer exactly how would those cuts in cost be implemented.

I think your analogy with baseball and basketball post season don't apply to football. Those sports have a true playoff structure in which the winners move on to a final champion. Football post season, for just about everyone, is simply one game against a random opponent who only shares the fact each team had a decent to good season. Bowl games are a way to celebrate the team, players and fans so then why not go to a bowl that benefits the most? If, we can sell lots of tickets, go to a great destination and not have to sit in the rain/cold then how is that stagnate? New freshmen join the team every year, is going to the NOLA bowl stagnate for them? Think of the stagnation for all involved if we go several years without going to a bowl game.

Now, the fact we are not making money due to the profit sharing definitely takes air out of the NOLA Bowl balloon, but the flip side is going to some other bowl where we actually lose money. What scenario is better?

I only see fans getting pumped up to travel en masse to another bowl is if we play a P5 team.

[CajunT]

I think your analogy with baseball and basketball post season don't apply to football. Those sports have a true playoff structure in which the winners move on to a final champion. Football post season, for just about everyone, is simply one game against a random opponent who only shares the fact each team had a decent to good season. Bowl games are a way to celebrate the team, players and fans so then why not go to a bowl that benefits the most? If, we can sell lots of tickets, go to a great destination and not have to sit in the rain/cold then how is that stagnate? New freshmen join the team every year, is going to the NOLA bowl stagnate for them? Think of the stagnation for all involved if we go several years without going to a bowl game.

Now, the fact we are not making money due to the profit sharing definitely takes air out of the NOLA Bowl balloon, but the flip side is going to some other bowl where we actually lose money. What scenario is better?

I only see fans getting pumped up to travel en masse to another bowl is if we play a P5 team.

My point was that the move to C-USA is not purely motivated by football, but an overall better run conference with better regional opponents. Again, no one is disputing the NO Bowl beats the heck out of staying home. That being said, if you are satisfied with it then we are indeed somewhat stagnate. I have higher goals for this program, unfortunately that requires leadership, vision and commitment. I'm not sure that exist today other then appearance. And I'm not saying that because of the NO Bowl, but because certain things are not getting done as promised.

[Just1More]

I like Jay's article and CajunT's adders. And to add further, the diehard Cajun fan tries to learn these interesting arguments about bowls, bowl locations, expenses, revenues, and conference associations that effect them. But, the casual fan operates on emotion alone. Jay and T are presenting additional food for thought, to the diehard fan. Our casual fans not only glaze over these offerings... they don't care... and they forget even if they understand some of it.
So, in reality, are we talking about the merits of the NO Bowl as if the diehard fan's participation is at stake if we continue to go to NO? I think not. Our casual fan is the only entity at stake in this argument. And we all know we can't educate them or guilt them. Our only "new move" is to either get into CUSA and/or win 10 or more regular season games (with a "signature win") to do anything with fans beyond what we've done. Otherwise, you can't beat NO year in and year out. If you really think otherwise, as a diehard fan, you're getting emotional and allowing some ficticious outside view of bowls to effect your thinking. The world you think might give us more respect in Mobile or Shreveport... ain't happening. And if you think NO has "gotten old" over all of these other destination cities... you really haven't traveled in your life. NO is THE place to host a football bowl.

[CajunT]

I think the only people saying we should choose another bowl to "broaden our horizons" are those simply trying to poo poo on our accomplishment of winning the NOLA bowl four straight years.

If Miami won the Orange Bowl 4 years in a row, UCLA the Rose, LSU the Sugar, etc then those teams would be considered some of the greatest teams ever. I'm not saying the Cajuns are the greatest ever, simply stating that the perceived home game of playing in NOLA does not diminish our success in the last four seasons.

Only reason I'd like the Cajuns to play in a different bowl would be to make it easier for me to attend, anyway, West Virginia doesn't host a bowl so there goes that!

I don't think anyone is saying that here on this board. No one here is poo pooing four straight bowl games after 40 years of mediocrity. What they are saying is the program is capable of much more and perhaps some fans have become comfortable with playing in the New Orleans Bowl because its convenient. That is not the view of the football team or staff and many fans that want to push for something better for this program.

[Turbine]

W

Agreed! 40 years from now, no one will care that we didn't win the conference outright. All they will remember is the 4 straight bowl wins!!!! Unless......we make it 5 IN A ROW!!!???
Let's start the theme right now.........ONE FOR THE THUMB!!!!

+5

[Boomer]

I don't think anyone is saying that here on this board. No one here is poo pooing four straight bowl games after 40 years of mediocrity. What they are saying is the program is capable of much more and perhaps some fans have become comfortable with playing in the New Orleans Bowl because its convenient. That is not the view of the football team or staff and many fans that want to push for something better for this program.

[Boomer]

T.....go back and look at Jay's article....Everybody wants to raise us up but we are talking bowls and we are hooked as Jay points out on just 2 choices that make sense... N O Bowl or represent the g5 in a bowl.....we want a better bowl ??? Go undefeated and hope others in our classification get beat......Don't let the green grass fool you.....oops no green grass except in a major bowl!!!

[RaginCajun309]

Cajun T, I guess I'm confused why being excited about going to NOLA Bowl is stagnate for us, please provide more information.

Of course the program is capable of much more. Of course getting into CUSA is desirable; however, that is not our current situation. I hope daily that I open this page and see nothing but threads about us leaving the SunBelt (sure would beat having to hear about the name thing all the time!). I think what Jay was saying in his article is that even if we were in CUSA, what bowl that has been played would you prefer us to go to? What CUSA or SunBelt bowl is better for us than NOLA?

[RaginCajun309]

T.....go back and look at Jay's article....Everybody wants to raise us up but we are talking bowls and we are hooked as Jay points out on just 2 choices that make sense... N O Bowl or represent the g5 in a bowl.....we want a better bowl ??? Go undefeated and hope others in our classification get beat......Don't let the green grass fool you.....oops no green grass except in a major bowl!!!

This.

[CajunT]

Cajun T, I guess I'm confused why being excited about going to NOLA Bowl is stagnate for us, please provide more information.

Of course the program is capable of much more. Of course getting into CUSA is desirable; however, that is not our current situation. I hope daily that I open this page and see nothing but threads about us leaving the SunBelt (sure would beat having to hear about the name thing all the time!). I think what Jay was saying in his article is that even if we were in CUSA, what bowl that has been played would you prefer us to go to? What CUSA or SunBelt bowl is better for us than NOLA?

So what you are saying is as long as we are in a G5 conference, the New Orleans Bowl is the best for us? Because what Jay is saying is that moving to C-USA is not worth it because their bowl games require further travel and more expense. I'm saying that is a short sighted view because you are placing the value of the New Orleans Bowl over what is best for your overall athletic program, including football. The opportunity to play in a more regional conference against potential rivals such as Rice, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, North Texas and UTSA alone supersedes the opportunity to play in the New Orleans Bowl. What happens when the New Orleans Bowl takes the champion and UL gets sent to Mobile or Montgomery? Do you and others actually think that possibility is better then playing in C-USA or one of their bowls?

There is no debate that playing in the New Orleans Bowl is great for UL, its fans and the program. We moved beyond that debate, the discussion is about what is best for the program long term. What Jay is suggesting is that moving to C-USA may not be that great because of the New Orleans Bowl. Unfortunately he is selling what the administration believes which in my opinion will hurt this program in fundraising and growth, not to mention attendance. The argument is short sighted and puts the value of possibly attending the New Orleans Bowl over the benefits of playing in a conference with regional rivals, helps recruiting in both football and basketball, and attendance. If you believe going out and selling Phase II in the Sun Belt is a winning proposition, good luck with that one.