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

[tdncz]

First of all:
I am not too concerned what TCU did (or what BYU and Cincy are doing now) to get into the Big XII (UL is NOT at a level near any of these 3 programs, obtw)

With that said, I am sure that although they (the Admin?) did not hold any "press conferences," the fan base/boosters/donors/non-admin types did NOT sit on their hands and rely on the respective College Admins to JUST "work behind the scenes...."

OF COURSE the Admin MUST work behind the scenes. But that is NOT where the effort ends (and by the way, I do not believe OUR - the UL Admin - is doing ALL THEY CAN - i.e., the FULL COURT PRESS that most of us want and expect - "behind the scenes").

We - the Fan Base/boosters/ donors/motivated local press - have to do our part by at least creating our own positive press (hopefully in confidential conjunction with an Admin who, if they are serious, would be "working behind the scenes" and thus could not lead that portion of the FULL COURT PRESS).
This has to be a coordinated group effort.

[Zeebart21]

Another angle is that if we have to beg to be part of CUSA, maybe we need to continue our path of winning and improving facilities and make them want us.

Has anyone ever seen a true all out public campaign begging a conference to invite them? I'm not being sarcastic here. I've never seen it. I would happily admit I was wrong if someone can provide the evidence of another school in the NCAA on their knees begging a conference for membership and it working.

Latex

Too easy

Z

[cajunhawk]

Did our font change? I have been out the loop for a while and did we switch to Comic Sans? Or is it just Monday morning insanity?

[CajunRage]

Latex

Too easy

Z

So we blast everything they do and then want to follow in their footsteps? I have a little more pride than that Z.

[CajunRage]

Did our font change? I have been out the loop for a while and did we switch to Comic Sans? Or is it just Monday morning insanity?

Good, it's not just me

[ChuckK3]

Yes, we stayed in almost continuous contact for over a decade with C-USA. After missing out on an invitation in 2003-04 (that invitation went to UTEP), we had a serious come to Jesus meeting internally as to the direction of our program.

We hired a consultant who told us why we missed out, and what we needed to do to be attractive the next time around, and we started working on those things. In Louisiana, stuff moves at a snails pace...and I'd say particularly in the north, as we have historically been treated as a political afterthought in this state anyway...but we got things rolling.

We had a fine line to walk. Staying in contact with CUSA presidents and schools and building those relationships, while at the same time not burning bridges with the WAC membership. It was no secret that after UTEP left, we were no longer a good fit for the "Western" athletic conference. Kommander Karl couldn't persuade UL-Lafayette nor Ark State nor North Texas to come over, so we just continued to bide our time. I think it worked out okay for us.

I will also say, as a strong critic of my own University, I believe we learned our lesson about sitting on our rears like we did in the early 2000s and thinking we'll just slide in somewhere else. For schools like Tech, and UL-Lafayette, we have to be continually improving on our OWN accord...because otherwise, we will get no help from Baton Rouge, and other conferences won't give us a thought.

[tdncz]

Yes, we stayed in almost continuous contact for over a decade with C-USA. After missing out on an invitation in 2003-04 (that invitation went to UTEP), we had a serious come to Jesus meeting internally as to the direction of our program.

We hired a consultant who told us why we missed out, and what we needed to do to be attractive the next time around, and we started working on those things. In Louisiana, stuff moves at a snails pace...and I'd say particularly in the north, as we have historically been treated as a political afterthought in this state anyway...but we got things rolling.

We had a fine line to walk. Staying in contact with CUSA presidents and schools and building those relationships, while at the same time not burning bridges with the WAC membership. It was no secret that after UTEP left, we were no longer a good fit for the "Western" athletic conference. Kommander Karl couldn't persuade UL-Lafayette nor Ark State nor North Texas to come over, so we just continued to bide our time. I think it worked out okay for us.

I will also say, as a strong critic of my own University, I believe we learned our lesson about sitting on our rears like we did in the early 2000s and thinking we'll just slide in somewhere else. For schools like Tech, and UL-Lafayette, we have to be continually improving on our OWN accord...because otherwise, we will get no help from Baton Rouge, and other conferences won't give us a thought.

At least you had "a" plan.....
We do not SEEM to have one.

Whoever claims that we cannot learn from others (including Tech), and create our own way, after considering others' Lessons Learned and related strategy, is "hoping for change...."

[CajunRage]

At least you had "a" plan.....
We do not SEEM to have one.

Whoever claims that we cannot learn from others (including Tech), and create our own way, after considering others' Lessons Learned and related strategy, is "hoping for change...."

We do not "seem" to have one because you and a lot of detractors on this board want to make it "seem" like we don't have one. What the hell do you think the CST deal is part of? What do you think the ongoing master plan is part of? What do you think the coaches salaries being the highest in the belt are part of? What do you think the adidas deal is part of? We are creating our own way.

I'll give some of you this. It may not be the plan YOU think we should have, but let me know which one of you have been athletic directors and have been part of conference realignment.

[Just1More]

So we blast everything they do and then want to follow in their footsteps? I have a little more pride than that Z.

Are you really that simple? We blast Tech's arrogance. We were impressed with the fact that they gathered their most powerful alumni and campaigned to get into CUSA. We were impressed that they publicly stated they were going to raise their budget to a threshold CUSA liked, and were going to improve their facilities in x number of years. Where we accused them of lying, is that they never made good on their promise, but have suffered no repercussions. We yell about them "lying"... but in reality, they "sold" themselves, perhaps with every intent to meet their pledge. We, on the other hand, sent them a brochure and then said, "we're not ready".

In reality, there's a big difference between dead silence and a big public campaign. I want our admin to keep quiet about measures that will upset the chance of succeeding. But do yo really believe that they can't tell us anything? Nothing at all? Ever? They NEVER EVER say anything. They want us to be "Ragin" when it comes to attending and paying for ____. Would it hurt if Scott or T-Joe at least told us they are contacting CUSA regularly, learning the current and future member tenants, making sure we're aligning our objectives, getting to know their presidents, ADs and key boosters?

You act as if there's no reason we should suspect the activity out of Martin Hall on these matters. And get this straight... every damn person wanting to know something shouldn't be calling and writing to find out. That's absolutely stupid. They've got the time to entertain the same questions from a bunch of different people, but can't hold a meeting to explain the things they can explain without giving away the "UL secrets"? BS

Now, quit acting like it's black or white. They don't even get their foot into the first bit of gray. Guys like you continuously support their lack of public explanations, and you're part of the problem. Are we or are we not working toward CUSA membership? How's the work going? And if they're puzzled about what "work" is, they're too stupid to have their jobs.

[Cajun Monkee]

Did our font change? I have been out the loop for a while and did we switch to Comic Sans? Or is it just Monday morning insanity?

Way.

So much easier to read.

I was figuring Turbine was feeling some love for the blind participants on the board.

[tdncz]

We do not "seem" to have one because you and a lot of detractors on this board want to make it "seem" like we don't have one. What the hell do you think the CST deal is part of? What do you think the ongoing master plan is part of? What do you think the coaches salaries being the highest in the belt are part of? What do you think the adidas deal is part of? We are creating our own way.

I'll give some of you this. It may not be the plan YOU think we should have, but let me know which one of you have been athletic directors and have been part of conference realignment.

I hope YOU are right and I am Wrong.

[tdncz]

Are you really that simple? We blast Tech's arrogance. We were impressed with the fact that they gathered their most powerful alumni and campaigned to get into CUSA. We were impressed that they publicly stated they were going to raise their budget to a threshold CUSA liked, and were going to improve their facilities in x number of years. Where we accused them of lying, is that they never made good on their promise, but have suffered no repercussions. We yell about them "lying"... but in reality, they "sold" themselves, perhaps with every intent to meet their pledge. We, on the other hand, sent them a brochure and then said, "we're not ready".

In reality, there's a big difference between dead silence and a big public campaign. I want our admin to keep quiet about measures that will upset the chance of succeeding. But do yo really believe that they can't tell us anything? Nothing at all? Ever? They NEVER EVER say anything. They want us to be "Ragin" when it comes to attending and paying for ____. Would it hurt if Scott or T-Joe at least told us they are contacting CUSA regularly, learning the current and future member tenants, making sure we're aligning our objectives, getting to know their presidents, ADs and key boosters?

You act as if there's no reason we should suspect the activity out of Martin Hall on these matters. And get this straight... every damn person wanting to know something shouldn't be calling and writing to find out. That's absolutely stupid. They've got the time to entertain the same questions from a bunch of different people, but can't hold a meeting to explain the things they can explain without giving away the "UL secrets"? BS

Now, quit acting like it's black or white. They don't even get their foot into the first bit of gray. Guys like you continuously support their lack of public explanations, and you're part of the problem. Are we or are we not working toward CUSA membership? How's the work going? And if they're puzzled about what "work" is, they're too stupid to have their jobs.

This....THIS is ALL I am asking for......