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

[Cajun Monkee]

For me it's the seeming lack of any progress, the usual silence from the admin and once again failing to strike while the iron is hot. The RCAF separation and Executive director still hangs in limbo. That move with the right here could give us a big leg up on the competition for any conference realignment opportunities. It could also be of huge importance with the projected state cuts looming. Of course, had it been done over a year ago we would likely be that much further ahead and even better prepared to weather any budget storms ahead.

We have just come off of arguably the best year for sports in UL history and once again there seems to be no sense of urgency to capitalize on it.

Fair enough.

I will just say that, coming from a Master or Comprehensive Planning perspective, you are always stuck between the big ticket items and "low-hanging fruit". Its how to use the latter to maintain the energy until the former is satisfied.

At the end of the day, its the big ticket items that sell the program (IPFs, new athletic training complexes, Tigue improvements, increasing Cajun Field seating, etc.). But bringing these things to fruition kills our patience.

It's the "low-hanging fruit" that generates the energy. And I'd hope we'd be at the point the RCAF and how its run would be ready for the picking.

I absolutely agree that this is the best year in UL history. I'll go even farther and say we've NEVER been at this level for the entirety of the University. It's a different time.

But at the risk of being argumentative, I don't see how we know there is no sense of urgency if there is no line of communication.

From the thread I linked:

Quote Originally Posted by basinbear View Post
"Let me weigh in.....this is not for nothing. Dr. Savoie has teed this one up big time. He deserves 100% of our support right now. It does not get any more serious than this guys. We are smack in the middle of this fight and Our leader has drawn his sword. Lets stay positive and get behind Dr. Savoie.......we are not assured of an invite but we are damn well in the fight this time....and this time we have the ammo to do battle with.....Our leaders know how badly Ragin Cajun Nation wants this And I believe that they want it badly too and are acting accordingly......Lets support them in every way.....we can do this !!!!!"

And from T (albeit, on the Cox deal and a comment that the board should get involved):
"No we shouldn't! We have a consultant handling negotiations. This is a business deal, not a public vote."

What if the deal for us to go to CUSA is a package involving CST as well as the NOLA Bowl? I don't know if this conversation is best held during a luncheon with Hud or Farmer.

One thing I'm sure we'll agree on...

You're still a handsome, charming devil.

[Just1More]

I answered your question. Both have more experience with it than anyone on this board.

Jerry Baldwin had more head coaching experience too. There is some element of details that's worth examining.

[tdncz]

Jerry Baldwin had more head coaching experience too. There is some element of details that's worth examining.

BINGO!

[CajunRage]

Jerry Baldwin had more head coaching experience too. There is some element of details that's worth examining.

Bringing him into this conversation is a desperate attempt to keep your argument alive when you were proven wrong. I admitted I was wrong on the public campaign. Admit when you are wrong.

[Turbine]

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.

The CST deal has been universally endorsed and appreciated.

[Gumbeaux]

The CST deal has been universally endorsed and appreciated.

It just has to actually occur now!

[CajunRage]

The CST deal has been universally endorsed and appreciated.

but not appropriately linked to an ongoing effort to improve our image to potential conferences

[cajun4life]

I answered your question. Both have more experience with it than anyone on this board.

There is at a minimum 3 posters on here who called every move in realignment months earlier than anyone else. Your savior even stated that La Tech had near zero chance of getting in CUSA. He stated UAB had zero chance of dropping football. The Sun Belt was not going to lose any core members. Mike Lotief would never resign, Hud wouldn't accept a Tulane job, send a powder point to CUSA and publicly state that we aren't ready.

Yeah call me Charlie Brown one more time mother ____er. I just might believe you.

[CajunT]

Fair enough.

I will just say that, coming from a Master or Comprehensive Planning perspective, you are always stuck between the big ticket items and "low-hanging fruit". Its how to use the latter to maintain the energy until the former is satisfied.

At the end of the day, its the big ticket items that sell the program (IPFs, new athletic training complexes, Tigue improvements, increasing Cajun Field seating, etc.). But bringing these things to fruition kills our patience.

It's the "low-hanging fruit" that generates the energy. And I'd hope we'd be at the point the RCAF and how its run would be ready for the picking.

I absolutely agree that this is the best year in UL history. I'll go even farther and say we've NEVER been at this level for the entirety of the University. It's a different time.

But at the risk of being argumentative, I don't see how we know there is no sense of urgency if there is no line of communication.

From the thread I linked:

Quote Originally Posted by basinbear View Post
"Let me weigh in.....this is not for nothing. Dr. Savoie has teed this one up big time. He deserves 100% of our support right now. It does not get any more serious than this guys. We are smack in the middle of this fight and Our leader has drawn his sword. Lets stay positive and get behind Dr. Savoie.......we are not assured of an invite but we are damn well in the fight this time....and this time we have the ammo to do battle with.....Our leaders know how badly Ragin Cajun Nation wants this And I believe that they want it badly too and are acting accordingly......Lets support them in every way.....we can do this !!!!!"

And from T (albeit, on the Cox deal and a comment that the board should get involved):
"No we shouldn't! We have a consultant handling negotiations. This is a business deal, not a public vote."

What if the deal for us to go to CUSA is a package involving CST as well as the NOLA Bowl? I don't know if this conversation is best held during a luncheon with Hud or Farmer.

One thing I'm sure we'll agree on...

You're still a handsome, charming devil.

I stand by those comments for two reasons. First, the CST deal hinges upon finding a solution to the contractual obligation to ESPN and not a matter of politics. So no email campaign can resolve that matter. A top college Sports Service was brought in to help resolve that matter in a consultant role, something I applauded. Second, the consultant was a necessary move because of several poor decisions made at the top concerning the television rights of UL Athletics.

Of course, that is something you are not going to hear at any RCAF meeting.

[tdncz]

but not appropriately linked to an ongoing effort to improve our image to potential conferences

Although I (and I am sure others) either KNEW or SUSPECTED this (or certainly believe that it could only HELP our efforts) -- Isn't this something that Farmer, T- Joe, "Stewart", or ANY one else in the Admin might want to convey to the masses as part of their "efforts" to get us into CUSA?
Or is this more "Behind the Scenes" ....?