The Players Want to Win

[TheRaginCajun06]

I can see why someone would rather send there kid to be a 3rd string WR at LSU than to be a first stringer at UL.

I used to ask this all the time. I just thought about it.

Let's say you take your high school son to a football game and see the product on the field and see Bustle with his shirt untucked looking less professional than the fans...

You turn to your kid and say... this is not the school you want to play for.

Now in reverse if we were a school on the upswing and a coach with passion... running and screaming down the sideline... making it known that he wants nothing more than a victory you may tell that same kid he could asssist in making this program better.

It's not just that UL is losing these games... it's how we lose them.

We're not bashing the players. The players would also rather be winning. I think we had the talent last year to get one more win and win a bowl game. We didn't have the guidance.

[MissingMandy]

_ To the previous post, I have thick skin and so does my son, however bashing the coaches does not help the moral of this team as a whole. I am grateful that this is my son last year, and he comes away with a degree. It is sad too me that people can wish a person to lose there job. This is a sport and every one wants to win .I will be there for my son and any other player that needs a positive word .I will also support the coaches and I will not justify or make excuses for unacceptable behavior on this board, Thank you for your support everyone does have there right to have freedom of speech. _

My goal was to support you not make you angry. I'm on your side! I too support my son, other players, the coaches and the team. I just hate to see a mom hurt...as I have been many times after reading this board. Hang in there and good luck to you and your son in all of his future endeavors. Good job on his part for obtaining that degree, to me that is the most important thing an athlete can take away from UL. Bashing coaches is wrong but you can't stop what people do and say...we as parents just need to support our coaches and our team. Let the rest of the folks say what they want...you can't control it. Take care...I'm on your side.

[CajunFan89]

_ To the previous post, I have thick skin and so does my son, however bashing the coaches does not help the moral of this team as a whole. I am grateful that this is my son last year, and he comes away with a degree. It is sad too me that people can wish a person to lose there job. This is a sport and every one wants to win .I will be there for my son and any other player that needs a positive word .I will also support the coaches and I will not justify or make excuses for unacceptable behavior on this board, Thank you for your support everyone does have there right to have freedom of speech. _

what unacceptable behavior is going on via this board? I don't get how you you think we are bashing the coaches and decreasing the moral of this team. It would be one thing if it was Bustle's initial year and we were ripping him a new one, but he has been here close to 8 years. In this case, the old saying past performance predicts future results proves to be true. He has consistently dropped the ball in the latter half of the season. Bustle has taken on the business of coaching like a high school kid who doesn't want to work as opposed. What do you think your boss would say if you were supposed to wear a nice suit to work and you showed up in jeans and t-shirt. this is the points we are trying to make s to why Bustle isn't deserving. Appearance is everything and Bustle just doesn't look the part

[Turbine]

Just for the record Bustle and Co. can turn a season around.

In 2005 the team was 1-5 with 5 games to play. I saw something special in the player’s attitude even though the team was losing and I openly predicted (actually guaranteed) 5 straight wins to close the season.

I was right they did and finished 6-5 and were bowl eligible for the first time in 10 years.

The Sun Belt office broke the teams back though by nixing a regular season champ when they stopped the ranking short of a tie breaker and declared a 3-team tie.

This hurt because when it came time to declare a Sun Belt representative in the NO Bowl they excluded ULM from the talk and just looked at UL vs ASU head to head.

ps it was a different Co.

[CajunFan89]

_ Just for the record Bustle and Co. can turn a season around.

In 2005 the team was 1-5 with 5 games to play. I saw something special in the player’s attitude even though the team was losing and I openly predicted (actually guaranteed) 5 straight wins to close the season.

I was right they did and finished 6-5 and were bowl eligible for the first time in 10 years.

The Sun Belt office broke the teams back though by nixing a regular season champ when they stopped the ranking short of a tie breaker and declared a 3-team tie.

This hurt because when it came time to declare a Sun Belt representative in the NO Bowl they excluded ULM from the talk and just looked at UL vs ASU head to head.

ps it was a different Co. _

didn't bustle fire or get rid of his entire coaching staff after that season or do i have wrong information?

[Turbine]

_ didn't bustle fire or get rid of his entire coaching staff after that season or do i have wrong information? _

The mass firing took place the next year which was a year UL had the exact same record after 11 games.

[CajunFan89]

was this on account of the fact that he was expecting more out of his coaches or did his assistants have other underlying issues that were unsavory to the athletic dept.?

[Jo Cajun Momma]

I am very sad that the football team is having a hard time and getting wins, However, These young men want to win and they are hurt and feeling the lost, more than you all will ever know I am a mother. Please keep in mind these young men read this board, and they are feeling the failure, some of the things that are verbalized is right on the line of emotional abuse.

I have one question does anyone on this board have a son that plays football for the college? And if so how would you feel if you read that your kid is a failure, loser and that there team is in capable of being a winner, As a parent that hurts me and I wish that I could change everything, Bustle is the coach he is not in control of the outcome, yes he plays apart in how the plays are called. However let’s remember that everyone we play is out to win as we are, maybe if we put positive energy out for our player and coaches, we can get some back just a thought.

I read you post hours ago, but it takes me awhile to gather my thoughts...so forgive me if I am repeating what others have said.
Gmom:
Yes, I do have a son on the UL team; he wants to win, too.
I rarely see emotionally abusive comments about players, but I thought Saturday’s game day thread was pretty bad at times “Dummies” etc. But, in their defense the comments were in the “heat” of the game with little time to reflect on their words. (We yelled a few things at the computer screen, too.) I lookout for all the players, too. Though I think my son could handle most anything these guys dish out, too, I would prefer that the players that get upset by this sort of thing just stop reading here for awhile. I’ve heard of “movie stars” that never read the tabloids and are so much happier being ignorant of their own shenanigans.


I hope I have brought up my children to take responsibility for their own action. Pointing a finger of blame at others…especially their coach or fellow teammates, does not accomplish personal growth. However, coaches are in a position of authority and it is their JOB to point out areas that need improvement…as well as, the UL administration’s responsibility to address coaching improvements. If the admin. needs help figuring out areas of improvement...there seems to be plenty of folks that are willing to tell them.


I disagree (somewhat) with your comments about about the level of responsibility that the coaches have for a loss. It is more than calling plays. They choose which players will become a part of UL football, teach the players how to perform in college football, decide which players actually get to play in the game, and make adjustments after they see the results of everything. (The lack of adjustment seems to be most frustrating to me.)


Though not totally within the coaches’ control, they also have a level of responsibility towards the player’s attitude, motivation and personal preparation for the game.


My son’s career is coming to an end for the Cajuns, too. We are extremely pleased with UL and its coaches. He plays on special teams which have been a major focus for Coach Bustle. This extra attention for special teams has proven to be very effective.

” Bustle said. “We’re going to put our best players on these teams, whether they’re a starter or a backup. We’re going to study film and try to find a weak point… “You’re doing things to help you win, whether it’s blocking an extra point or a field goal,” Bustle said. “That’s kids trying their best.”>>

I can’t judge anyone for their comments about the coaches because I am ignorant of so much of the UL sports history that some of these guys/gals on this forum have witnessed. While I would like to give the coaches time to make adjustments…it seems, some have already used most of their patience on past years.

[RaginWaldo]

i think the main person that shows lack of motivation and placing blame on the players to save his own ass is your loyal head coach Ricky Bustle. It's time to fire the bum and hire a real head coach who shows initiative and positive energy for the team.

[ULtimateCajun]

I've never heard anyone saying the players dont want to win. Any athlete wants to win and compete. that's why they do what they do. Coaching has to give those players the opportunity to compete and win. THAT is what I think is lacking. the opportunity to win. The preperation that it takes to go out on saturday and win.

[RaisingCajun08]

I think everyone on this board would agree that we also feel very sorry for the players. They go into every practice, film review, game, etc and do everything they can to win. What we are complaining about is a coaching staff that is not helping out the cause. It is the coaches job to put the players in a position to win and it is the players job to execute. We lack much more in strategy than we do execution.

As far as Bustle, why shouldnt we have the right to call for his job? You have to look at this like a business. If you were the owner of a company and your manager was making the wrong decisions and causing the business to go down, would you not fire him? I sure would.

As far as the rest of the season goes, I will continue to support the team that I love regardless of what their record is or what the score is on the scoreboard. I support the players and the players families that have chosen to come to our school.

[cajun tom]

_ I am very sad that the football team is having a hard time and getting wins, However, These young men want to win and they are hurt and feeling the lost, more than you all will ever know I am a mother. Please keep in mind these young men read this board, and they are feeling the failure, some of the things that are verbalized is right on the line of emotional abuse.

I have one question does anyone on this board have a son that plays football for the college? And if so how would you feel if you read that your kid is a failure, loser and that there team is in capable of being a winner, As a parent that hurts me and I wish that I could change everything, Bustle is the coach he is not in control of the outcome, yes he plays apart in how the plays are called. However let’s remember that everyone we play is out to win as we are, maybe if we put positive energy out for our player and coaches, we can get some back just a thought. _

I want to win too. That is why we need a coaching change.