Memphis' West Gives City an Earful...

[CajunFun]

On his way out the door, UM's football coach blistered the school and the community.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...est-firing-an/

[rgamers]

...easily applies to the UL football program as well.

[ULtimateCajun]

See folks, we aren't the only ones with an AD that doesn't seem to care if we improve or not. I applaud a outgoing coach for saying what he said. If its true then it should be said. I would be frustrated to if the program I worked for put tons of money into bball and left football out in the cold. If they aren't going to take football seriously then they should scrap it all together. What's the point if there is no support from the ath. Dept. or community. I hope when/if Bustle is let go he to will let people know of the problems in the front office or the program.


igeaux.mobi

[Frenchie35]

I wonder what speech Bustle will give if (and I say if) they show him the door......He might use the same one because it can apply here.

Damn I was not the only one think about this......

[jllanclos]

I don't know that I agree that the same can be said about us...look, I'm as disappointed as anyone right now. We are underachieving. But we're committing to improvement. New turf. Indoor practice facility. RCAF. Don't put your blinders on because you and I disagree with some of the decisions being made. We are far from being Memphis football. Thank your lucky stars.


igeaux.mobi

[ULtimateCajun]

I don't think we are far off Memphis. Outside of facilities and rcaf (not downgrading those things) but as far as national perception, conference, recruiting, etc. Some might say Memphis is ahead of UL in that aspect. We both have unhappy/apathetic fan bases, a coach on the hot seat, dwindling attendance, etc...

I don't know that I agree that the same can be said about us...look, I'm as disappointed as anyone right now. We are underachieving. But we're committing to improvement. New turf. Indoor practice facility. RCAF. Don't put your blinders on because you and I disagree with some of the decisions being made. We are far from being Memphis football. Thank your lucky stars.


igeaux.mobi

igeaux.mobi

[HoustonCajun]

_ ...easily applies to the UL football program as well. _

Expand that to the entire athletic department and all sports.

[HoustonCajun]

_ I don't think we are far off Memphis. Outside of facilities and rcaf (not downgrading those things) but as far as national perception, conference, recruiting, etc. Some might say Memphis is ahead of UL in that aspect. We both have unhappy/apathetic fan bases, a coach on the hot seat, dwindling attendance, etc...




igeaux.mobi _

Let's add to that: the lowest paid head coach and coaching staff in 1A football, an AD who does no marketing, makes no public speaking appearances, has no known vision for UL athletics, there is no stated PLAN for where UL athletics is going and how we will get there, and a new President who is yet to publicily talk about athletics, its importance to the university and to the city of Lafayette and to make a firm committment to excellence and to the kind of funding needed to get us there. All people talk about is this sleeping giant of a university, a great town in Lafayette, a great Cajun culture, the best place in Louisiana to live. But, NONE of that translates into a successful football and athletic program. Our university has done nothing over the past 30 years to give us a winning program and an ardent fan following. Only now are we starting to see some positive changes. But, what do they mean? Where are we going with this? What is our PLAN for the next 5 -10 years? What are we going to give our coaches to help them succeed? We barely survive in the worse conference in the country. We get 42,000 fans one week and 16,000 the next for a Big 12 opponent, then an announced crowd of 12,000 after a couple of losses. We want to fire the coach because we haven't been to a bowl game and aren't winning. I don't know whether Bustle and this staff can take us to another level or if we need a replacement. But, whoever that coach is, Bustle or someone else, needs to have better support, better salaries, better facilities and better tools to succeed. Seems to me what this coach said just brought everything to the forefront as he could have been talking about UL as well as Memphis.

I hope someone brings this to the attention of Dr. S and the athletic department heads, as well as to the leaders of the Lafayette community who helped start-up the RCAF. It is time for a change in Lafayette and at UL. Maybe this could be the impetus for that change. I would sure like to see Josh Parrott take this up a notch and start addressing similar issues at UL in The Advertiser. It is time to make this university accountable. Either we are shooting for greatness in academics as well as athletics or continued mediocrity in both. It is decision time for UL. UL has been silent too long. Only when UL makes a statement will the Lafayette community and Acadiana follow.

[snote]

was it bum phillips who said: "they're 2 kinds of coaches, those that are fired and those that are going to get fired"

maybe he can stick on with the new guy..

brent pry..

• 2007-Present: University of Memphis
• 2002-06: University of Louisiana-Lafayette
• 1998-01: Western Carolina
• 1995-98/GA: Virginia Tech
• 1993-94: East Stroudsberg
• 1992/SA: Buffalo

[CajunFun]

_ I don't think we are far off Memphis.

UL's Athletic Budget: $10.9M
UM's Athletic Budget: $33.4M

[CajunFun]

_ Let's add to that: the lowest paid head coach and coaching staff in 1A football...

Fourth lowest: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...s-database.htm

Not that it makes much difference...

[beaux66]

just went through Lafayette this weekend for my homecoming at Abbeville. I was really impressed with the campus and the athletic facilities. You are far ahead of most of the belt and I would venture to say better than Tech. the only thing your football stadium needs is a good paint job. Other than that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. UL is fighting apathy from the average LSU fan in the area but there is nothing about your facilities that aren't beyond up to standards. The baseball and softball park were actually impressive as was the indoor facility and Cajun dome. Football stadium needs minor upgrades and a little cleaning and its all good. I wish Tech had half the step up you guys do.