average.....again

[Just1More]

I think anyone who is emphatic... at this point... about Bustle's future... is an idiot. If you are absolutely hung on Bustle... you are missing a chromosome. If you are saying he sucks, you are missing the other chromosome. It's a tough, tough call. He has earned respect enough not to trash him. He hasn't done enough for anyone to hail him.

My main thoughts are... if we are not going to do something exceptional with the coaching "change"... then let's do nothing at all. We will not lose a lot of current support. However, we will not gain more this coming year.

If we ARE going to do something exceptional with the coaching "change"... then I am all for it.

The one thing I will campaign to rack this administration where it hurts is if they make a half baked decision. They realize... as do I... that if we keep Bustle... the financial support system will go sideways next year. If they do something serious with a coaching improvement... RCAF will dramatically leap upward. It is the nature of the beast.

If Bustle stays next year, and we do not win 8 games... we should not only fire Bustle... but we should also go back and circle the posts on here where some numbnuts have Bustle-loved us over the past couple of years. We give a pass to the moms of the players... they are expected to have coachlove in their experience here... but some of you guys are testoterone deprived and need to stop loving on every man that coaches at this place.

[Boomer]

We need to fire him now or give him an extended contract--------To do this requires Mucho info from the staff, kids,fans,etc----Breaking up is hard to do and so is Love hurts=====I have been in the firing thing and have talked to 3 previous head coaches that I worked with and it ain't fun!!!! I will be honest--I have not a clue!!!! I love our school and just wish we could get a bowl bid!!!!!

[Go_UL]

but some of you guys are testoterone deprived and need to stop loving on every man that coaches at this place.

Or some of us or full of testosterone and want to act with out thinking.
"Me tarzan I man I make decision now because me mad we win more or coach go no matter what" No matter how flat a pancake there are always two sides. I respect you opinion but I don't agree and it has nothing to do with
as you say "coach love"

[anhil8tor]

_ I think anyone who is emphatic... at this point... about Bustle's future... is an idiot. If you are absolutely hung on Bustle... you are missing a chromosome. If you are saying he sucks, you are missing the other chromosome. It's a tough, tough call. He has earned respect enough not to trash him. He hasn't done enough for anyone to hail him.

My main thoughts are... if we are not going to do something exceptional with the coaching "change"... then let's do nothing at all. We will not lose a lot of current support. However, we will not gain more this coming year.

If we ARE going to do something exceptional with the coaching "change"... then I am all for it.

The one thing I will campaign to rack this administration where it hurts is if they make a half baked decision. They realize... as do I... that if we keep Bustle... the financial support system will go sideways next year. If they do something serious with a coaching improvement... RCAF will dramatically leap upward. It is the nature of the beast.

If Bustle stays next year, and we do not win 8 games... we should not only fire Bustle... but we should also go back and circle the posts on here where some numbnuts have Bustle-loved us over the past couple of years. We give a pass to the moms of the players... they are expected to have coachlove in their experience here... but some of you guys are testoterone deprived and need to stop loving on every man that coaches at this place. _

I am in agreement here. Last year he had a great team that was decimated by injuries. He won six. This year he lost the big three and still won six. He beat KSU at home and Arkie State on the road. Unless there is some super candidate that we do not know of... give him his last year. Let the fans, Bustle and players know what is expected. Be clear and specific. If its 7 games... say its 7. If its a bowl game say it is. That way if it is not reached... he can go. I can't wait to get my season tickets next year!

[SlappyCajun]

Just looking at our program....

Why should we expect more than 6 and 6?

Do we far and away have a better program than that? I don't think we do....

We all love the University and see the program and the potential that we have as something amazing. However, that is because we all walked the campus and have spent time here and know that it is an amazing place.

But if you look at it through an objective pair of eyes. If you are a high school recruit from Florida, or a coach looking for a new job, are you convinced that UL is as special a place as we all think it is.

I mean the coach from Tulane was gonna come and work for Bustle, and he jumped to Tech as soon as the he had a chance.

As for firing Coach Bustle....Maybe it is time to roll the dice and go for someone new. Perhaps you all think that he has maxed out and this is as good as it is going to get. I have my own ideas about what direction I want the program to go. However, I always want people to remember this....

Rickey Bustle is a person, he has a family, and he is a good man. I don't think any of you would disagree with this. So, keep your comments about him as respectful as possible. (I haven't seen any major problems with this.) For everyone who posts with a hint of "anyone could do a better job than that" or "even I could do better..." SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He came here when our program was an absolute disgrace and a Cluster****. If you disagree with the job he is doing now so be it, however, he rescued this program from the ****pile it was in and has built somewhat of a foundation. He has brought in exciting players, given us memorable moments, and has prepared us for the future. (Who knows if Mike doesn't get hurt last year, we may already be bowling.) Coaching Division I athletics is one of the hardest jobs in the world. The time constraints it puts on you and the toll it takes on your family life are incredible. Ricky Bustle through it all has been a class act, brought in great kids and put the program back on solid ground.

Again, I have no problem with people who think that the program can do better. And I encourage debate about whether or not the administration should hire a new coach. However, don't discount what Bustle did or how he did it.

[zephyr]

_ I think anyone who is emphatic... at this point... about Bustle's future... is an idiot. If you are absolutely hung on Bustle... you are missing a chromosome. If you are saying he sucks, you are missing the other chromosome. It's a tough, tough call. He has earned respect enough not to trash him. He hasn't done enough for anyone to hail him.

My main thoughts are... if we are not going to do something exceptional with the coaching "change"... then let's do nothing at all. We will not lose a lot of current support. However, we will not gain more this coming year.

If we ARE going to do something exceptional with the coaching "change"... then I am all for it.

The one thing I will campaign to rack this administration where it hurts is if they make a half baked decision. They realize... as do I... that if we keep Bustle... the financial support system will go sideways next year. If they do something serious with a coaching improvement... RCAF will dramatically leap upward. It is the nature of the beast.

If Bustle stays next year, and we do not win 8 games... we should not only fire Bustle... but we should also go back and circle the posts on here where some numbnuts have Bustle-loved us over the past couple of years. We give a pass to the moms of the players... they are expected to have coachlove in their experience here... but some of you guys are testoterone deprived and need to stop loving on every man that coaches at this place. _

The last few years I haven't seen a whole lot of "Bustle Love" so I'm not sure who you can possibly be referring to.

[Just1More]

_ but some of you guys are testoterone deprived and need to stop loving on every man that coaches at this place.

Or some of us or full of testosterone and want to act with out thinking.
"Me tarzan I man I make decision now because me mad we win more or coach go no matter what" No matter how flat a pancake there are always two sides. I respect you opinion but I don't agree and it has nothing to do with
as you say "coach love" _

"Some of you guys" leaves you out if you say so. I didn't single you out as a "coachlover". And you are right, there are also testosterone enraged neanderthals that always want to fire everyone involved. Most logical people throw out the extremes and look for reasonable arguments. I don't mind one bit that you disagree with my opinion. I give my reasons that support my opinion and like to hear where I have it wrong... so I can work on it and try to improve it for the next opportunity. I can get wound up and still uncoil in a blink. Take care.

[wcd35]

_ We need to fire him now or give him an extended contract--------To do this requires Mucho info from the staff, kids,fans,etc----Breaking up is hard to do and so is Love hurts=====I have been in the firing thing and have talked to 3 previous head coaches that I worked with and it ain't fun!!!! I will be honest--I have not a clue!!!! I love our school and just wish we could get a bowl bid!!!!! _

Why must we do either? I know the whole thing about coaches working on their last year being bad, etc, but I think this has to be an exception.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Bravo, That sums up how i feel also. I was so proud last night and angry at
the same time. Geaux Cajuns _

Ah, our beloved Sun Belt Conference. They screw us every time, whether it is our name, officiating, etc. This conference is a joke. I swear I think we would be better off being an independent. Scheduling? Would never be a problem as every conference is looking to schedule OOC games. Playing for a conference title and automatic tournament bid and bowl bid? When was the last time we did that in any sport except softball? And, we just got that automatic conference bid a year or so ago. Before that, we got a bid to the playoffs every year despite being in the SBC without an automatic bid. How many times did we win the baseball conference championship, yet that didn't hurt our tournament selection. Revenue? What revenue does this conference generate for us? Seems like we could make a lot more money playing a better schedule without having to share with anyone else. Want to stake a claim for our Louisiana name as an Independent, something our conference won't help us with? Want to establish separation from ULM and LA Tech? Want to be in a better position to be picked for another conference later when/if conference reallignment reoccurs?

We really have no other conference options right now. So, are we better off in the worse conference in the country with no direct benefits from our affiliation or as an Independent along with Notre Dame, Army and Navy? Can we schedule better, get more recognition, more revenue, and still go to bowl games and get NCAA invites as an Independent? If 7 wins is the barometer, does it matter what conference we are in or that we are even in a conference? Our AD might have to work a little harder to schedule, but so what? Do we have natural rivalries in the SBC? None. Could we still schedule games vs. SBC members if needed? They need to schedule games, too.

Our last great year of scheduling in football was in 1996 when we went 5-6 vs. the following schools. Could we recruit better athletes to play this kind of schedule or vs. what we currently play? Would UL be perceived differently both statewide and nationally?

Florida (A)
Texas A&M (H)
Southern Miss (A)
LA Tech (A)
Houston (H)
Ark. State (H)
UAB (A)
Memphis (H)
VA Tech (A)
N. Illinois (H)
Texas Tech (A)

I know many will say this is a rediculous idea. If we were in a better conference, I wouldn't be making this suggestion. Our long term objective should be to build up our program to be admitted to a better conference later, because who knows what options might be available if there is another conference reallignment. Can we progress faster athletically as an Independent and gain more recognition and notoriety? Are we just treating water in the SBC? Just what is the biggest argument for staying in the SBC?

[Go_UL]

"Some of you guys" leaves you out if you say so. I didn't single you out as a "coachlover". And you are right, there are also testosterone enraged neanderthals that always want to fire everyone involved. Most logical people throw out the extremes and look for reasonable arguments. I don't mind one bit that you disagree with my opinion. I give my reasons that support my opinion and like to hear where I have it wrong... so I can work on it and try to improve it for the next opportunity. I can get wound up and still uncoil in a blink. Take care.

I don't think you have it wrong. There is not a simple solution that will solve
all issues. I think it is great we can disagree and have open discussion about the state of the program. I really don't think there is one path that leads us
to the promise land, some just come with more bumps. Have a great day