Yes sir, I am. Since the 60's as a matter of fact. When I was young Southern and Grambling had teams that could have played heads up with the best in this country thanks to racial segregation. Between the two programs they must have a dozen or more NFL Hall of Famers.
I'm certainly good for the lunch bet, count me in.
FYI Bayou Classic Attendace Results
YEAR WINNER SCORE ATTENDANCE YEAR WINNER SCORE ATTENDANCE
1974 GRAMBLING 21-0 76,753 1993 SOUTHERN 31-13 72,586
1975 GRAMBLING 33-17 73,214 1994 SOUTHERN 34-7 66,641
1976 GRAMBLING 10-2 76,188 1995 SOUTHERN 30-14 67,361
1977 GRAMBLING 55-20 68,518 1996 SOUTHERN 17-12 71,586
1978 GRAMBLING 28-15 72,000 1997 SOUTHERN 30-7 64,500
1979 SOUTHERN 14-7 67,500 1998 SOUTHERN 26-14 60,986
1980 GRAMBLING 43-6 75,000 1999 SOUTHERN 37-31 67,641
1981 SOUTHERN 50-20 67,500 2000 SOUTHERN 33-29 72,000
1982 SOUTHERN 22-17 71,555 2001 GRAMBLING 30-20 67,345
1983 GRAMBLING 24-10 58,199 2002 SOUTHERN 48-24 72,586
1984 GRAMBLING 31-29 51,752 2003 SOUTHERN 44-41 70,151
1985 GRAMBLING 29-12 57,041 2004 GRAMBLING 24-13 68,911
1986 GRAMBLING 30-3 58,960 2005 GRAMBLING 50-35 53,214
1987 SOUTHERN 27-21 55,783 2006 SOUTHERN 21-17 47,136
1988 SOUTHERN 10-3 55,450 2007 SOUTHERN 22-13 53,297
1989 GRAMBLING 44-30 64,333 2008 GRAMBLING 29-14 59,874
Honestly, I only wish the Cajun football had something like this every season.
Can you imagine it....
I'll just go pick up my free lunch at subway now... cuz if you don't see an almost sold out crowd, I'll be shocked... and gladly treat ya to a chicken parm sandwich.
I was among the 3-4K in the stands at Cajun Field on cold, wet November evenings back in '97, '98, '99, etc. so I know something about small crowds. I'm really not trying to convince you of anything but the recent dip in attendance you see is probably due to a lot of their fans believing it's time for a HC change and some not so stellar won/loss records (by their standards) lately. There's every reason to believe the Jags will bring a sizable group of fans to this game and far more than anyone except the BBU Cowpies, Tex. A&M or Alabama.
The 1AA opponent doesn't hurt as much as it once did. Florida played a 1AA in 2008 and they made it to the BCS Championship game and by the way won. I believe LSU may have played a 1AA in the 2007 season and went on to win the BCS title. If you want 6 or 7 home games you will probably need a 1AA to fill it. You just have to be sure and beat them.
We were supposed to beat McNeese a couple of years ago too but look what happened. Florida played a 1AA team last year and went on to win a BCS Championship. Its about getting 6 or 7 home games and more money. Southern will bring in a ton of fans therefore they spend more at the concession stand. I just hope the concession situation is better than it was for the McNeese game when you stood in line for almost a full quarter of the game to get something to drink.
I agree they travel even better than McNeese fans but will the UL //L fans show up. A number of them showed up because of their memories of the old USL/McNeese rivialy games and there is not that connection with Southern. But that being said it should be a really great crowd.
I have a news flash for you most larger 1A schools look at the Cajuns with a similar attitude that the Cajuns look at McNeese. Why should we go play at the smaller venue? Since UL //L decided to got 1A how many larger schools have played at Cajun Field? Not many and by many I mean 10 or more teams. Granted its true 1A teams don't got to 1AA venues but I think the Cajun/Cowboy past rivialy makes it a little more unique. What would be the big deal in throwing them a bone once and a while?
Newer news flash... attitudes don't matter. If FCS schools want to play FBS schools, they travel... period. We don't have to work out return favors. The idea is not to evaluate where our program has been (in this massive slump due to bad management). It is about getting our act together and doing what we have available to do. That does not include scheduling "FCS away games". I have no problem scheduling a heavily attended game opportunity with McNeese or Southern, but you do not offer return games. They get their benefit out of coming to Cajun Field and taking a shot at us with an easy travel plan for their fans.
(Zephyr) you cannot watch CST and gauge attendance for Southern home games. They position cameras similar to Cajun Field. The student/visitor side is not where you accurately assess attendance. I go to all Cajun Field home games, and for those recast by Cox, I could not believe how bad it "looked" as opposed to the reality of how full the press box side was. Cajun Field needs to figure out how to encourage CST to place a primary camera on the student side, looking back at the press box side, and politely request that "fan shots" include them.
Southern will be "well attended". Part of the draw will be from the surrounding Acadiana area who probably don't normally attend Southern or UL games. Southern fans themselves look for interesting travel opps, and I think Lafayette and Cajun Field very much interest them right now. They see us as beatable and they are excited about it.
As for the risk of the occasional home game against D1AA teams... if we cannot summon up the courage to take on any and every D1AA school, and expect to win... it is time to shut down the program. The "risk" issue should not be in the equation. It is strictly someone who will accomodate you schedule-wise and a nice crowd opportunity.
I believe in using the proper designation for the school. You don't have to like it I have the right to express myself however I chose. Since this site seems to not allow freedom of expression I have to stoop to this in order to use the proper designation. If you want to use UL I have no problem with that. Having graduated when the school was still USL I have been known to use that designation when talking about where I went to school. I am not embarrased about where I graduated from.
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