Basketball in Blackham

[bballholic]

When was the last basketball game played in Blackham? What was the capacity? I've heard many stories from Coach Shipley and others about the great atmosphere in Blackham. Unfortunately, I've only seen UL/USL play their home games in the Cajun Dome. I've been inside Blackham for other events and it seems as if it would be a cozy venue for basketball. Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium (capacity just over 9,000) is proof that bigger isn't always better. I'd be interested in seeing any pictures if available! Thanks.

[weareLOUISIANA]

played 6 games in there after Hurricane Katrina 4 seasons ago.

[bballholic]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I think they should play 1-2 games per year there assuming it wouldn't be too much trouble. How long has it been since the Cajundome had a hard sellout?

[HoustonCajun]

_ Interesting, I didn't know that. I think they should play 1-2 games per year there assuming it wouldn't be too much trouble. How long has it been since the Cajundome had a hard sellout? _

You wouldn't have a sellout at Blackham either. The same 1,500 would show up at either place. Blackham had some historic moments in the Bo Lamar days, but that was 30+ years ago. It is a dump by today's standards. We have a great facility in the Dome. We just need a team and coach to get the local community excited again about UL bball.

Interesting to note, the UL vs. MT women's bball game yesterday had almost 3,000. That is double what UL men's bball attendance currently is. How sad is that and how low has UL basketball sunk?

[bballholic]

_ You wouldn't have a sellout at Blackham either. The same 1,500 would show up at either place. Blackham had some historic moments in the Bo Lamar days, but that was 30+ years ago. It is a dump by today's standards. We have a great facility in the Dome. We just need a team and coach to get the local community excited again about UL bball.

Interesting to note, the UL vs. MT women's bball game yesterday had almost 3,000. That is double what UL men's bball attendance currently is. How sad is that and how low has UL basketball sunk? _

You'd have a hard time selling out Lafayette High's gym with the current prouct. The Cajundome is a very nice facility, but it's also a large venue. You can put 7-8K in the Dome and still feel like it's somewhat empty. As far as the state of UL basketball, it's very sad. It's going to be a crappy year of college basketball for me since both UL and LSU stink.

[Tripple Threat]

_ When was the last basketball game played in Blackham? What was the capacity? I've heard many stories from Coach Shipley and others about the great atmosphere in Blackham. Unfortunately, I've only seen UL/USL play their home games in the Cajun Dome. I've been inside Blackham for other events and it seems as if it would be a cozy venue for basketball. Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium (capacity just over 9,000) is proof that bigger isn't always better. I'd be interested in seeing any pictures if available! Thanks. _

The games at Blackham after Katrina were fun. I don't remember who we played or if we even won, but it felt to me like the way the atmosphere should be. Nice and comfy as far as I'm concerned. Bleacher seats are rough, but if the team is rocking and rolling I don't think it matters. The atmosphere reminded me of Euro games, minus all the cigarette smoke...

Give me the team I saw in the late 90's or early 00's at Blackham and I think people would be wanting to go back. The best game atmosphere I've had at the Cajundome was I think the Sun Belt tournament when the student section was all the way up to the roof and we had a huge crawfish boil before the game. I couldn't hear my own yell b/c of the crowd...It was awesome! I'm depressed now...

[CajunCharlie]

_ When was the last basketball game played in Blackham? What was the capacity? I've heard many stories from Coach Shipley and others about the great atmosphere in Blackham. Unfortunately, I've only seen UL/USL play their home games in the Cajun Dome. I've been inside Blackham for other events and it seems as if it would be a cozy venue for basketball. Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium (capacity just over 9,000) is proof that bigger isn't always better. I'd be interested in seeing any pictures if available! Thanks. _

I can only relate to you my experience with basketball in Blackham. A close friend of mine from my days at SLI, and the USAF, worked in the USL athletic department. One day he called during '75 basketball season and offered me his season tickets for the Lamar game. On entering Blackham I was astounded by the crowd size. It was filled to capacity and then some. The crowd was in a frenzy, and the Red Dots were having a ball. In all honesty I was concerned as to what could happen if trouble began between the Cajuns and the Cardinal fans. Nothing occurred, and if my old memory serves me correctly the Cajuns won.

My next game was for a McNeese game. Again, my old friend provided the tickets. The atmosphere was even more charged than the Lamar game. It was filled to capacity, there were people standing on the outside of each court end. Obviously the Fire Marshall looked the other way. The Cowboy fans had the Cajun students and Red Dots in a lather. The noise level was unbelievable, what with the bands playing (back then the visiting teams, who were able to do so, brought their pep bands), and the fans of both teams added mightily to the noise level. Again, I feared for me and my wife's safety. In fact, I recall telling her that if one fight broke out we were going to leave, and to do so with the utmost haste. Happily we stayed for the whole game. Again, I believe the Cajuns won.

In reality one had to be there to even have an idea of the support that Cajun fans gave to the basketball team. I had to wait until the following year to obtain season tickets, with the help of my friend. I do not recall one home game that Blackham was not filled to capacity, and the Fire Marshall tolerated the "few extra" fans that had to stand outside of the court ends.

Ever since those days I have been a season ticket holder, but it is just not the same. The largest crowd I have witnessed at the Dome was for the Georgia game, and even that didn't fill the facility. I don't know if we will ever see a repeat of the Blackham days. I sincerely hope so, but they better hurry up. I am getting up in age, and would like to see the glory days return!

[rhineaux]

_ The games at Blackham after Katrina were fun. I don't remember who we played or if we even won, but it felt to me like the way the atmosphere should be. Nice and comfy as far as I'm concerned. Bleacher seats are rough, but if the team is rocking and rolling I don't think it matters. The atmosphere reminded me of Euro games, minus all the cigarette smoke...

Give me the team I saw in the late 90's or early 00's at Blackham and I think people would be wanting to go back. The best game atmosphere I've had at the Cajundome was I think the Sun Belt tournament when the student section was all the way up to the roof and we had a huge crawfish boil before the game. I couldn't hear my own yell b/c of the crowd...It was awesome! I'm depressed now... _

Two of those games played there a few years ago were against McNeese and Oral Roberts. You might remember that being the year that McNeese came and forgot their Uniforms and had to wear the Cajun practice uni's for the first half. Not sure who the other opponents were.

The other game you mention with the crawfish boil was in 2003 v. WKU. It was not a conf tourney game, but was scheduled at the end of the season and I believe it was for the top seed in the conf tourney. It was a big game and was on ESPN2, but didn't sell out. The Cajuns lost. by 5 or 7 points or so.

Overall, the CajunDome is a good venue, far from great...it has several comforts and isn't overrun by rats or anything, so by default, it is better than Blackham. BC would have some nostalgia, but I don't know that it would be that much better. I think most of us younger guys wanted to re-live those moments back in 2005, but the team just wasn't all that good that year, and attendance was pretty low.

There are some things that could be done to the CajunDome to make it a better basketball arena. Seating could be restricted to the 1st and 2nd levels. The pull out bleachers could be better designed on the ends and corners to bring the seating closer to the court. The student section could be better organized and improved greatly. Beer prices could be reduced. But, most importantly, the team playing inside of it could be a lot better.

[Duggie35]

IMHO, a good team would create a good atmosphere, regardless of the venue. It was very easy to have a great atmosphere at Blackham because we had a Top 10 team back in those days. If we could return to putting a Top 20 team on the court (or maybe just a Top 50 team), the CajunDome would be just fine!!!!!!!!! It would probably get pretty good again if we would just compete for, or win, another Conference Championship one day!!!!

[CajunsHat]

There are some things that could be done to the CajunDome to make it a better basketball arena. Seating could be restricted to the 1st and 2nd levels. The pull out bleachers could be better designed on the ends and corners to bring the seating closer to the court. The student section could be better organized and improved greatly. Beer prices could be reduced. But, most importantly, the team playing inside of it could be a lot better. _

i agree with all of the above... and i really think it is a waste to use the third level of cajun dome when you only have 500-1000 in attendance. close off the 3rd level and just focus on making the first and second level appear full. but, first and foremost, get the team better. my family and i have been cajun fans since before i was born, i am an alum and i would have never thought about missing games unless i had work. but, i can honestly say my parents didnt even renew their season tickets, after i dont even know how long they had them till this season, and i have attended 2 games...both lost bad in 2nd half. it isnt worth going to a game to leave ____ed off every time. and the beer prices suck! i dont care about the food prices, i dont go to games to enjoy food and a game, i go to watch a game and having a beer while watching a game is all the same. drop beer prices by a couple of bucks and im sure MORE BEER WILL BE SOLD...atleast we could have a good time while our team falls apart in the second half.

[CajunsHat]

_ IMHO, a good team would create a good atmosphere, regardless of the venue. It was very easy to have a great atmosphere at Blackham because we had a Top 10 team back in those days. If we could return to putting a Top 20 team on the court (or maybe just a Top 50 team), the CajunDome would be just fine!!!!!!!!! It would probably get pretty good again if we would just compete for, or win, another Conference Championship one day!!!! _

i would be happy with top 100 team...we wont be top 50 for another decade even if we improve any after this year. you gotta earn respect in any sport. we cant have fluke seasons or fluke wins. have consistentcy and the respect and rankings will follow. playing teams that will soon be div. III and current div. II teams and LOSING, doesnt help anything except to help make us look even worse than we are. lets aim at improving then look for earning respect. lets have a winning season in football and basketball then talk about what needs to happen further. 6-6 and 5-15 (if we are lucky) isnt good enough for me.

[reddot]

One day he called during '75 basketball season and offered me his season tickets for the Lamar game. On entering Blackham I was astounded by the crowd size. It was filled to capacity and then some. The crowd was in a frenzy, and the Red Dots were having a ball. In all honesty I was concerned as to what could happen if trouble began between the Cajuns and the Cardinal fans. Nothing occurred, and if my old memory serves me correctly the Cajuns won.

My next game was for a McNeese game. Again, my old friend provided the tickets. The atmosphere was even more charged than the Lamar game. It was filled to capacity, there were people standing on the outside of each court end. Obviously the Fire Marshall looked the other way. The Cowboy fans had the Cajun students and Red Dots in a lather.

If it was '75 the dots weren't there yet as most of us were still in high school.
It may have been a few years later. It still rocked though.