Cajuns hoops crowds top SBC

[axg8750]

I just think it is what it is.

Typical "old school" way of thinking that makes the previous regime in Martin Hall infamous.

When Hud got here he should have just said, "well it is what it is" and never invisioned a Cajun football program that made going to and winning bowl games the standard.

There are beginning to be fewer and fewer of the "good ol' boys" left in the athletic department and Martin Hall, but when the ones that are left voice their opinion or lay their hands on a project it is painfully obvious what held this athletic program back for so many years.

"That's not how it's done here boy." Now don't ask any questions and damn sure don't ask for any time lines. Just keep buying those season tickets and sending those RCAF checks.

"Trust us. We are silently working on it behind the scenes under the stage, behind locked doors, in the dark..."

[Turbine]

Historically facts don't lie.

Still I don't think UL has scratched the surface on marketing options.

Ultimately when it comes to generating fan interest, it starts with creative marketing.

[Cajunsmike]

Historically facts don't lie.

Still I don't think UL has scratched the surface on marketing options.

Ultimately when it comes to generating fan interest, it starts with creative marketing.

If politics helped us play UNO, let's use those same levers with other state schools. Also have the RCAF fund one purchased game per year. Have the team win so big others will not consider it an embarrassment to lose to us or believe it will hurt them in recruiting. Those are my solutions. I realize they are difficult to do, especially the last one. As far as other schools, not playing us is a reason I have been given as well. Assistant coach who told me so is a straight forward guy and why would he lie to me? Some may say we should try harder to convince the area schools of the benefit of playing us but I can't answer how good our argument is. I also think if you do not want to come to a non D1 game, there should be a way for the university to resell that ticket with you getting some of that benefit. Donation to local schools may also be a possibility.

[gorcajun]

I also think if you do not want to come to a non D1 game, there should be a way for the university to resell that ticket with you getting some of that benefit. Donation to local schools may also be a possibility


Include "ticket usage" in the RCAF point system. Each time a season ticket is scanned, the season ticket holder would get credit for his/her attendance.

[Turbine]

Include "ticket usage" in the RCAF point system. Each time a season ticket is scanned, the season ticket holder would get credit for his/her attendance.

Good idea

[Cajunsmike]

Good idea

I agree putting ticket usage into the RCAF point system is a good idea. As far as scheduling goes, basketball in the south outside of the big schools simply is not the draw it once was. That is especially true for mid majors. Even the SEC schools outside of Kentucky do not regularly sell out. LSU had 2 NBA draft choices on this year's team and I think they only sold out against Kentucky. Florida won two NCAA titles this century and was a Final Four team in 2014. In 2015, they struggled a little and their attendance took a nose dive. I know we led our league and we are disappointed in the attendance. The non D1 games are only part of the issue. We still played 12 D1 home games and only reached 5000 once. I bet we were in the middle if CUSA nos. are included. I think real disappointment to us was not being ahead of Tech. However, Tech hosted an NIT game at home which drew a very large crowd and that helped their nos. Were we able to do that, we would probably draw well also. I gave my suggestions in a previous post. I don't have other solutions other than the team be more consistent which means start faster. Once again that will be difficult to do this season with some tough road games. Do you guys think attendance would improve for the home games if we pulled an upset or two in those games against Alabama, Miami, or UCLA. I personally have my doubts simply due to my belief that the sport does not interest many people in the deep south these days. I ask how many of you who live locally and generally follow only football or baseball would go to more basketball games if that occurred. It is important from a national perspective as one NCAA tournament win would bring more attention than winning the NCAA baseball championship. If you do not believe me, consider Sports Illustrated gave a grand total of 2 sentences to the CWS in this past issue.

[Cajun90]

When the big boys are complaining about early season interest in basketball I think its fairly easy to see that the problem is with the sport as a whole and not just the Cajuns.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...lany/23506613/

[Just1More]

Mike, in answer to your question... and it dovetails into what BOP was pointing out... we wouldn't likely see increased attendance, instantaneously with a better home opponent or two... nor in your question would a road win or two against a big program bump up our attendance (significantly) in follow up home games. That is not the attendance answer... exclusively. It is all about... as you even stated... consistent winning and post seasons. There is an overall drop in interest in MBB (only not apparent at the creme de la creme). I believe Lafayette and the UL MBB program can build back up. It will not happen with the available fans/spectators unless/until there's a buzz about how consistently they're beating everyone and making strong showings in the postseason. Good crowds are available through other means. Big steady crowds... there's no other way. And winning big in mid major MBB has to come first above all else.

[Just1More]

When the big boys are complaining about early season interest in basketball I think its fairly easy to see that the problem is with the sport as a whole and not just the Cajuns.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...lany/23506613/

I just read the article. Very good points. Jay's been telling us that we won't see crowds until after Jan 1, and he's dead on. I don't see adjusting basketball's timeframe. Individual programs just need to focus on their ways of building interest. I don't care if the sport as a whole figures something out. The P5 would tool it to only help them. Our chances of fitting in at the top of Louisiana and southern mid major basketball attendance is good. That's more essential than some blanket "innovation" by the entire sport. Many things are going to compete for butts in seats in mankind's future.

[Cajun90]

Some of the problems of being a Mid-Major in the article below. I've been hunting an article I saw last year concerning the attitude of the major teams and scheduling but can't seem to find it. Many of college basketball's top programs try and avoid playing anyone who could beat them on the road. Money doesn't even come into play. A lot of the major teams prefer to do tournaments at a neutral site rather than go on the road.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...061303909.html

[CajunRebel]

Some of the problems of being a Mid-Major in the article below. I've been hunting an article I saw last year concerning the attitude of the major teams and scheduling but can't seem to find it. Many of college basketball's top programs try and avoid playing anyone who could beat them on the road. Money doesn't even come into play. A lot of the major teams prefer to do tournaments at a neutral site rather than go on the road.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...061303909.html

Great article.

Not every challenge UL faces is a result of "Martin Hall thinking."

[Turbine]

Kentucky will enjoy big crowds as long as they win big but they are set up for a fall as soon as they falter for a few seasons.

The reason is no Kentucky fan knows the players on the team.

The thing that hurt baseball for so long is players came and went so fast there was no continuity to generate fan interest.

This is now a huge problem in basketball.

UL's fan interest began to fall when Jessie started shuffling transfers in like they were a dime a dozen.

Lee got rid of so many players with APR problems it was like the program was having to start over and then Marlin had to clear house of the inmates running the asylum.

So for different reasons from the National trend, (1, 2, 3 year players) UL has the same problem as the P5 schools who aren't maintaining continuity of interest.

UL Fans will need players playing for 4 years consistently to get attendance above 5,000 consistently.

jmo