Preview: The Louisiana vs Tech Game

[Cajunfanatico]

I think he lacks composure and tends to over-value emotion in terms of preparation. As one of your poster's observed some games aren't "lost" on any given night. I contend that they aren't really lost on the week's preparation either. Big games are won by the type of "system" and "culture" the head coach instills throughout the year. Hud is reactionary and emotional. Thus, his teams have that same mindset.

While I can't disagree that a team often reflects the mindset of the head coach, I'm not sure how you've been able to discern that Hud over-values emotion in terms of preparation. If you'd care to provide some examples, I'd appreciate it.

I'm not a student of the game, nor have I ever played it so there are many aspects of it that are beyond my basic understanding. For instance, I recall discussing our recent history with Texas State football with fans on another forum. Like your team's recent history with us, we own Texas State. I wondered how it is that we could be so dominant over them, yet turn around and lose to a team that they then seem to dominate. Another Cajun poster pointed out that the answer is often as simple as "matchups".

There's no doubt that no matter how good an individual coach may be, if the other team has bigger, faster, better athletes they're likely to win the game. As G. Gordon Liddy always said, a good big guy will beat a good little guy virtually every trip of the train. It's in those head-to-head conference-type matchups where I think the quality of the coaching staff makes the difference, especially their ability to make adjustments at half time. Sometimes I grade Hud well, sometimes not-so-well. His history of getting the team up for bowl games has been stellar, but each year we lose a game or two that most of us fans believe we should have won. Last week's was one of them and Hud later identified some of the things that had me considering Akron as a trap game. Damn if it wasn't.

Having said all of that, I still wouldn't trade him for Holtz. Hud was the right guy at the right time for our program and I doubt anyone could have accomplished what he has, especially off the field. Yeah, this year and last we've had our share of embarrassing loses, but so has LaTech.

Here's to a good, hard-fought, injury-free game Saturday night and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

[boxerdog]

Admittedly, my valuation of Hud is based on a relatively small amount of observation. I attribute the team's tendency to inexplicably botch big games on a regular basis to overly emotional motivational tactics. That said, he has demonstrated the ability to recruit and if his persona is a good fit, you guys should stick with him. He's going to win games. That's been proven.

I appreciate the discussion and safe travels to all who come down.

[Cajunfanatico]

I attribute the team's tendency to inexplicably botch big games on a regular basis to overly emotional motivational tactics.

Since our discussion started out on the basis of Holtz being a better coach than Hud, I have a few more questions since in my view Holtz too has demonstrated an ability to "botch" big games as well.

Assuming in your view that Hud is the "emotional" guy versus Holtz the "system" guy, what do you believe was the reason for two of Tech's most embarrassing recent losses, in particular, the Northwestern State and ODU games of last year? Neither of those teams had superior athletic ability in my view yet both came away with wins in what should have been easy victories for Tech. Was that "system", "emotion", or something else? And I'm sure that even you would say that the Northwestern game should be considered a "botch" of biblical proportions.

Your ODU loss reminds me very much of our App State loss last year. Tech and the Cajuns both on cruise control with decent winning streaks, confident, and facing a game with significant meaning for the conference title race. While ours was a home loss and yours on the road, both of our teams should have won though I think everyone now realizes that App State was likely fielding a far better squad than ODU last year. What happened there? System?

Finally, while not an apples to oranges comparison, I still think it's interesting to see what both of these coaches did in their first year with the program......that's to say, working with someone else's players and "history". Hud took a team that had gone 3-9 the year before and had been pretty miserable for the previous few years and managed to win 9 games including a bowl game. Holtz on the other hand, took a team that had been nationally ranked the year before and went 4-8.

I guess where I'm going with all of this is that I believe that regardless of the quality of the sytem a coach has in place, every coach, to a certain degree, is going to rely on emotion to some extent to motivate his team. In that respect Holtz is no different than Hud.

[Cajunjeb]

Beating neck is important. But, having a shot at winning the conference is more important. If it was my choice, I would choose the conference.

Get the W at Niceville, but focus on the bigger prize.

[Big Buds]

The Louisiana-Louisiana Tech game can be viewed on the following distribution services.
Over the air – 50.1
Cox Cable - 23
LUS Fiber – 15
Charter Cable – 10
Allen TV – 50
Sudden Link – 8
Dish TV – 50
DirecTV – 50
AT&T U-verse – 50

Cox Cable - 23 is showing Bat Man reruns at the 6:00 hour. I am going to the game but want to record it too. Does this mean I record all the shows within that three hour time slot?

[CrazyCajun]

CST is replaying game at 3pm on Sunday

[Big Buds]

CST is replaying game at 3pm on Sunday

I did not know that. In the event we win, I will likely want to break tape as soon as I get home!

[boxerdog]

While I can't disagree that a team often reflects the mindset of the head coach, I'm not sure how you've been able to discern that Hud over-values emotion in terms of preparation. If you'd care to provide some examples, I'd appreciate it.

I'm not a student of the game, nor have I ever played it so there are many aspects of it that are beyond my basic understanding. For instance, I recall discussing our recent history with Texas State football with fans on another forum. Like your team's recent history with us, we own Texas State. I wondered how it is that we could be so dominant over them, yet turn around and lose to a team that they then seem to dominate. Another Cajun poster pointed out that the answer is often as simple as "matchups".

There's no doubt that no matter how good an individual coach may be, if the other team has bigger, faster, better athletes they're likely to win the game. As G. Gordon Liddy always said, a good big guy will beat a good little guy virtually every trip of the train. It's in those head-to-head conference-type matchups where I think the quality of the coaching staff makes the difference, especially their ability to make adjustments at half time. Sometimes I grade Hud well, sometimes not-so-well. His history of getting the team up for bowl games has been stellar, but each year we lose a game or two that most of us fans believe we should have won. Last week's was one of them and Hud later identified some of the things that had me considering Akron as a trap game. Damn if it wasn't.

Having said all of that, I still wouldn't trade him for Holtz. Hud was the right guy at the right time for our program and I doubt anyone could have accomplished what he has, especially off the field. Yeah, this year and last we've had our share of embarrassing loses, but so has LaTech.

Here's to a good, hard-fought, injury-free game Saturday night and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

NSU was a weird game. I wouldn't say we didn't show up, but there was a infectious rash of turnovers at pivotal points and our players got tight. NSU took advantage of opportunities down the stretch and beat us--fair and simple.

I didn't think we match-up'ed very well with Old Dominion. Believe it or not, they have a definitive homefield advantage and that played into it. We weren't good enough to overcome adversity (Sokol didn't play well).

I'm not arguing from the position that Tech is some sort of super-power. But once Holtz established his system/culture, our team isn't going to get routed by equal or lesser opponents. We may lose, but we won't be dominated. Can the same be said of Hud? Hud's teams can be broken.

[CrazyCajun]

NSU was a weird game. I wouldn't say we didn't show up, but there was a infectious rash of turnovers at pivotal points and our players got tight. NSU took advantage of opportunities down the stretch and beat us--fair and simple.

I didn't think we match-up'ed very well with Old Dominion. Believe it or not, they have a definitive homefield advantage and that played into it. We weren't good enough to overcome adversity (Sokol didn't play well).

I'm not arguing from the position that Tech is some sort of super-power. But once Holtz established his system/culture, our team isn't going to get routed by equal or lesser opponents. We may lose, but we won't be dominated. Can the same be said of Hud? Hud's teams can be broken.

Any team can be broken, bottom line if you look at Huds head scratching losses, every one of them we have at least 3 turnovers most of them 4 turnovers. Aren't gonna win many like that and you can't really put those on the coach. It's real easy for his critics to forget the ___ whippings we have put on people, beating NFL QB and RB tandems in sdsu, holding Nevada without a TD...( fajaro 2nd leading scorer in NCAA history) beating Tulane on the road with a QB with a broken arm from 3 weeks earlier.

[Germdawg2004]

Hummmm..... Podunk regional network v/s WatchESPN, where I can be anywhere and watch my Cajuns play. Which one to choose?

The one were casual CFB fans may find it on there TV while flipping stations; WatchESPN is only benefits the true fans (like us on the message boards) but that's basically preaching to the choir...

[CajunJack55]

The one were casual CFB fans may find it on there TV while flipping stations; WatchESPN is only benefits the true fans (like us on the message boards) but that's basically preaching to the choir...

Except for those casual fans in cities like Houston....

[boxerdog]

Any team can be broken, bottom line if you look at Huds head scratching losses, every one of them we have at least 3 turnovers most of them 4 turnovers. Aren't gonna win many like that and you can't really put those on the coach. It's real easy for his critics to forget the ___ whippings we have put on people, beating NFL QB and RB tandems in sdsu, holding Nevada without a TD...( fajaro 2nd leading scorer in NCAA history) beating Tulane on the road with a QB with a broken arm from 3 weeks earlier.

I gotcha. Mine is only an outsider's perspective. You guys are in much better position to weighs the pros and cons than I am.