UL's Hudspeth still highest paid Sun Belt coach

[ULGrad@HOU]

I agree.

Being the highest paid coach in all of college football didn't prevent Nick Saban from losing to ULM.

Saban was in his first year and was just beginning his system. Since then, he has completely justified his high paying salary with being one of the top programs in the country along with National Championships. So, not really comparable Turbine. Coach Hud, should have our program on the upswing and now well into the 5th year, we have not won the conference (alone) and we can't beat any good out of conference programs. So, yeah, we should be seeing some progress towards being that top 20 team Hud talked about at the beginning of his tenure here. When you get paid the highest salary by far, there should be expectations on what that brings. No one said he couldn't make a mistake, and no one expects perfection. UL should be a very good, top G5 program that can beat P5 programs on occasion. That's the expectation of $1 million dollars.

[Cajunrunner]

The bench press comment sure seems to be directed toward you thinking I'm stupid.

Don't worry. Most people laugh at his chili pepper when he struts around in his thong. And...those most here won't admit it, I've got dozens of PMs from fellow Ragin Pagin posters expressing the opinion that he looks hideous in such attire.

[GrosseTete Cajun]

Why are ppl so fixated by this man's pay? Personally, I wish they would keep coaches salaries secret. He is getting his, y'all go get y'all's.

Because at the moment the pay greatly exceeds the production.

[Just1More]

Don't worry. Most people laugh at his chili pepper when he struts around in his thong. And...those most here won't admit it, I've got dozens of PMs from fellow Ragin Pagin posters expressing the opinion that he looks hideous in such attire.

That is a complete fabrication. I look magnificent strutting around in my thong (except when I'm bloated... but it isn't easy to eat good food and not puff up). And don't bring my chili pepper into this. It was cold out that day, and every man on here knows about shrinkage. And besides, the PMs you must have gotten were from trolls from other schools that can't stand what me and my thong add to the front porch of our fine institution. In fact, I was told by university administration that since I starting the Brazilian grooming, we are on the cusp of Tier 1.

[Sonsissymia]

They should close the games to the public too.

this is rich. shot coffee out my nose.

[Just1More]

To you, the salary may mean more than me.

The bench press comment sure seems to be directed toward you thinking I'm stupid. I'm not even sure where to start, since your comment is built on assumptions.

Who can't see a performance/salary as being connected? My original comment is about fans who genuinely dislike coaches and players based on salary. You are only as good as your negotiator.

Look, I agree with the article "timeliness". Tim's indulging in the easy score. I'm not the least bit concerned about Hud's salary. My posts are about the work. But even before anyone piled on to Tim's selfserving article, you attacked the forum about their bringing up Hud's salary and his current performance. The two are not unrelated. No coach gets that free pass.

I'm sticking to the criticism of what I see coaching-wise. Since I joined in on the "fun" posting on this site, I habitually reminded people that coaches are a strange lot. They're rarely alumni, much less locals. You love them when they win. You despise them when they lose. I know there's 100 other issues... but for every poster that loves the fact that Hud loves Lafayette... and so on and so forth... when they're worried we might lose him... they'll be an equal number disgusted by him when/if he loses more than expected. It goes with the territory. And he knows it.

Personally, I find people on here that keep attacking posts to be the problem people in our midst. Fans are the finest quality of all associations. They pay to be involved. They don't get the trophies or rings or the education or the salary. They come voluntarily, and they give their money. I don't go for attacking them when they're not satisfied with those getting paid in some way. And the bigger the pay, the more vulnerability for criticism.

You can keep up your quest of defending salaries... and even performance if you want. Ironically, almost every coach is where he is because some other coach lost the job. So how about thanking the fans for being the critics of your predecessor? It got them the job and the money.

And by the way, the most effective way of debating someone you disagree with, is being direct with them about what they wrote and what you disagree with. Lately, too many posts are generalizations about this forum. Almost without exception, a single poster or two has actually "stepped over the line". It is being credited to a much larger group due to poor focus. Out of 300 regular posters, there's 10 overly negative and 10 sunshine forever. Why is the theme of the forum being credited to these individuals? It's the generalization posting. If you ignore those 20, you're good to go IMO.

[CrappDaddy]

Without Broadway, HUD would be back in the pack. Broadway was a difference maker, and it's easy to see why now.

We had the same problems last year through 4 games. That was with Broadway. Let the season play out....

[Just1More]

Saban was in his first year and was just beginning his system. Since then, he has completely justified his high paying salary with being one of the top programs in the country along with National Championships. So, not really comparable Turbine. Coach Hud, should have our program on the upswing and now well into the 5th year, we have not won the conference (alone) and we can't beat any good out of conference programs. So, yeah, we should be seeing some progress towards being that top 20 team Hud talked about at the beginning of his tenure here. When you get paid the highest salary by far, there should be expectations on what that brings. No one said he couldn't make a mistake, and no one expects perfection. UL should be a very good, top G5 program that can beat P5 programs on occasion. That's the expectation of $1 million dollars.

I'd be ashamed of Hud if he didn't expect us to hold him to a high standard. He hasn't yet unloaded on critical fans this year (that I'm aware of). I think he's learned that lesson. And I have no doubt he's very frustrated with this year so far. He had to believe we'd be more competitive against Akron and Tech... distractions or no distractions.

The bottom line is that he evaluates his players and coaches... and we evaluate him. The football output buck stops with him. We've given him loads of credit so far, deservedly so. But his inability to raise the level of play against good teams... particularly in the first 3rd of the season... not necessarily winning the contests... but being competitive... is starting to be an annual attribute.

Some of Hud's early season team traits are looking eerily similar, despite some changes in player personnel and coaching staff. He may very well have expressed the best he's got. I hope he sees himself as a work in progress and seeks out knowledge to correct these trends for improvement. I'd be a little worried making the assumption that the SBC will honor our past and hand us a yearly path to a bowl. In fact, remaining the same, regardless if a portion of fans are fine with it, generally creates regression. Hud needed to be way more multidimensional and dangerous to start the year. He needs to quit relying on teaching seriously limited slow motion basics in the spring... assuming that conditioning and perfect execution will get it done. Not going to happen at this university, in this conference, and in this sport today.

Get dangerous Cajuns! Open it up! You'll be very glad you did from a fan support perspective. And if you do, and fail while making that transition... we will forgive you infinitely more for trying. Why not be the most dangerous you can be... at this point this year? Make new recruits excited about being in a dangerous offense and/or defense. Give up a big play? So what!? Hit them back with 10 bigger!!!

Personally, I think Brooks, Jamal and everyone else is thinking too hard and forgetting how to take over their space and have fun kicking ___. Be fast off the snap and know you're going to get it done. I sure hope Hud gives everyone the green light tomorrow to open up a can of fun and gun on Texas State. If we pound it out and allow them to hang around and THEY decide they've got nothing to lose... we'll regret it horribly.

[Redgineer]

Ragin' Pagin' inspired!!1

H3ll yeah!

[Turbine]

Saban was in his first year and was just beginning his system.

I know he inherited an Alabama team that had two .500 seasons in the last three, but the tools he had to turn the corner need no introduction.

You must be blown away that Hud outperformed Saban's record in their first year, respectively. And this with no tools and how many non winning seasons?

[CrazyCajun]

I know he inherited an Alabama team that had two .500 seasons in the last three, but the tools he had to turn the corner need no introduction.

You must be blown away that Hud outperformed Saban's record in their first year, respectively. And this with no tools and how many non winning seasons?

At least HUD beat ULM his first season

[ULGrad@HOU]

I know he inherited an Alabama team that had two .500 seasons in the last three, but the tools he had to turn the corner need no introduction.

You must be blown away that Hud outperformed Saban's record in their first year, respectively. And this with no tools and how many non winning seasons?

What I said was, not comparable. Coach Hud has done an excellent job of turning the culture around and winning games against the Sun Belt and lower FBS teams. The program is suppose to grow and get better, and that's where the high salary comes in. He is getting paid to take UL to a higher level of performance than what we have seen, not remain where we are. You don't triple a coaches salary within 4 years to still be where you were at year 1.