New ULM Head Coach

[LaCajunsFan]

It would definitely suck. I'm interested to see the staff he puts together. I see McNeese promoting Guidry to HC but if he goes with Viator to ULM, that will set up for them to have a quality defense from the start.

I would bet a big part of his agreement was allowing (budget-wise) him taking what staff he wants. His salary will greatly increase regardless, so he'd be crazy not to ensure that he could afford to hire those he would feel can help him reach his goals.

I really think Ryan street high will be left high and dry....which is what should happen when people move up: those on the lowest rungs get screwed over again and again.

[RaisingCajun08]

Any info yet on the terms of the contract?

[California Cajun]

I think it's a money thing, and not a desire to coach in the FBS. I'll bet if McNeese could have met him half way he would have stayed.

[ZoomZoom]

Well well well, he took the job. Ouch. What say the McNeese state fans now?

Lance Guidry. That's where my bet is. ULMost is hoping Viator brings him, but McNeese may give him an opportunity to be a head coach. Besides, if Viator was making 150k at McNeese, I don't see ULMost paying a coordinator much more than that.

[LaCajunsFan]

I think it's a money thing, and not a desire to coach in the FBS. I'll bet if McNeese could have met him half way he would have stayed.

Agreed. But no way Ryan St High was going to be able to get anywhere close to what he will be making, so you can't blame him. Plus, I really think he will want to,prove himself at ULM.

And while it will get him out of LC, he will be much further away from Lafayette while in Monroe. That is definetly going to be the biggest downside to his decision.

[Boomer]

Agreed. But no way Ryan St High was going to be able to get anywhere close to what he will be making, so you can't blame him. Plus, I really think he will want to,prove himself at ULM.

And while it will get him out of LC, he will be much further away from Lafayette while in Monroe. That is definetly going to be the biggest downside to his decision.

---I think he is very pumped about seeing what he can do with 20 more S-ships---had Nebraska beaten with only that level numbers---From a very close friend -----can you believe that the fans were on his butt big time in LC at games etc about not winning the big ones---true story as occurring at the last game!!!

[CajunJack55]

---I think he is very pumped about seeing what he can do with 20 more S-ships---had Nebraska beaten with only that level numbers---From a very close friend -----can you believe that the fans were on his butt big time in LC at games etc about not winning the big ones---true story as occurring at the last game!!!

Imagine our fan base if Hud had went 0-4 in our bowl games...

[CajunAmos]

From the latest budgets I can find (2014), ULM and McNeese appear to be pretty close in overall athletic budgets.

[CajunJack55]

From the latest budgets I can find (2014), ULM and McNeese appear to be pretty close in overall athletic budgets.

Difference is he will have to play at least 3 P5 schools a year and will have the lowest budget in the Sunbelt. That is tough for any coach to win. Playing field is not level for him anymore.

[CajunAmos]

Difference is he will have to play at least 3 P5 schools a year and will have the lowest budget in the Sunbelt. That is tough for any coach to win. Playing field is not level for him anymore.

I was just surprised that the McNeese budget was as high as it was listed. With $35/barrel oil, I'm very curious how next years budget will turn our for all the schools.

[Cajunrunner]

Don't jump for joy, Bruno shutters football, Funbelt will need to add a move up...again.

Based on the last couple of move-ups, the football competition could get even better.

[dawg1984]

I say the biggest problem for ULM is that they are not consistent in putting together winning seasons. Worse thing for Tech is if ULM started winning. It isn't good for UL either, but even worse for Tech.

I honestly believe that ULM has more support then Tech does around Monroe. Problem is people support a winner, and gets great support for high school football. They need to focus there energy in winning games, and you would see attendance rise, more than Tech.

Have to agree that if ULM starts winning it hurts Tech. Being so close to one another, we are recruiting the same athletes and students. With the campuses separated by about 40 miles, driving distance isn't much of a factor when deciding between the two.

North LA has some of the worst sports fans around. They love sports, don't get me wrong. Unfortunately, they want a proven winner delivered right to them. Shreveport was Cowboys all the way until Aikman & Co. retired and the Saints started winning. Now, they're all Saints fans. As for the Independence Bowl, I remember MANY years Shreveporters complaining about the bowl matchups. They continually asked why can't the bowl would not pair SEC versus SWC. Back then, seasons were only 11 games and there were only 16 bowl games with the I-Bowl being the lowest payout. The teams Shrevporters wanted (LSU, Arkansas, A&M) were either in one of the bigger bowls or had a losing record.

Shreveport had World Football League, American Football League, and Canadian Football teams. Support was great for the WFL but everything after support was not very good. People belly-ached that it wasn't the NFL. It amazed me that folks thought the NFL would put a franchise in Shreveport when the community wouldn't support what it had.

Jerry Jones finally gave Shreveporters what they had dreamt of: Dallas versus the Saints. The stadium barely sold out because people were not interested in a pre-season game.