CBI field is set ...

[Ragin4U]

RAGIN4U, not discussing Marlin's future in this thread but fans eventually fire coaches. If fans are not showing up to games, it may be because they do not see a quality product and are tired of mediocrity in a mediocre conference.

Let me ask you this because you asked the question, "What possible benefit is there to not supporting our university?" Do you ask this question of baseball supporters , softball supporters and basketball supporters that are not RCAF members? It seems to me that with season ticket records in baseball and softball we should have more then 2,000 plus RCAF members by this stage. I have no problem with the fan that doesn't want to attend a football game or basketball game because they are not happy with the final product. I have more of a problem with the numbers of individual sport supporters that are not RCAF members and don't get asked the same question you just asked Zee.

Wasnt really directing that at Z specifically but if the rubber boot fits ...
I understand the disappointment with basketball, especially this season. And I have said in other posts that I'm not sure if Marlin is the guy to get us where we want to be. I understand that when things are not going well, fans clamor for the backup QB, a different coach, etc. I also know that making a bad hire can set your program back years. I'm willing to be a bit more patient than some seem to be to give Marlin the chance to figure things out.
I like that we rarely hear about his players in a negative light and that his GPA and grad rates reflect positively on our University. I'm cool with one not showing up at a game to voice their displeasure but I think it's a bad look for a program that claims to be ready to take the next conference step to proclaim, in a public forum, that they will not be supporting the teams post-season play. It took some just 3 years of NOLA Bowl success to forget the previous dry decades and declare that they would not be going to NOLA.
Agreed that we should/could have more RCAF support but I would imagine that some of the issues with vision, communication, transparency, etc that have been discussed ad nauseum, have set those numbers back from what they could be. Of course, finances would be an issue. It may be that some can buy season tics with their entertainment dollars but cant swing the extra for the RCAF. Not sure what the ultimate answer is but I do know that, overall, our athletic program is miles ahead of where it has been.

[Cajunsmike]

Exactly right, Mike. SFA & Texas A&M-Corpus Christi topped a Southland Conference that is bringing in better coaches and talent in large part due to their experience, but unfortunately is dragged down a bit by a few teams a year (due to APR issues, lack of resources or both). I'd argue the top three or four in the SLC is as good as those in the SBC right now. Underwood has taken SFA from program that won 20 games a season and was an annual league contender to nearly 30 wins a year and easily the class of the league (using both Kaspar's players and his own). The 'Jacks are winning because they're really, really good -- their recent league success is better than any in college hoops in recent memory -- and not just because the SLC is weak. In terms of national perception (fair or not), the SLC is probably on par with the Sun Belt right now just because of SFA's recent dominance in league play and NCAA tourney run a few years ago under Underwood, who is likely to land a power-league job this spring (the SLC hasn't had a coach move up to that level since Andy Russo and Pat Foster in the mid-1980s). Both the SBC and SLC, like other mid-major leagues, face big hurdles in terms of scheduling. Little Rock has a chance to make a run this year and has already given the SBC a needed national boost building off what Georgia State did last year.

Having covered the SLC so closely since leaving Louisiana I'll just say the league is much better than the average fan thinks.

TAMUCC brought back basketball in the late 1990s (when I lived there, with Ronnie Arrow as its coach) and the Islanders made the NCAA tourney in 2007. They dipped a bit after Arrow left for South Alabama under Perry Clark, but Willis Wilson has taken it from single-digit wins to 20 each of the past two years. TAMUCC has a complete team that would have represented the SLC in the NCAA tourney most other years. Rashawn Thomas is the SLC's top big and Hameed Ali is an all-league point guard. They beat OVC tourney champ Austin Peay (and its star 6-8 big) twice and stayed with Wisconsin on the road until late in the second half of a loss in what was Bo Ryan's final game there. Their five-point loss to SFA was the closest game for the 'Jacks this season in conference play.

Sam Houston State lost four all-league players from last season then its top two PGs (one a preseason all-conference, multi-year starter) to injury and Marlin's replacement, Jason Hooten, coached the Bearkats to a third-place finish in the league. (Last year TAMUCC, SHSU and Northwestern State were good enough to win the league, but SFA stood in the way.) Houston Baptist recently transitioned back to D1 and was on a roll until losing its 6-11 big to injury. Incarnate Word also is new to D1 (played the Cajuns in last year's CIT) and has more quality non-conference wins in that short stretch than the Cajuns do. Southeastern Lousiana hired a coach that won a junior college national championship and despite battling injuries is slowly putting together good program that could surprise in the league next season. Northwestern State has some nice non-conference wins in recent years - and actually won in the NCAA tournament in the 2000s - but struggled this season after its All-America/NBA potential point guard Jalan West got hurt vs. Ole Miss. He is better then any guard the Cajuns have had other than Elfrid Payton since they made the 2005 NCAA tourney.

I believe our opponent Wednesday night should be favored on a neutral court. Reading Josh's report just makes me confident that is the case.

[Cajun Monkee]

So when is TAMU-CC heading here to Lafayette? And are they planning on flying? If they're driving, they may have to take a slight detour...

They can come through Holly Beach.

[Boomer]

They can come through Holly Beach.

--Haven't been that way much but the Abbeville, PI, Cameron, PA route is worth the drive sometimes!!!

[CajunT]

Wasnt really directing that at Z specifically but if the rubber boot fits ...
I understand the disappointment with basketball, especially this season. And I have said in other posts that I'm not sure if Marlin is the guy to get us where we want to be. I understand that when things are not going well, fans clamor for the backup QB, a different coach, etc. I also know that making a bad hire can set your program back years. I'm willing to be a bit more patient than some seem to be to give Marlin the chance to figure things out.
I like that we rarely hear about his players in a negative light and that his GPA and grad rates reflect positively on our University. I'm cool with one not showing up at a game to voice their displeasure but I think it's a bad look for a program that claims to be ready to take the next conference step to proclaim, in a public forum, that they will not be supporting the teams post-season play. It took some just 3 years of NOLA Bowl success to forget the previous dry decades and declare that they would not be going to NOLA.
Agreed that we should/could have more RCAF support but I would imagine that some of the issues with vision, communication, transparency, etc that have been discussed ad nauseum, have set those numbers back from what they could be. Of course, finances would be an issue. It may be that some can buy season tics with their entertainment dollars but cant swing the extra for the RCAF. Not sure what the ultimate answer is but I do know that, overall, our athletic program is miles ahead of where it has been.

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you have posted, it is the job of coaches to make sure their athletes graduate and help cultivate good young citizens. Coaches are not recognized enough for the successes in the classroom and young citizens that are staying in our community. But I know you are not naïve enough to believe it's not about wins and losses to the majority of sports fans that are not diehard university and athletic supporters. That is why I stated fans eventually fire coaches when they stop attending games, fair or not. I'm not calling for Marlin's head, but he certainly needs to do a better job in recruiting after year six at the head of this program.

We have two coaches that really need to have good season's next year, Hudspeth and Marlin. Both need to turn things around to keep the supporters they have because the amount of money that the program pays them. While I may not be happy about it, I have no problem with the person that has spent money with RCAF, Football and Basketball deciding they have had enough and are not spending the money any more until things change. Money is not our problem right now in either sport when it comes to competing on a level field in the SBC.

It is harder for me to understand why some people will buy individual sports tickets and not join RCAF when there is a much more at stake right now with the entire athletic program. I understand there are some people that are facing tough economic times right now and I may be in their shoes eventually as well, but there are others that refused to support more then one or two sports programs that have the means.

Those people concern me more then the fan or fans that have decided not to attend the CIT game at the Cajun Dome tomorrow night.

[Boomer]

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you have posted, it is the job of coaches to make sure their athletes graduate and help cultivate good young citizens. Coaches are not recognized enough for the successes in the classroom and young citizens that are staying in our community. But I know you are not naïve enough to believe it's not about wins and losses to the major of sports fans that are not diehard university and athletic supporters. That is why I stated fans eventually fire coaches when they stop attending games, fair or not. I'm not calling for Marlin's head, but he certainly needs to do a better job in recruiting after year six at the head of this program.

We have two coaches that really need to have good season's next year, Hudspeth and Marlin. Both need to turn things around to keep the supporters they have because the amount of money that the program pays them. While I may not be happy about it, I have no problem with the person that has spent money with RCAF, Football and Basketball deciding they have had enough and are not spending the money any more until things change. Money is not our problem right now in either sport when it comes to competing on a level field in the SBC.

It is harder for me to understand why some people will buy individual sports tickets and not join RCAF when there is a much more at stake right now with the entire athletic program. I understand there are some people that are facing tough economic times right now and I may be in their shows eventually as well, but there are others that refused to support more then one or two sports programs that have the means.

Those people concern me more then the fan or fans that have decided not to attend the CIT game at the Cajun Dome tomorrow night.

---T it has been a while since I was close to the program but I am just wondering what we would do with more money? Obviously the big budget programs find a way---but would it be in more administration, coaches, academic programs, nutrition, or other areas---I left out the facilities, but just wondering where we would put the bucks that are needed!

[cajun4life]

So when is TAMU-CC heading here to Lafayette? And are they planning on flying? If they're driving, they may have to take a slight detour...

I10 is clear. Flew it today.

[cajun4life]

This is year 6 for Marlin? It's pretty darn clear he isn't the guy. That's damn near 2 roster turnovers without defections.

[CajunFan3406]

They can come through Holly Beach.

Ssshhhh...you guys need to stop posting that everywhere. And yes I'm talking about you guys who post on the SBC board, me included. TAMU-CC just needs to heed those DOTD warnings and go all the way up to I-20.

[CajunT]

---T it has been a while since I was close to the program but I am just wondering what we would do with more money? Obviously the big budget programs find a way---but would it be in more administration, coaches, academic programs, nutrition, or other areas---I left out the facilities, but just wondering where we would put the bucks that are needed!

Boomer, I'm not certain which is the best track to take now. I'm not Chuck Neinas or Mike Alden, so I'm very interested in his report that is due out next week. There will be recommendations in Branding, Budgeting, Marketing, Facilities focus, etc; These are the people that know the best way for this university to move forward with a strategic road map. What Dr. Savoie adapts remains to be seen, but you can bet your bottom dollar that he will have all the information he needs. How far and how fast he moves on the plan will define our future success or failure in athletics.

[CajunT]

I have to disagree with your opinion about support and belonging to RCAF. I have tickets to baseball and football but don't belong to RCAF. The only reason is economics. I can't afford both and I choose to attend games. When I am able I will join RCAF

jric116, my comments weren't directed at you, but people that have the means but chose not to donate to RCAF. I know there are many people going through tough economic times right now and I may be wearing those shoes eventually myself. But I've met a number of people that refuse to give to RCAF for one reason or another and have the means to do so and that is unfortunate. So it's hard for me to criticize someone that gives to RCAF and a season ticket holder, when he decides to sit home while we have too many that don't give to RCAF but are season ticket holders in some sports.

[Cajunfanatico]

I'm not Chuck Neinas or Mike Alden, so I'm very interested in his report that is due out next week. There will be recommendations in Branding, Budgeting, Marketing, Facilities focus, etc;

Will the report be made public?