Why don't more players from the Acadiana area get recruited?

[NewsCopy]

The numbers might not bare it out, but the Acadiana area is experiencing one of the best ever years when it comes to wide receiver play.

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[Ragin' Caleb]

Cause they suck

[cajun4life]

Because we are loaded with very good high school football players. We just do not have a whole lot of collegiate quality talent on the field.

IMO we have some kids that could thrive at FCS football. But FBS is on another level.

[Just1More]

I would think that if these prospects are equal or better than who is recruited... the coaches would be recruiting them. I have no doubt that some area HS coaches have tried on behalf of local athletes to get UL to take a strong look at their athletes. If they weren't getting to our camps and making sure they impressed our coaches... I don't know what to say. Are they all academically qualified? Why wouldn't our coaches go after the best they think they can get from our own back yard?

[Cajunrunner]

I can say from personal relationships and past experiences, more than several Acadiana area coaches, and not in just football, hold contempt for our athletic program.

I don't know the source/cause of this, but unfortunately just the way it has been amongst many for about 15-20 years now.

[GeauxCajuns]

It's because for so long all of the interest around here was LSU. UL was an after thought to these coaches, and because UL wasn't winning they wouldn't want to push their overhyped players to UL. In essence they thought they were better than UL. Now that we have (somewhat) turned it around, they expect the red carpet rolled out to them and their players like we are doing them a favor. We say thanks but they just aren't good enough they feel slighted like "how can UL say no to me"

[Cajunrunner]

It's because for so long all of the interest around here was LSU. UL was an after thought to these coaches, and because UL wasn't winning they wouldn't want to push their overhyped players to UL. In essence they thought they were better than UL. Now that we have (somewhat) turned it around, they expect the red carpet rolled out to them and their players like we are doing them a favor. We say thanks but they just aren't good enough they feel slighted like "how can UL say no to me"

Could it be that for decades, area high school coaches encouraged their athletes to go elsewhere because they knew the disdain Martin Hall had for athletics and knew their athletes would get better quality and institutional support at other schools??

[GeauxCajuns]

Could it be that for decades, area high school coaches encouraged their athletes to go elsewhere because they knew the disdain Martin Hall had for athletics and knew their athletes would get better quality and institutional support at other schools??

Meh, growing up here and playing ball here, it was always that "lil ole USL" attitude amongst all the coaches.

[VObserver]

Could it be that for decades, area high school coaches encouraged their athletes to go elsewhere because they knew the disdain Martin Hall had for athletics and knew their athletes would get better quality and institutional support at other schools??

I think this is a factor. It may not be the biggest reason, but it is one of the reasons.

[Just1More]

Could it be that for decades, area high school coaches encouraged their athletes to go elsewhere because they knew the disdain Martin Hall had for athletics and knew their athletes would get better quality and institutional support at other schools??

But this article implies we are looking past local talent... not that local talent is looking past us. I know we've had historical issues with Acadiana area coaches... but Kevin is saying there's a load of local talent he thinks are good enough for UL. Kevin is talking like the HS coaches. "This kid may not be good enough for anyone else, but he's good enough for UL." All 50 states have access to every recruiting service and have information on every player. Our coaches better be getting the best we can get (for the system we run)... whether they're from Acadiana... or Australia.

I would venture to say that no great Louisiana football athlete... proving himself on the HS level... is unidentified by recruiting groups and the state/regional FBS universities. If Kevin thinks something odd is going on, he needs to investigate and explain it. Just saying "all the greats are right in our back yard... better than neighboring areas... and all of these ignorant scouts and college coaches are missing them" is pure conjecture. Give a reason why they're overlooked.

[CajunEXPRESS]

So most of the locals we don't recruit aren't ending up at high G5 schools. No, they're mostly ending up at FCS schools.

[California Cajun]

It's because for so long all of the interest around here was LSU. UL was an after thought to these coaches, and because UL wasn't winning they wouldn't want to push their overhyped players to UL. In essence they thought they were better than UL. Now that we have (somewhat) turned it around, they expect the red carpet rolled out to them and their players like we are doing them a favor. We say thanks but they just aren't good enough they feel slighted like "how can UL say no to me"

I think that describes something that is seldom brought up but probably happens a lot.