Great Expectations – From the Bird's Nest

[CajunEXPRESS]

It's almost always the most relevant stat (funding). But there are going to be outliers. And I believe most of the programs that are not amongst the giants in funding... are programs that focus on baseball above any other sport... and they developed their legacy in a time that NCAA politics and money weren't as decisive as they are today. And we also know... unlike basketball... diamond sports are going to be best where there's warmer weather this time of year.

I'm the czar of basketball at UL, and I just raised Marlin's salary to three million a year, his assistants to the highest paid in the NCAA. I'm giving him six million a year to buy high RPI games in the CajunDome. Wrote a check for twenty million to build him a replica practice facility so we can get an eye to simulate the CajunDome shooting perspectives. Oh, yeah, charter him a jet so that he is not stranded in Christmas week at an airport in Memphis, Atlanta, or Houston. Oh, yes, just bought him a national tv deal.

Is he any better?

[Just1More]

The power conference schools are strong in non-revenue sports for the same reason they dominate football and basketball. Their athletic infrastructure is superior in most areas of nutrition, housing, transportation, academic support, training facilities, recruiting budgets, alumni networks.

That said, we now have a top 10 facility, the Indoor Center, now four regionals in a row, a rabid fan base that rivals most S-E-C clubs and maybe the best head coach in the business. A couple of Omaha appearances would cement our place on the totem for a generation.

True. And not being a member of a power conference makes us very unique in this regard. We owe so much to Robe it isn't even funny. Your last statement is so true. It is a massive goal. The cool thing is that Robe has the temperament to control a program in the post season like a boss. Getting to Omaha is a very difficult achievement, especially for a SBC program. But we have the boss to do it.

[Just1More]

I'm the czar of basketball at UL, and I just raised Marlin's salary to three million a year, his assistants to the highest paid in the NCAA. I'm giving him six million a year to buy high RPI games in the CajunDome. Wrote a check for twenty million to build him a replica practice facility so we can get an eye to simulate the CajunDome shooting perspectives. Oh, yeah, charter him a jet so that he is not stranded in Christmas week at an airport in Memphis, Atlanta, or Houston. Oh, yes, just bought him a national tv deal.

Is he any better?

What are you arguing? I was not evaluating our baseball program in the prior post. I was evaluating our competitors. In baseball and softball, we owe our success to our coaches. They have risen above our meager means and placed us among the elites.

Basketball, is a beast of another mother.

In answer to your question... without enabling thread drift... no. But in reality... what you "the money czar" just did for UL basketball... probably did just place Bob in a position to be great. You sling money around basketball... and you're probably going to put 5 studs on the floor that would make me look like a great basketball coach. Different beast from another mother. And that is not an endorsement of or an excuse for Coach Marlin.

My mention of football and/or basketball was to place baseball in it's proper perspective. I'd rather we focus strictly on baseball in this thread.

[CajunEXPRESS]

What I'm saying is money is indeed important, but more important is the leaders, aka head coaches.

Marlin would not be successful with more money, he isn't successful with his peers on a similar budget. As czar after I give him that money I'd expect multiple sweet sixteens, and better.

If I gave Robe and Lotief more money they'd blow it out the water as they have for decades. What I originally asked for is where specifically does Jay want our program to spend more money?

[Boomer]

I'm the czar of basketball at UL, and I just raised Marlin's salary to three million a year, his assistants to the highest paid in the NCAA. I'm giving him six million a year to buy high RPI games in the CajunDome. Wrote a check for twenty million to build him a replica practice facility so we can get an eye to simulate the CajunDome shooting perspectives. Oh, yeah, charter him a jet so that he is not stranded in Christmas week at an airport in Memphis, Atlanta, or Houston. Oh, yes, just bought him a national tv deal.

Is he any better?

[Boomer]

I am the head of UL sports and I call in coach Robe and telling him I am cutting his budget and giving more to basketball because they have beaten LTUR in recent times more than baseball has....the baseball budget at UL has a much better advantage than the basketball does......they have the huge budget difference advantage and are not doing better,,,,,,,,,,,,yea I am kidding but I think all can see the unreal number of variables that go into athletics and how one can use all kind of stats to twist things!!!

[jllanclos]

Honestly, I only want to spend money where there's vision.

Softball and baseball are chasing National Championships.

Why can't basektball do the same?

I recognize that a Natty in football isn't within the cards, but a regular NY6 appearance is, and that should be the aim. Not as a pipe dream, but as something that's realistically achievable with the right approach and culture.

Any of you doubt our baseball team has a legitimate shot at the National Championship this year? Any of you can say softball has no chance of OKC?

THAT'S the attitude I'm talking about.

We're small time in the others because we think like a small time program, and that's a coaching problem. We lack vision.

I want to be the National Freaking Champion. So if I fall short and reach a few Sweet 16's and Elite 8's and a Final Four or two? I can live with that.

We're not even seeing that in our program's vision.

[Cajun90]

Honestly, I only want to spend money where there's vision.

Softball and baseball are chasing National Championships.

Why can't basektball do the same?

I recognize that a Natty in football isn't within the cards, but a regular NY6 appearance is, and that should be the aim. Not as a pipe dream, but as something that's realistically achievable with the right approach and culture.

Any of you doubt our baseball team has a legitimate shot at the National Championship this year? Any of you can say softball has no chance of OKC?

THAT'S the attitude I'm talking about.

We're small time in the others because we think like a small time program, and that's a coaching problem. We lack vision.

I want to be the National Freaking Champion. So if I fall short and reach a few Sweet 16's and Elite 8's and a Final Four or two? I can live with that.

We're not even seeing that in our program's vision.

Sorry but that statement became untrue when we hired the new A.D. I am positive we now have vision.

[Tell The Truth]

If you add all the free housing and meals the usl players are getting their budget is way above what they have acomplished...has it really been 17 seasons since cajuns have been to Omaha...most coaches with all that tony has been been given, including the russo funny $$$$, would be fired by now....these is a reason tony hasn't been called for a big time job like the Bama one that opened or Texas....they know he can't get away with his antics on the big stage...rumor has it the NCAA is coming to town this year...keep putting your heads in the sand and ignoring the fact that tony is just another usl cheating coach like HUD and the former basketball coach that got the program the death penalty but you built a statue to that clown

[Just1More]

Sorry but that statement became untrue when we hired the new A.D. I am positive we now have vision.

We all hope that to be true. I'm not debating that having the right vision is the first step toward progress. But to place clearing all of our obstacles under purely improving our vision... is loading up Dr. Maggard with expectations beyond a mortal man. My guess is that you believe that Dr. Maggard won't put up with what we've had for the past umpteen years with men's basketball. But the reality is that we are facing major decisions in our two most expensive sports... at the same time. I could make a much bigger case that we must diagnose and cure football first. And we probably cannot diagnose and cure both at the same time.

[Cajun90]

We all hope that to be true. I'm not debating that having the right vision is the first step toward progress. But to place clearing all of our obstacles under purely improving our vision... is loading up Dr. Maggard with expectations beyond a mortal man. My guess is that you believe that Dr. Maggard won't put up with what we've had for the past umpteen years with men's basketball. But the reality is that we are facing major decisions in our two most expensive sports... at the same time. I could make a much bigger case that we must diagnose and cure football first. And we probably cannot diagnose and cure both at the same time.

After discussions with a few different people and listening to Tony discuss the process used I have no doubt that we have finally shaken off the "small time" vision. Maggard is part of it but so is T-Joe.

Beyond that who knows but it won't be because people at the top have a small time vision of what we are capable of accomplishing.

[MelRock]

Marlin would not be successful with more money, he isn't successful with his peers on a similar budget.

Once again facts to not meet your reality.
The last 3 years with current teams in the league.
2014-17 overall record
Team W L
UTA 60 32
Louisiana 57 40
GSU 57 34
UALR 56 37
GS 53 36
ULM 51 48
TXST 44 43
stAte 41 46
USA 39 53
Troy 34 53
APP 29 56

Conference 2014-17
Team W L
GSU 34 20
GS 34 20
UTA 33 20
Louisiana 31 23
ULM 30 24
TXST 23 30
stAte 23 31
USA 23 30
UALR 20 34
APP 19 35
Troy 16 37

Overall 2013-17 with teams in the league
Team W L
GSU 82 43
Louisiana 80 52
UTA 75 49
UALR 71 54
ULM 61 65
stAte 60 59
TXST 52 66
USA 50 73
Troy 45 73

2013-17 Conference only
Team W L
GSU 51 21
Louisiana 42 30
UTA 42 29
ULM 37 35
stAte 33 39
UALR 29 43
USA 28 43
TXST 27 44
Troy 22 49

The teams that have been in the league the whole time Coach Marlin has been here.
Team W L
Louisiana 123 103
UALR 122 102
stAte 110 106
USA 96 113
ULM 75 138
Troy 75 133

Conference only games
Team W L
Louisiana 71 53
stAte 62 62
UALR 59 65
USA 56 67
ULM 44 80
Troy 39 84

Please tell me how "he isn't successful with his peers on a similar budget"? Similar budgets and similar schedules.

That does not mean I do not think we should be playing better or winning more, but your comments do not fit the facts.