Hudspeth Firing: Why The Timing Is Crucial

[CrappDaddy]

Economy
It's coming. It's ramping up. I've been doing directional consulting in PB and the Eagleford. The work load is 2014-esque. Prices have slowly trended up in 2017, but 2018 is poised to be big. Just one operator I've done work for has commissioned 50 additional land rigs by the end of April 2018. That's commissioned, not "planned". LNG is strong and holes are being punched. There are guys I trust within the industry forecasting $3.50 - 3.80, and even the magical $4 number. GOM will not bounce back as fast, but job numbers will steadily trickle up.

Donors and Attendance
I've not been able to get a specific number (rumor is 200 donors down), and it is true that people tend to give at the end of the year, but the fact is, our numbers are down. Amounts and people actually giving money. For example, we've gone from 88 RV Tailgating spots and a substantial waiting list to 66 RV tailgating spots and no waiting list. The is a big deal. As you guys know, we've always been known to attract the TGers. When these casual folks stop coming and stop paying, that is indicative of a much larger problem. QB club attendance is dismal as well. A 16k fan season average is a colossal failure on so many levels, but it's a message to the ADs office. The community has spoken. Bowl or no bowl.

Football Calendar
Early signing period is a few days away. How can you possibly recruit with a Lame Duck HC? If 247sports is any indication, you can't. We have no one lining up to play football here. Furthermore, this will be our first year off of probation. We need someone in place to go out and get the absolute most out of our full allotment of scholarships. We need to rebuild the guts of this football team. With a fresh start this week, maybe we can even salvage the early signing period.

2018
We are poised to see basketball do something special this year. Maybe even a tournament run. Why is this important? Galvanizing the fan base. Diamond sports have historically been a bright spot. Why is that important? Listen, heading into the athletic off season with a fan base that is happier, hopeful and ready for a fresh start in the fall is IMPERATIVE to the amount of money folks with their jobs back are willing to give. Things are lining up for a very promising 2018. Give the base something to be excited about throughout the year, and a fully revived football program could be easily attainable. RCAF numbers will increase dramatically. Hopefully, all of the people that reduced donations, promised more donations with the removal of Farmer and new fans coming aboard to see what the new football staff can do will all come to fruition.

It's right here in front of us. Dr. Maggard, don't let indecision torpedo the possibilities. The time is now.

I’m glad you are optimistic about the economy but unless deepwater ramps up I don’t think we will feel a major impact from increased drilling on land. There will be some as south Louisiana has oilfield ties worldwide but deepwater is the big money pipeline. With the advances in drilling and producing unconventional plays, deepwater will have a hard time coming back full steam. Jmo

[facelessjonmoon]

I’m glad you are optimistic about the economy but unless deepwater ramps up I don’t think we will feel a major impact from increased drilling on land. There will be some as south Louisiana has oilfield ties worldwide but deepwater is the big money pipeline. With the advances in drilling and producing unconventional plays, deepwater will have a hard time coming back full steam. Jmo

This is all very true. At least as far as the Lafayette economy goes.

[phideaux]

Is Van Eaton Romero still hiring?

Sam Robertson may be

[Oiler]

Deep water drilling won’t come back until we see $70 oil, and that’s in today’s dollars.

[KajunKrazy]

It is historically a graveyard, but this ain't your grandfathers Athelric Department.

I have said about every coach we hire here, I hope they leave in a few years for what is now called a P5 type job. That would mean we are winning big and this place would be more of a desirable job. That has never happened yet. Maybe the new administration finds that guy and we lose the stigma of coaching graveyard. We shall see.

[Ragin9221]

I have said about every coach we hire here, I hope they leave in a few years for what is now called a P5 type job. That would mean we are winning big and this place would be more of a desirable job. That has never happened yet. Maybe the new administration finds that guy and we lose the stigma of coaching graveyard. We shall see.

I hope so, but getting back to your previous comments. The University has given him every tool to be able to succeed,

1st-we gave him a million a year.
2nd-we built him a IPF.
3rd-we built APC.
4th-we let him stay after one of the coaches we’re bubbling answers to ACT test.
5th- we gave him the benefit of the doubt
etc

He has had more tools to work with then any previous coach that ever came to UL. He doesn’t take responsibility for his actions, it’s not him it’s the players fault, it’s the fans fault. The blame is never on Hudsbeth but he is inconsistent as a coach ! A lot of things I question during games.

Why would you even start Lewis when it was Davis that got you the win?? I don’t understand a lot of stuff he does. It just blows my mind. Now he has lost the Fan Base.

[ManAboutTown]

I’m glad you are optimistic about the economy but unless deepwater ramps up I don’t think we will feel a major impact from increased drilling on land. There will be some as south Louisiana has oilfield ties worldwide but deepwater is the big money pipeline. With the advances in drilling and producing unconventional plays, deepwater will have a hard time coming back full steam. Jmo

Point taken, and I think you're pretty accurate there. Here's the thing: the oilfied has seen an incredible turnover the last 3 years. A lot of older guys retiring and a lot of younger guys filling the voids. The younger generation is more mobile. I've seen many crossover from deepwater to land just since 2014. I know historically Lafayette has relied on deepwater, but I see some things happening, and one of them is the evolution of data mining within the oilfield. Lafayette is a hub for this exact thing. You know what technology has done to drilling over the last decade. It's almost too efficient. That said, Lafayette O & G has done a great job (while the oilfield was down) reinvesting dollars in these newer techs. I come across R&D almost weekly.

Also LNG is strong, and is expected to only get stronger. It's so cheap for the whole operation, it's almost impossible for exploration not to move upward. I think those two industries will end up being the backbone of Lafayette, and maybe even the future of the oilfield in general.

[zephyr]

Is Van Eaton Romero still hiring?

Always

[ManAboutTown]

Bump

[CharlieK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Jm-dIoHrA