Q&A with Louisiana FB coach Billy Napier

[CharlieK]

After listening to his first speech I turned around to my buddy "this guy is not selling snake oil like the last one .. I love it "

I'm not going to diminish what Hud accomplished the first few years, even though his methods eventually were not sound enough to yield long term success. He came into a program that needed motivation, a spark, some excitement. And he delivered that in spades. We have a castle of an APC, 4 very memorable bowl experiences, and the ability to hire who we just did and pay his staff 2 million in large part due to what Hud did accomplish.

I really believe we needed Bustle when we got him....he rebuilt us from nothing then hit a ceiling due his limitations....Hud came in with a different set of skills and moved the program to another level...but was ultimately stopped by his limitations. I hope, and it appears, we have found that guy that lays the proper foundation for long term, sustainable, high level success.

[Turbine]

I'm not going to diminish what Hud accomplished the first few years, even though his methods eventually were not sound enough to yield long term success. He came into a program that needed motivation, a spark, some excitement. And he delivered that in spades. We have a castle of an APC, 4 very memorable bowl experiences, and the ability to hire who we just did and pay his staff 2 million in large part due to what Hud did accomplish.

I really believe we needed Bustle when we got him....he rebuilt us from nothing then hit a ceiling due his limitations....Hud came in with a different set of skills and moved the program to another level...but was ultimately stopped by his limitations. I hope, and it appears, we have found that guy that lays the proper foundation for long term, sustainable, high level success.

This ^

[RaginFan2]

I'm not going to diminish what Hud accomplished the first few years, even though his methods eventually were not sound enough to yield long term success. He came into a program that needed motivation, a spark, some excitement. And he delivered that in spades. We have a castle of an APC, 4 very memorable bowl experiences, and the ability to hire who we just did and pay his staff 2 million in large part due to what Hud did accomplish.

I really believe we needed Bustle when we got him....he rebuilt us from nothing then hit a ceiling due his limitations....Hud came in with a different set of skills and moved the program to another level...but was ultimately stopped by his limitations. I hope, and it appears, we have found that guy that lays the proper foundation for long term, sustainable, high level success.

Yes!!!

[zephyr]

I'm not going to diminish what Hud accomplished the first few years, even though his methods eventually were not sound enough to yield long term success. He came into a program that needed motivation, a spark, some excitement. And he delivered that in spades. We have a castle of an APC, 4 very memorable bowl experiences, and the ability to hire who we just did and pay his staff 2 million in large part due to what Hud did accomplish.

I really believe we needed Bustle when we got him....he rebuilt us from nothing then hit a ceiling due his limitations....Hud came in with a different set of skills and moved the program to another level...but was ultimately stopped by his limitations. I hope, and it appears, we have found that guy that lays the proper foundation for long term, sustainable, high level success.

I agree. The jury is still out for me on the Napier hire because its too hard to tell initially if he will be the slam dunk hire everyone seems to think he is. However, I hope its just another building block to developing a consistent program and Hud played a major role in our development. He should be thanked and respected accordingly.

[DaddyCajun]

Agree 100%! Coach Napier, will be either a success or not so much a success as will his coaches he hires. Some will stay longer than others, BUT to bring them to another level, WILL bring UL to another level, as Hud and Bustle and Stokely did. I feel certain that Coach Napier WILL be a HUGE success and take this program and the Cajun Nation to a NEXT level or so before departing. With Dr M. at the helm, and OILFIELD starting to crank back up, can we say CUSA, American, or BIG XII?

[jllanclos]

Agree 100%! Coach Napier, will be either a success or not so much a success as will his coaches he hires. Some will stay longer than others, BUT to bring them to another level, WILL bring UL to another level, as Hud and Bustle and Stokely did. I feel certain that Coach Napier WILL be a HUGE success and take this program and the Cajun Nation to a NEXT level or so before departing. With Dr M. at the helm, and OILFIELD starting to crank back up, can we say CUSA, American, or BIG XII?

Not sure CUSA is an attractive option.

[LaCajunsFan]

Not sure CUSA is an attractive option.

It certainly is not.

[KajunKrazy]

The next step for this program and its head coach would be for Napier to get a P5 head coaching job. If he gets that call, that would mean he has built a successful winner here. The question is can he be larger than history? Can he do at this coaching graveyard what no man has ever done? Can he bring this job up from the ashes? I am pulling for him and hope he is the first to parlay this job into a big time P5 job. We shall see.

[cajun_lannister]

The next step for this program and its head coach would be for Napier to get a P5 head coaching job. If he gets that call, that would mean he has built a successful winner here. The question is can he be larger than history? Can he do at this coaching graveyard what no man has ever done? Can he bring this job up from the ashes? I am pulling for him and hope he is the first to parlay this job into a big time P5 job. We shall see.

He has the advantage of having the higest paid staff in school history and Dr. Maggard in his corner... I think he has the best chance of anyone

[Turbine]

The next step for this program and its head coach would be for Napier to get a P5 head coaching job. If he gets that call, that would mean he has built a successful winner here. The question is can he be larger than history? Can he do at this coaching graveyard what no man has ever done? Can he bring this job up from the ashes? I am pulling for him and hope he is the first to parlay this job into a big time P5 job. We shall see.

My spin: Up till now UL has been a life fulfilling destination.

When Maggard and Napier become successful, UL becomes a pitstop.