Bob Marlin, staff counting heavily on newcomers to improve Cajuns defensively and in SBC Race

[VObserver]

Fan apathy......says it all.

There’s no question that the program has improved since Coach Marlin arrived in 2010. But to say that we are good enough where we currently are would be pushing it. I think with the roster overhaul that we are definitely seeing a coaching staff that knows that it’s time to win now.

We can win 30 with a typical Marlin schedule, and I wont renew my season tickets. Not that I think we CAN win 30 with Marlin coaching. This whole being afraid to lose at home so we schedule SWAC and SLC bottom feeders for home games has got to stop.

[Cajunsmike]

Do you have any info on the home schedule? I'm somewhat reluctant to renew my tickets right now, and that's a shame as I've had them since 1980.

I asked Dr. Maggard about this tonight at the track event. Main thing I got out of that is he hopes to have only 1 non D1 game on the schedule. I think he said he is looking to schedule two more games as an MTE event we were hoping to participate in fell apart. I don't know who he is looking at for those games however. I believe McNeese and SLU come here simply because of the contract as we went there last year. I did get the sense he is more involved in the schedule than in the past. As far as people making decisions on tickets, I would never think about telling people what to do with their money and time. I would simply remind folks that 2/3 of our schedule is made by the conference and we have no say so on that. In fact we have not gotten the conference schedule as of yet and that may impact what the non conference schedule looks like.

[Cajunsmike]

I don't think we would be seeing the major roster overhaul if the basketball program wasn't feeling the pressure.

Dr Maggard has already said he will be more involved in scheduling (more pressure). What are the two biggest things I think Marlin needs to do to be retained.

1. Win all the games he is supposed to, and have an upset or two. He controls a lot of this, but injuries have hurt them the last couple of years.

2. My biggest complaint is something he can control 100%. He has to be more of the public face of the basketball team. His peers, Napier, Glasco and Key (all of Maggard's hires) are always pumping not only their programs, but the athletic department and university in general via social media, radio, etc.

He and Brock Morris were working the crowd tonight at the track event. I may have missed them but I was surprised not to see more football folks at the event. In recent weeks, the basketball program has been much more active on Twitter. There have been several posts concerning the summer workouts which began earlier this month.

[Cajunsmike]

I have been one of Maggard’s earliest and most vocal supporters. I agree with him on 80% of his actions so far.

If a third place finish in the conference and semi final loss in the conference tournament is good enough to keep the status quo after a decade of irrelevance, we have the wrong man leading this athletic program.

If we’re serious about raising money and getting into a real conference, basketball is going to have to improve in miraculous fashion, in all aspects. Support, revenue, and on court success. And it has to start yesterday.

The comment about no change being made if a third place finish and a semi final tournament loss occur is mine . That is strictly MY opinion. I don't have any idea if that is good enough for the administration or not. It may not be.

[ManAboutTown]

I asked Dr. Maggard about this tonight at the track event. Main thing I got out of that is he hopes to have only 1 non D1 game on the schedule. I think he said he is looking to schedule two more games as an MTE event we were hoping to participate in fell apart. I don't know who he is looking at for those games however. I believe McNeese and SLU come here simply because of the contract as we went there last year. I did get the sense he is more involved in the schedule than in the past. As far as people making decisions on tickets, I would never think about telling people what to do with their money and time. I would simply remind folks that 2/3 of our schedule is made by the conference and we have no say so on that. In fact we have not gotten the conference schedule as of yet and that may impact what the non conference schedule looks like.

Two years in a row, we’re told that an MTE fell apart. I’m glad we’re “trying”, but what are we delivering? The time for trying is over. We are up against the wall. We need radical change NOW.

[Million$Mullet]

Two years in a row, we’re told that an MTE fell apart. I’m glad we’re “trying”, but what are we delivering? The time for trying is over. We are up against the wall. We need radical change NOW.

It almost feels like ncaa tourney or bust

[VObserver]

Two years in a row, we’re told that an MTE fell apart. I’m glad we’re “trying”, but what are we delivering? The time for trying is over. We are up against the wall. We need radical change NOW.

I am having trouble believing that with the football scheduling issues NMSU has, we have not leveraged that into a basketball home and home; two winnable football games + a quality hoops home and home should be a no brainer for both schools.

[Turbine]

I am having trouble believing that with the football scheduling issues NMSU has, we have not leveraged that into a basketball home and home; two winnable football games + a quality hoops home and home should be a no brainer for both schools.

Absolutely

[ManAboutTown]

I am having trouble believing that with the football scheduling issues NMSU has, we have not leveraged that into a basketball home and home; two winnable football games + a quality hoops home and home should be a no brainer for both schools.

These are the kind of things that bother me most. I know there are plenty of variables, but you have a football program on life support and an AD with little options in NMSU. There should be no reason why this suggestion should not have already happened. Hopefully it has. If it hasn’t, there is no excuse.

[Cajunsmike]

Two years in a row, we're told that an MTE fell apart. I'm glad we're "trying", but what are we delivering? The time for trying is over. We are up against the wall. We need radical change NOW.

The MTE that fell apart last year cost us a home game although the one we replaced it with turned out OK for us. I don't think the one we were looking into this year had that option. Believe it was going to be three games at a neutral site again. I seem to recall something about Las Vegas at one time on that front. Therefore when it is said we need a couple of more games that could be road as well as home. I completely agree on the New Mexico State opportunity to tie football.
Scheduling with them to basketball. I had brought this up at one time to the administration in the past. Next time I get an opportunity I will do so again.

[VObserver]

The MTE that fell apart last year cost us a home game although the one we replaced it with turned out OK for us. I don't think the one we were looking into this year had that option. Believe it was going to be three games at a neutral site again. I seem to recall something about Las Vegas at one time on that front. Therefore when it is said we need a couple of more games that could be road as well as home. I completely agree on the New Mexico State opportunity to tie football.
Scheduling with them to basketball. I had brought this up at one time to the administration in the past. Next time I get an opportunity I will do so again.

As you know, Mike, I have also discussed this with Dr. Maggard.

[zephyr]

The program is better now than when Coach Marlin arrived on the scene. However fan apathy has set in. The only cure is the 2019-20 team making the NCAA tourney, which would be great, or recruit a new head coach after the season.

Again, I know we've discussed this at length before but I look for more than an NCAA appearance. You can literally have a sub .500 year but get hot in the SBC tournament and go to the NCAA. I know that is a drastic example but it actually happens almost every year. This program will be no better for it if that were to occur as we would be bounced in the first round and nobody would remember that appearance in a few years. We need to go out and take this conference by the balls this year and win it again and put up an impressive record. You can recruit to a building process and if you were to have that strong of a season, your chances of postseason success increase.