SchedULing Paradox

[CajunNation]

Have a competitive program, schedule other competitive & recognizable programs, cultivate rivalries and punch up.

It has been successful everywhere it’s been tried.

Dang right!

[Balanced_view]

Have a competitive program, schedule other competitive & recognizable programs, cultivate rivalries and punch up.

It has been successful everywhere it’s been tried.

this takes time, several years possibly to cultivate rivalries, and schedule, especially when its done so far in advance. i haven't seen many on RP willing to give time(some have). many attach all the past years of waiting, under past leadership to this current group and want result right away. AND if this group isnt willing, how can we expect the casual fan to.

[Balanced_view]

Only CUSA schools that would make a dent in our attendance are Rice, UNT, Tech and USM.

Scheduling any CUSA school outside of these or ANY MAC school is scheduling just to get a home game. That is the only benefit.

I'm not a fan of chasing 6 home games just to have 6 home games. I believe you are leaving too much on the table whether it is money or opportunities to grow your brand.

We should keep the in-state FCS. With the remaining 3 non-cons, at least 1 should be P5 every year. With the remaining 2, we should focus on the CUSA group from above, any AAC(this is where we want to be right?), and any front-range MWC school. After that, any open slots should go to more P5 games.

It's like I tell my kids all the time. You want to be treated like you're not babies? Act like it.

I love the attitude of this. however, there is the financial part of not having 6 home games. plus season ticket holders feeling they are getting a solid value for their cost must be considered.
think of it like this, i believe our AD can do whatever the financial backers of the program allow him to do. if 5 home games against a certain set of teams per season is allowed, i believe it can be done.

[CajunT]

Only CUSA schools that would make a dent in our attendance are Rice, UNT, Tech and USM.

Scheduling any CUSA school outside of these or ANY MAC school is scheduling just to get a home game. That is the only benefit.

I'm not a fan of chasing 6 home games just to have 6 home games. I believe you are leaving too much on the table whether it is money or opportunities to grow your brand.

We should keep the in-state FCS. With the remaining 3 non-cons, at least 1 should be P5 every year. With the remaining 2, we should focus on the CUSA group from above, any AAC(this is where we want to be right?), and any front-range MWC school. After that, any open slots should go to more P5 games.

It's like I tell my kids all the time. You want to be treated like you're not babies? Act like it.

By stating the only C-USA schools that would make a dent in our attendance, are you suggesting they would travel well to Lafayette? I don't think that is the criteria for most fans I speak with as much as it is the programs we are playing. Rice and UNT are certainly not going to bring any more to Lafayette than any SBC program.

To me and many others it's about who we are playing, so I think you add Middle Tenn and UAB to Rice, UNT, Tech and USM, the results would be the same as long as we are winning.

Having a 6th home game allows your base and core supporters to see another game. It adds some value to the cost of season ticket packages if we get the right teams to Lafayette. I don't have a problem playing MWC, MAC or AAC programs on the road if we can get a return game to Lafayette. It certainly beats playing two P5 money games on the road.

[cajun4life]

Only CUSA schools that would make a dent in our attendance are Rice, UNT, Tech and USM.

Scheduling any CUSA school outside of these or ANY MAC school is scheduling just to get a home game. That is the only benefit.

I'm not a fan of chasing 6 home games just to have 6 home games. I believe you are leaving too much on the table whether it is money or opportunities to grow your brand.

We should keep the in-state FCS. With the remaining 3 non-cons, at least 1 should be P5 every year. With the remaining 2, we should focus on the CUSA group from above, any AAC(this is where we want to be right?), and any front-range MWC school. After that, any open slots should go to more P5 games.

It's like I tell my kids all the time. You want to be treated like you're not babies? Act like it.

You are crazy if you don’t think WKU would draw. There is a ton of bad blood between programs.

[facelessjonmoon]

You are crazy if you don't think WKU would draw. There is a ton of bad blood between programs.

That's definitely the case in basketball. They were usually the biggest fan draw (definitely conference gamewise) yearly in basketball

[cajun4life]

this takes time, several years possibly to cultivate rivalries, and schedule, especially when its done so far in advance. i haven't seen many on RP willing to give time(some have). many attach all the past years of waiting, under past leadership to this current group and want result right away. AND if this group isnt willing, how can we expect the casual fan to.

Rivalries already exist between UNT, USM, WKU, LaTurd, Tulane, and even Houston.

[Duggie35]

Reading what some are saying about the feelings within the fan base. brings up a perplexing question, if fans dont show up for weak brand opponents because no one knows them(stated in past threads about attendance), and wont show up for name opponents because we cant compete on field, where does that leave AD and coach for scheduling? what is that really saying about the fan base in large? hope i get several answers to this .....

as for my guess, everyone is taking a wait and see approach, Hud success as it relates to winning the fans over came fast and was not built on a good foundation or support system around the program at the time. so fans left as fast as they came when things went south on him. we now have a great support system and coach Napier is building a strong foundation, but the fans are in wait till i see it mode. i just wish who we play didnt matter, and as long as our team is playing, the fans want to be apart of it. thats the quick version, im sure there are several more factors to consider.

Amen Brother!!!

[Balanced_view]

Rivalries already exist between UNT, USM, WKU, LaTurd, Tulane, and even Houston.

i get there are a handful of 8-10 regional schools that could have the potential to draw good. im personally not convinced, based on history. that being said you cant put together a full home schedule with just those every year. at some point the fan base needs to show up for whoever we play against. or we will always only have 2 game per year well attended ....winning consistently is the key to me and that just wont come over night

[CajunNation]

By stating the only C-USA schools that would make a dent in our attendance, are you suggesting they would travel well to Lafayette? I don't think that is the criteria for most fans I speak with as much as it is the programs we are playing. Rice and UNT are certainly not going to bring any more to Lafayette than any SBC program.

To me and many others it's about who we are playing, so I think you add Middle Tenn and UAB to Rice, UNT, Tech and USM, the results would be the same as long as we are winning.

Having a 6th home game allows your base and core supporters to see another game. It adds some value to the cost of season ticket packages if we get the right teams to Lafayette. I don't have a problem playing MWC, MAC or AAC programs on the road if we can get a return game to Lafayette. It certainly beats playing two P5 money games on the road.

All I'm saying T is that if you don't schedule local, schedule up.

Mid-week home games are the worst, but we do it for TV to grow the brand. I'm merely suggesting we carry that thinking forward to the non-con schedule.

Let's grow UP.

[talktomewillis]

1. We will not play a two for one with anyone.

2. We will play six home games every year (which is why Dr. Maggard worked so hard to get that last game for 2020.)

3. Our draw for non conference games will always be tied to the number of opposing fans that show up.

4. Dr. Maggard says he's working on scheduling for 2025 and beyond, which is a reminder of how far in advance football scheduling is done (as a rule).

[RaginDave]

1. We will not play a two for one with anyone.

2. We will play six home games every year (which is why Dr. Maggard worked so hard to get that last game for 2020.)

3. Our draw for non conference games will always be tied to the number of opposing fans that show up.

4. Dr. Maggard says he's working on scheduling for 2025 and beyond, which is a reminder of how far in advance football scheduling is done (as a rule).

#2 and #4 are exciting for us.

2019/2020 and 2021 are all done

2022 should be pretty easy, we just need a FCS team (that is fairly easy) and an away money game should be easier.

Means our focus is really on 2023 (where we need 3 games 2 home games, 1 vs FCS)
2024 (where we need 3 games (where we need 1 home game vs FCS, 1 money game and one G5 away game)
2025 where we need 1 FCS home game and 1 money game.

All this based on Dr. Maggard saying the plan is.

1 FCS Home Game
1 G5 Home Game
1 P5 away Money game
1 G5 away game