improvements ( pics )

[Oldman]

i went to the meeting yesterday to here about whats going on. Gerald gave us a complete rundown on things happening and what will happen soon, i am very excited about what's happening, the improvements that have been made and others starting up in a matter of weeks that may supprise some of you. Gerald is working very hard and it shows, i think you who have not made one of those meeting will be very pleased if you are a cajun fan......look for them.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by oldman
i went to the meeting yesterday to here about whats going on. Gerald gave us a complete rundown on things happening and what will happen soon, i am very excited about what's happening, the improvements that have been made and others starting up in a matter of weeks that may surprise some of you. Gerald is working very hard and it shows, i think you who have not made one of those meeting will be very pleased if you are a cajun fan......look for them.

Gerald is a relentless idea man. What sets him apart is he has an (I find) uncanny ability to put the ideas in motion.

One of my favorite moves is his resurrection of sorts of the old scoreboard. I say resurrect because it wasn't working and it was slated to be torn down. And if I'm not mistaken it was going to cost close to $10,000 to remove it and dress up the area.

Instead with ads and the sort it will now make money for ULAthletics.

What he has done is turned it into a game time information center with one of the features being a sports ticker that updates fans with nation wide top 25, Louisiana, and Sunbelt scores.

[Purecajun]

No to mention that big cover over the tunnel with the chili pepper on it. I found that looked pretty neat, too.

[CajunGrad94]

Oldman, how about letting us outsiders know what improvements are going to happen in a few weeks. Share the wealth!

[EVCajun12]

Actually, the tunnel pepper was funded by SGA and UPC

[CDeb]

I meant to go to that meeting and forgot about it! Darn!

[RaginRash]

Originally posted by evcajun12
Actually, the tunnel pepper was funded by SGA and UPC

Props to them!

[Turbine]

Originally posted by CAJUNDAVE1 on Delphi
I had the good fortune of attending a presentation given by Gerald Hebert at the Alumni House earlier this week. As I understand it, Gerald has been conducting this type of presentation periodically to try and get the word out about the many good things that are currently taking place, or is in the works, to improve the entire Cajun athletic program. There is obviously a big emphasis on the football program and facilities. Although he outlined many, many things, I will try and highlight some of those that stuck with me.
1) Although there have been some much needed improvements to some aspects of Cajun Field, Gerald said that even some of those new improvements will be getting even better in the future. Gerald mentioned the following:

a)COX Communication is donating some television monitors that will be installed in the concorse areas of Cajun Field so that when folks go to the concession stands, restrooms or just hang out, they will be able to watch the action taking place on the field (similar to what is in place at the CajunDome). As I understood it, he is hoping to have this done prior to the completion of this season.

b)Some additional wrought iron art work is currently being fabricated that will be installed above the old scoreboard (now a message board). This will add to the asthetics of the old board and blend it in with much of the new wrought iron being utilized in and around Cajun Field. This I think will also be complete sometime during this season.

c) Although they already look great, the two new entrances on the west side of Cajun Field are not yet complete. Gerald indicated that some additional wrought iron arches, of some kind, are yet to be erected. These will serve as an additional revenue source because sponsors for those gates have already been obtained. I think I understood that the 2 west side entrances should be complete later this season but the 2 east side gates will not be rebuilt to match the west side until next season.

d) Another new cement walkway will be built on the north end of Cajun Field to connect the east & west sides of Cajun Field similar to the new walkway recently put in on the south end of Cajun Field. According to Gerald, the walkway on the north end will not be installed until next season.

e) A local oil company has supposidly donated some money and/or the equipment necessary to remove the CAJUN FIELD lettering from the elevator shaft and have the lettering and a new logo installed on the back side of the press box facing Bertrand Drive. The logo and lettering will then be illuminated by lighting when the sun goes down each day.

f) Several folks have inquired about the new Percy Guidry Party Patio that has been built in the south west end of Cajun Field. Gerald said there has been enough interest in the Party Patio, that they are starting to consider building them totally around the south end of the stadium. If constructed, they would be sold sort of like outdoor sky boxes.

2) Plans are currently in place to totally refurbish and expand the current athletic administration building. According to Gerald, this will be done in 3 or 4 phases and that 10 local contractors have agreed to donate some time and labor to the project. According to Gerald the 1st phase will be to refurbish and expand the training room and facilities. He indicated that plans call for the new training room to be 3 to 4 times larger than the current set up. the 2nd phase will be to double the size of the current weight room. He also indicated that $100,000 in additional weight and conditioning equipment will also be donated as soon as it is complete. A new Hall of Fame/meeting room is also scheduled to be added to the complex during the expansion.

3) They are currently in the process of trying to refurbish all of the coaches offices. Coach Bustle's office has already been done (this is where the recruiting trail ends)and looks very nice. A local furniture company has donated quite a bit of new furniture and another company donated the wood flooring, etc.

4) The construction of the new 1.8 million dollar Track/Soccer facility is supposed to begin sometime in October or November.

5) A local company has donated the money and/or equipment to install new light fixtures at Moore Field (not new poles, just new light fixtures). This will improve the lighting and enhance our chances of hosting a Regional and/or TV games.

6) A local hospital has donated enough money to construct a park/recreation area behind the new 3rd base bleachers at Moore Field. The money is in hand, however, construction cannot start until a few more details are worked out. He said it would be nice to have it complete in time for the upcoming baseball season, but it might not be possible.

7) Although the new marqee at the entrance to the complex on Bertrand Drive is very nice, and much better than the piece of trash that was there before, Gerald said he is hoping to at some point get a computer based marqee installed at that location.

8) The big project that will be coming is the new indoor practice facility. He informed us that Dr. A really wants it to be built and has already gotten approval from the necessary folks at the state level. He indicated that the facility will serve the indoor needs of football, baseball, softball, soccer, track & field and basketball. He said the facility will probably cost somewhere between 4 & 5 million dollars and that Dr. A is commited to the project and already has 1 or 2 million and is very getting personnaly involved in obtaining the rest of the money. It is my understanding that the facility is probably 2 years away from becoming a reality.

These are just some of the things off the top of my head that I can remember Gerald telling us about. There are also many, many more things that he is working on. Some things will be obvious, and some are taking place behind the scenes and might only be noticable to some people (such as improvements in the press box).

Therefore, as disappointed as many of us were last Saturday, this is not the time to abandon ship! Rome was not built in a day, and neither will our football program. But one thing is very clear, UL is FINALLY headed in the right direction and we have a few people in place that are getting things done!

The information contained in this post came strictly from what I can remember from the meeting I attended earlier this week. I have tried to make it as accurate as I could and hopefully have not misrepresented anything Gerald had to say.

[CajunGrad94]

Great news! Thanks Turbine and CajunDave1!

[Pirogue]

You think Southern is re-thinking there decision to go with the small ad????

The Borden's sign dwarfs it.

Kudo's to all the sponsors though... I do like what I am seeing in and around cajun Field.
The idea of patios as luxury suites is freaking brilliant!

[CajunRebel]

Someone mentioned this awhile ago, and I agreed with him when he said that the press box looks absolutely terrible. All we would need to to is tint the windows, and mabye slap some paint on it. It would cost alot less than the other walkway across the north end zone, and it would add alot more to the field.

By the way. All these improvments are really great. But they are all meaningless if our team doesn't improve.

[DaddyCajun]

Just spoke with Gerald Hebert! There was a meeting last night held to bring closer to reality all phases of the Athletic Complex Construction!!

Gerald said, "After last nights meeting I am MORE pumped than ever!"

Dr A, sent word thru Bill Crist(UL Physical Plant Manager) that he wants construction to start as soon as possible!!! TARGET date is right after football season is over!!


Phase 1: Training Room, Locker Rooms, and Equipment room

Phase 2: Weightroom (double in size)building will expand towards Bertrand Dr., Body Masters will donate an additional $100,000 in equipment!!!


Phase 3: Meeting Rooms

Phase 4: Alumni Hall of Fame

ALL PHASES HAVE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES

Examples: (6) Large Whirlpools @4,000 a piece(your name and or your company name on a plaque next to each whirlpool you sponsor).

(29) Training/Treatment tables @ $750 a piece(plaques apply here also)

Indiviual Rooms also have naming rights, just like the Alumni house and other big projects!!!!!

CONTACT YOUR CPA TO VERIFY, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF DONATE TO NAME SOMETHING AND DO NOT RECIEVE ANYTHING IN RETURN, YOUR DONATION IS 100% TAX DEDUCTABLE!!!!!

I WILL UPDATE EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD AFTER EACH MEETING!!!!!!


LOUISIANA PROUD
DOING IS ACHIEVING
DADDYCAJUN