Disillusioned with softball

[Looney Lou]

Maybe it is because it was a COVID year, maybe not. I like watching youngsters "develop" into softball players over several years. This year, many on the team were strangers to me. Apparently they were strangers to each other, too as the players did not seem to gel into a team. Thank goodness they were talented. But, until the end, they were not a team.

Then, when I was lucky enough to score a season ticket this year, I was dismayed to figure out that the DONATION to RCAF was more than the cost of the ticket. I lump in the cost of the ticket and the the donation into one sum called "Ticket". My tickets to 1/2 the games cost more than the previous year's total for tickets. I am hoping that this is just because the Athletic Department was trying to recoup moneys lost in ticket sales. I hope.

Next, I like to talk to the players and their parents after the games. Of course, COVID is to blame. But, it seemed that last year, the players weren't allowed to talk to the fans as much as in years past.

Once upon a time, fans got together and cooked meals for the players after games and even after practices. That hasn't happened in a long time. This was not because of COVID, but maybe because RCAF wanted to reimburse the cookers? And, they put someone in change of the cooking events. You had to go through a person to get approval to cook a free meal for the players. Cooking has come to a halt since before this year, that wasn't COVID.

For many years, one big time fan would cook barbeque for the players, parents and fans on Senior Day. The Seniors got to talk to the assembled and receive "gifts" from fans. Where did that go? I thought it was nice. It was personable, it was sharing community.

The Senior Day activities were shabby this year. After the game, that's ok, but not many fans were there to celebrate the many years of toiling, wait Many Years? No, no only two had been here since their freshman year. Every other one of the eight was a transfer. Three were one year transfers. No numbers painted on the field? Is that because it is AstroTurf? Can't you just paint green again? The announcer was still giving statistics and rambling on when the next girl walked on the field. At one point he was two behind.
Take picture with parents, then move to the next station and take pictures with the administration and get framed jersey. It was a hastily thrown together thing. An embarrassment.

I had a good taste of ESPN+ this year, and why not? Next year, I can sit by my frige. ESPN+ only costs $5.99 a month. I will donate to RCAF because I want to, not because I "have to" to get a ticket. And when there is no ESPN+, Stevie P and Bobby do a great job. And when there is ESPN+, I Sync my radio with ESPN+ and I get the BEST of both worlds.

Now, my rant is over.

[fanof71]

And we are off in 3, 2, 1...

[JMV JustMyView]

Maybe it is because it was a COVID year, maybe not. I like watching youngsters "develop" into softball players over several years. This year, many on the team were strangers to me. Apparently they were strangers to each other, too as the players did not seem to gel into a team. Thank goodness they were talented. But, until the end, they were not a team.

Then, when I was lucky enough to score a season ticket this year, I was dismayed to figure out that the DONATION to RCAF was more than the cost of the ticket. I lump in the cost of the ticket and the the donation into one sum called "Ticket". My tickets to 1/2 the games cost more than the previous year's total for tickets. I am hoping that this is just because the Athletic Department was trying to recoup moneys lost in ticket sales. I hope.

Next, I like to talk to the players and their parents after the games. Of course, COVID is to blame. But, it seemed that last year, the players weren't allowed to talk to the fans as much as in years past.

Once upon a time, fans got together and cooked meals for the players after games and even after practices. That hasn't happened in a long time. This was not because of COVID, but maybe because RCAF wanted to reimburse the cookers? And, they put someone in change of the cooking events. You had to go through a person to get approval to cook a free meal for the players. Cooking has come to a halt since before this year, that wasn't COVID.

For many years, one big time fan would cook barbeque for the players, parents and fans on Senior Day. The Seniors got to talk to the assembled and receive "gifts" from fans. Where did that go? I thought it was nice. It was personable, it was sharing community.

The Senior Day activities were shabby this year. After the game, that's ok, but not many fans were there to celebrate the many years of toiling, wait Many Years? No, no only two had been here since their freshman year. Every other one of the eight was a transfer. Three were one year transfers. No numbers painted on the field? Is that because it is AstroTurf? Can't you just paint green again? The announcer was still giving statistics and rambling on when the next girl walked on the field. At one point he was two behind.
Take picture with parents, then move to the next station and take pictures with the administration and get framed jersey. It was a hastily thrown together thing. An embarrassment.

I had a good taste of ESPN+ this year, and why not? Next year, I can sit by my frige. ESPN+ only costs $5.99 a month. I will donate to RCAF because I want to, not because I "have to" to get a ticket. And when there is no ESPN+, Stevie P and Bobby do a great job. And when there is ESPN+, I Sync my radio with ESPN+ and I get the BEST of both worlds.

Now, my rant is over.

Long time softball and Cajun supporter here. Lou, thanks for the years of support for the program and the rcaf. Excellent rant that a supporter should be able to express. I agree the team wasn't a gelled team at the start of the season, but towards the end I think they became a team. With the covid the athletic budget took a big hit and yes the were trying to get every bit of money they could. Communication between all supporters, fans, parents, players, and coaches were limited with covid and it will not be like that next year if covid stays away. I can promise you the rcaf isnt reimbursing anyone much less cooks. I am not sure why the cooking stopped. I was always the one eating, not cooking. With the way the ncaa is I thing the "gifts" stuff has stopped for good. Senior day should always be before the game if you ask me. There will be a bigger crowd and I doubt we will ever paint the field. As much as we would like kids to be here for 4 to 5 years the game has changed and those kids will be few and far between. We are blessed to have a radio broadcast but that never replaces the live action. Get your tickets and come on out to the ball park and I will get you a beer. Thanks for your support and hope to see you at the ballpark.

[Scott Malkinson]

Softball recruiting starts3- 4 years in advance? Will be interesting to see us develop through high-school players

[JMV JustMyView]

Softball recruiting starts3- 4 years in advance? Will be interesting to see us develop through high-school players

SM, do you think the Cajuns will start developing high school kids more so now than actually using the portal?

[Scott Malkinson]

SM, do you think the Cajuns will start developing high school kids more so now than actually using the portal?

I think we will but still use the Portal to fill in gaps or if a cant miss prospect is available

[Rainman66]

SM, do you think the Cajuns will start developing high school kids more so now than actually using the portal?

There are simply too many players using the portal that you HAVE to have a development plan for players to have any continuity in your team. Honest discussions on where a player fits and expectation of playing time must be had, especially with HS recruits.

[CajunVic]

It is definitely a whole new ballgame for recruiting with the portal AND one time automatically eligible transfers.

It will be very interesting to see how things go, which coaches get branded as transfer coaches and how well coaches are able to manage high school freshman recruits so that they end up keeping them once they get them on campus if and when they get bumped by transfers for playing time.

It will be incumbent upon the head coach to be as honest as possible about each high school recruit’s expected career paths, anticipated playing time, expected development schedule, redshirt plans and opportunities with the team, etc.

And for those that get no playing time as freshmen, it will be rinse and repeat annually until they move into the lineup or move on.

[JMV JustMyView]

There are simply too many players using the portal that you HAVE to have a development plan for players to have any continuity in your team. Honest discussions on where a player fits and expectation of playing time must be had, especially with HS recruits.

I agree. I also agree that with the portal coaches honestly don't know who will be on there team from season to season. There are big time starters entering the portal every season. Happy one minute, bolting the next minute.

[Rainman66]

I agree. I also agree that with the portal coaches honestly don't know who will be on there team from season to season. There are big time starters entering the portal every season. Happy one minute, bolting the next minute.

Coaches being surprised by who on their team enters the portal should be the exception, not the rule. A huge part of the job is knowing what is going on with each of the players.

I doubt Coach Glasco is surprised on the current players in the portal.

[JMV JustMyView]

Coaches being surprised by who on their team enters the portal should be the exception, not the rule. A huge part of the job is knowing what is going on with each of the players.

I doubt Coach Glasco is surprised on the current players in the portal.

I agree that coaches should have a good pulse on there ball club, but look at what Miranda did. She decided to sit the season out a few weeks before the season started. Sometimes graduate transfer change there mind also.

[SlickRick]

So, is Miranda a done deal?