Ragin Review: Season 5 | Episode 8 - Rice Preview & Solutions!

[RaginReview]

The Boys put on their problem solving hats this week. With so many concerns swirling around the fan base, we ask tough questions and offer solutions to persisting issues, from fan apparel, gameday experiences to tailgating optimization. We'll also preview the Rice Owls, talk about the first road-trip of the season to Houston, TX, depth chart notes, and wrap up the week in the Sun Belt Conference. The biggest G5 weekend in FBS history!

(This week's video will be posted later today)

SBC Top 25 snubs [1:36]

Cajuns gear?! [12:00]

Attendance & Fanbase Self-esteem [23:15]

Solutions! [37:34]

Rice Preview [1:00:24]

H-Town Bound [1:21:03]

MITYW [1:27:41]

For full video of this episode, follow us on these platforms:
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[ULvictory]

So, what are your thoughts on the solutions given on this episode AND give us YOUR three solutions to the problems discussed.

And go......

[JMV JustMyView]

So, what are your thoughts on the solutions given on this episode AND give us YOUR three solutions to the problems discussed.

And go......

Keep your hats backwards to start. Solution it looks cool.

[RedTails]

I'll start off by saying it's a relief to hear our concerns/complaints as a fanbase validated by the podcast and having a voice put to them.

I also thought we had 23k+. We all remember what a true 15k crowd looks like, that's not what we had. The updated south endzone cannibalizes what used to trickle into the student side.

My three solutions:
1. RFID concession bracelets for RCAF members. As many people here pointed out, there's no real benefit to joining RCAF besides wanting to donate. Another problem is slow concessions. This solution addresses both of those things. Offer RFID concession bracelets to RCAF members ($25+) and have RCAF fast-pass lines with RFID POS systems for a truly fast concession experience. This can 100% be done for 2023 season and beyond. Seek out Festival International team on what company they use for that RFID technology and just start a conversation.
2. Remove/reduce any hurdles preventing a PARTY from breaking out This is kind of high level and vague, but kind of aligns with Nick's point of "make it fun." Any gameday decision should be checked against this mantra. Joie de vivre beb
3. Ask our extremely talented creative team to create a "How to Enjoy a Cajun Gameday" video: Something less than 2 minutes showing people where free parking is and where the party is: a. music under the oak; b. public tailgating at the Tigue with food/drinks available; c. Alumni tent for $15 food/drinks; d. or party abroad at the various fan tailgates. Where to get tickets on gameday (Cajundome/Tigue/Gates). And blast the video everywhere.

I feel guilty and disheartened that I've mostly been posting complaints on RP in recent weeks instead of celebrating our successes, but it comes from a place of passion for this university and program, and I want it to be the best possible version of itself. I want 30k in that stadium for every home game because that's what our student athletes and coaches deserve.

[CajunVic]

I'll start off by saying it's a relief to hear our concerns/complaints as a fanbase validated by the podcast and having a voice put to them.

I also thought we had 23k+. We all remember what a true 15k crowd looks like, that's not what we had. The updated south endzone cannibalizes what used to trickle into the student side.

My three solutions:
1. RFID concession bracelets for RCAF members. As many people here pointed out, there's no real benefit to joining RCAF besides wanting to donate. Another problem is slow concessions. This solution addresses both of those things. Offer RFID concession bracelets to RCAF members ($25+) and have RCAF fast-pass lines with RFID POS systems for a truly fast concession experience. This can 100% be done for 2023 season and beyond. Seek out Festival International team on what company they use for that RFID technology and just start a conversation.
2. Remove/reduce any hurdles preventing a PARTY from breaking out This is kind of high level and vague, but kind of aligns with Nick's point of "make it fun." Any gameday decision should be checked against this mantra. Joie de vivre beb
3. Ask our extremely talented creative team to create a "How to Enjoy a Cajun Gameday" video: Something less than 2 minutes showing people where free parking is and where the party is: a. music under the oak; b. public tailgating at the Tigue with food/drinks available; c. Alumni tent for $15 food/drinks; d. or party abroad at the various fan tailgates. Where to get tickets on gameday (Cajundome/Tigue/Gates). And blast the video everywhere.

I feel guilty and disheartened that I've mostly been posting complaints on RP in recent weeks instead of celebrating our successes, but it comes from a place of passion for this university and program, and I want it to be the best possible version of itself. I want 30k in that stadium for every home game because that's what our student athletes and coaches deserve.

5*****Star Post

[ExecutiveCajun]

fans having a real voice is the biggest solution. keep doing what you are doing

[BabbForHeisman]

So, what are your thoughts on the solutions given on this episode AND give us YOUR three solutions to the problems discussed.

And go......

Solutions for the Houston problem:

1) Get a small group of people together to plan out events across the city. Watch parties, social gatherings, etc. Fun stuff just to get people together.

2) Work with the university to figure out exactly who is in Houston…and which new graduates move there every year. That’s the biggest barrier at times, no one knows who is here. At one point about 15 years ago, the AA was claiming 5-7K alumni in Houston. If accurate, that number has to be way bigger now. 10-15K easily, with hundreds more added every time a class graduates. We need to be able to reach them.

3) Promote promote promote. Once people start showing up at events, the thing snowballs.

Take this Rice game, for instance. You’d assume that almost all Houston alumni know about it, right? Wrong. I was sitting in the drive through at Popeyes a few weeks ago, and a guy stopped me to talk about my Ragin Cajuns license plate. He’s a 2006 alum (same as me) and had no idea the football team was playing here. I connected up with him later, and he’ll be at the game on Saturday.

One more time for those in the back…PEOPLE DONT SHOW UP FOR THINGS THAT YOU DONT TELL THEM TO SHOW UP FOR.

[CajunRage]

I'll start off by saying it's a relief to hear our concerns/complaints as a fanbase validated by the podcast and having a voice put to them.

I also thought we had 23k+. We all remember what a true 15k crowd looks like, that's not what we had. The updated south endzone cannibalizes what used to trickle into the student side.

My three solutions:
1. RFID concession bracelets for RCAF members. As many people here pointed out, there's no real benefit to joining RCAF besides wanting to donate. Another problem is slow concessions. This solution addresses both of those things. Offer RFID concession bracelets to RCAF members ($25+) and have RCAF fast-pass lines with RFID POS systems for a truly fast concession experience. This can 100% be done for 2023 season and beyond. Seek out Festival International team on what company they use for that RFID technology and just start a conversation.
2. Remove/reduce any hurdles preventing a PARTY from breaking out This is kind of high level and vague, but kind of aligns with Nick's point of "make it fun." Any gameday decision should be checked against this mantra. Joie de vivre beb
3. Ask our extremely talented creative team to create a "How to Enjoy a Cajun Gameday" video: Something less than 2 minutes showing people where free parking is and where the party is: a. music under the oak; b. public tailgating at the Tigue with food/drinks available; c. Alumni tent for $15 food/drinks; d. or party abroad at the various fan tailgates. Where to get tickets on gameday (Cajundome/Tigue/Gates). And blast the video everywhere.

I feel guilty and disheartened that I've mostly been posting complaints on RP in recent weeks instead of celebrating our successes, but it comes from a place of passion for this university and program, and I want it to be the best possible version of itself. I want 30k in that stadium for every home game because that's what our student athletes and coaches deserve.

Add some self serve concessions for the RFID as well.

[ExecutiveCajun]

Add some self serve concessions for the RFID as well.

doesnt festival int'l do that?

[RedTails]

doesnt festival int'l do that?

Self-serve concessions, no. Alex Box across the basin does it. No RFID though, their machine takes cards.

[fanof71]

Flags! Every Bowl, Championship, going back to the 30's should be flown at CF. Remind folks of the tradition. But, there's no money in it, so RCAF and Maggard aren't interested...

[BabbForHeisman]

Flags! Every Bowl, Championship, going back to the 30's should be flown at CF. Remind folks of the tradition. But, there's no money in it, so RCAF and Maggard aren't interested...

There might be a thought of embarrassment…meaning, is this all we have after playing football for so long?

[zeppelincajun]

There might be a thought of embarrassment…meaning, is this all we have after playing football for so long?

I’d rather celebrate something rather than nothing. Fake it till you make it. We can’t even fake it. Of course 2 of HUD’s 4 potential banners are for vacated wins so I wouldn’t hang those

[ExecutiveCajun]

we did a below average job promoting the sbc game in lafayette and we have done an even worse job celebrating it. these things should not have to be explained. use anything and everything you can to bring attention to the success we are having right now. it is crazy that we regular people have to explain this to people who get paid to do it

[Tripple Threat]

Solutions for the Houston problem:

1) Get a small group of people together to plan out events across the city. Watch parties, social gatherings, etc. Fun stuff just to get people together.

2) Work with the university to figure out exactly who is in Houston…and which new graduates move there every year. That’s the biggest barrier at times, no one knows who is here. At one point about 15 years ago, the AA was claiming 5-7K alumni in Houston. If accurate, that number has to be way bigger now. 10-15K easily, with hundreds more added every time a class graduates. We need to be able to reach them.

3) Promote promote promote. Once people start showing up at events, the thing snowballs.

Take this Rice game, for instance. You’d assume that almost all Houston alumni know about it, right? Wrong. I was sitting in the drive through at Popeyes a few weeks ago, and a guy stopped me to talk about my Ragin Cajuns license plate. He’s a 2006 alum (same as me) and had no idea the football team was playing here. I connected up with him later, and he’ll be at the game on Saturday.

One more time for those in the back…PEOPLE DONT SHOW UP FOR THINGS THAT YOU DONT TELL THEM TO SHOW UP FOR.

I’m in Houston and would love to go to a watch party and meet some local Cajun fans. I have no idea where start.