A Good Rivalry

[CajunFun]

With all apologies to ULM, USM is probably the best rivalry for us.

If you look back over the decades, most of our rivals weren't good matches: they generally lacked potential, resources, and vision: yes, they beat us in sports, but in enrollment, market size, research, graduate studies, et al. they generally fell short. In fact, as I have mentioned previously, we never really dominate our rivals, or even regularly split the series: we just look around one day, and they are no longer there. They just didn't keep up.

So here is the argument for USM:

1) We share geographic overlap, a must for almost all rivalries. Geographic overlap means your students and alumni interact, which keeps up interest in the game. We both draw heavily from New Orleans, and have many alumni there.

2) We've been playing USM in football since 1923, the earliest matchup of any team we regularly face.

3) There is more athletic parity with USM across the board, they tend to excel at many of the same sports we do. There will be more heated games between us throughout the year.

4) UL & USM are the only charter members of 1A (now FBS) in the 'Belt.

5) Academically they are a good match. There are only four R1 schools in the conference, UL, USM, Ga State & ODU. This opens the door for collaborations, as well as competitions.

So here is my suggestion to the group: Let's make this an intense, but amicable rivalry. Good smack should be good guff: the other guy should have a hard time keeping a straight face.

And as always, let's look for ways that we can cooperate off the arena,* politically, academically, and in volunteerism. (For you USM fans stopping by, UL has won the civic volunteerism crown in the 'Belt for the past couple of years [we've slipped this year]. I double-dare you to do more for your community than we do for ours. No, I triple-dare you, I triple-dog-dare you... )

Welcome to the FunBelt, Golden Eagles.

*We say in the arena, but arena is Latin for 'sand.' Gladiators fought on the arena, because it absorbed the blood.

[RaginScotsman]

USM and their fans got up for that game. Even the students that were probably in elementary school or younger the last time we played a game. There's post win trash chatter from their fans on some platforms. There was a buzz all around.

Plus, USM can hurt us. They are pretty competitive across the board in all sports. We compete for recruits.

ULM is no one's rival, unfortunately. No one can really get up to play them in anything.

[CajunFun]

USM and their fans got up for that game. Even the students that were probably in elementary school or younger the last time we played a game. There's post win trash chatter from their fans on some platforms. There was a buzz all around.

Plus, USM can hurt us. They are pretty competitive across the board in all sports. We compete for recruits.

ULM is no one's rival, unfortunately. No one can really get up to play them in anything.

What I found interesting was that apparently, a lot LTU fans insisted USM wasn't their rival. What was up with that? Who did they think their true rival was, State? 'Bama?

Clemson?

[Turbine]

I was hoping USM would be listed as the rivalry game by the Sunbelt. UL got Texas State over in San Marcos.

The season ending game with USM would have been well attended at both locations.

Instead some at UL lobbied for the best fan tourist trip without consideration for how many fans Texas State would bring to Cajun Field every other year.

[RaginScotsman]

What I found interesting was that apparently, a lot LTU fans insisted USM wasn't their rival. What was up with that? Who did they think their true rival was, State? 'Bama?

Clemson?

Sam Houston? Maybe Jacksonville State.

[ZoomZoom]

Sam Houston? Maybe Jacksonville State.

Supposedly C-DOA is looking at Central Arkansas. Want the LR market.

[CajunEXPRESS]

With all apologies to ULM, USM is probably the best rivalry for us.

If you look back over the decades, most of our rivals weren't good matches: they generally lacked potential, resources, and vision: yes, they beat us in sports, but in enrollment, market size, research, graduate studies, et al. they generally fell short. In fact, as I have mentioned previously, we never really dominate our rivals, or even regularly split the series: we just look around one day, and they are no longer there. They just didn't keep up.

So here is the argument for USM:

1) We share geographic overlap, a must for almost all rivalries. Geographic overlap means your students and alumni interact, which keeps up interest in the game. We both draw heavily from New Orleans, and have many alumni there.

2) We've been playing USM in football since 1923, the earliest matchup of any team we regularly face.

3) There is more athletic parity with USM across the board, they tend to excel at many of the same sports we do. There will be more heated games between us throughout the year.

4) UL & USM are the only charter members of 1A (now FBS) in the 'Belt.

5) Academically they are a good match. There are only four R1 schools in the conference, UL, USM, Ga State & ODU. This opens the door for collaborations, as well as competitions.

So here is my suggestion to the group: Let's make this an intense, but amicable rivalry. Good smack should be good guff: the other guy should have a hard time keeping a straight face.

And as always, let's look for ways that we can cooperate off the arena,* politically, academically, and in volunteerism. (For you USM fans stopping by, UL has won the civic volunteerism crown in the 'Belt for the past couple of years [we've slipped this year]. I double-dare you to do more for your community than we do for ours. No, I triple-dare you, I triple-dog-dare you... )

Welcome to the FunBelt, Golden Eagles.

*We say in the arena, but arena is Latin for 'sand.' Gladiators fought on the arena, because it absorbed the blood.

It’s not a rivalry if you don’t win your share especially when the other team is down. Right now I’m feeling more like the way ULMost views our annual game. More important to us than USM.

[Turbine]

It’s not a rivalry if you don’t win your share especially when the other team is down. Right now I’m feeling more like the way ULMost views our annual game. More important to us than USM.

You would not be wrong but also Louisiana is more in a position to change things around.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I was hoping USM would be listed as the rivalry game by the Sunbelt. UL got Texas State over in San Marcos.

The season ending game with USM would have been well attended at both locations.

Instead some at UL lobbied for the best fan tourist trip without consideration for how many fans Texas State would bring to Cajun Field every other year.

We should play TxSt early in conference play when there’s still hope for both teams. USM should absolutely be the last game. Probably will be for something important most years. A bowl, West championship, or making the other team miserable. We’ve got to win a lot more for USM to consider us an arch-rival.

[Bandwagon King]

It’s not a rivalry if you don’t win your share especially when the other team is down. Right now I’m feeling more like the way ULMost views our annual game. More important to us than USM.

This. It will be a good rivalry when UL finally learns to bring their lunch pail & play mean junk yard dog football for 60 minutes. Until then, USM is gonna dominate this so called "rivalry".

[Big Buds]

We gotta start winning some games…but I agree.

[CajunEXPRESS]

You would not be wrong but also Louisiana is more in a position to change things around.

Opinions on concepts are never wrong just different than yours maybe. 41-11 ain’t a rivalry to the team with 41 wins.