Reasons for 2023 Football Optimism

[Big Buds]

As of this post they are G5.

But this thread is the topic of football. Their season is over, thus classifying them as a P5.

[Cajunrunner]

End of the year rant…getting out the bad juju…

I’m not optimistic simply because we, as fans, see a credibility issue from leadership. There is nothing exciting about last FB season that creates new fans.

This year’s product was meh at best. And “but if we had” are still are failures at the end of the day.

Martin Hall needs to quit USLing this athletic department. A lot of hard work went into become R-1. They are to be commended. That said…

It is past time to fix the “front porch” of the university. It starts with FB. The effort displayed the past few years has been akin to a Section 8 slumlord ducking his tenant complaining about a stopped up toilet. Everyone knows it stinks but it’s not getting fixed.

Yeah, Covid, we all heard it. We get it. That doesn’t mean you basically shut things down via attrition and blame Napier for months. It’s happened at other programs, so why it’s like a great surprise here? When it gets tough, suck it up, fix it. It feels we’re headed to a stAte or ULM future at times.

For example, we hear things on RP in bits regarding the stadium. But nothing from the administration.

There’s been roundabout suggestions on RP regarding misappropriation of RCAF funds, or at least not spent on what stakeholders were told, nothing from the administration. Clean up whatever may be an issue and make it known.

We heard Des was supposedly all they could afford. Before I go further, I do NOT fault Des for taking the job, pretty much we all would. But what was offered as compensation, just look at the company that pay range keeps. A nationwide search and interview process, even if done electronically, doesn’t happen in a week or so. This comes off, to some, the administration took a lot of things for granted, and they were wrong.

Again, the RCAF donor base is horrible and aging out. This site has documented a few…Frenchie and Fisher just to name a few…who is stepping in those voids? Who is recruiting new long term fans? Who is marketing our programs?

MBB has a multitude of problems. We play in an oversized arena, with oversized concession prices, oversized Ticketmaster charges, oversized memory of our history (haven’t been in the mix multiple years in a row in decades), and a coach that has overstayed. Marlin is a good man, but sometimes change is necessary. There is absolutely NOBODY out there that can overcome the oversized obstacles MBB faces. Marlin hasn’t helped, but the costs of basketball attendance is an issue, Heck they even tried a play area in the NEZ at the dome and that didn’t work. Administration needs to figure this one out, because, once again, nobody young on the horizon cares about dumping major coin in MBB. And hiring a Boyd, Starks, etc won’t fix the financial hindrance illustrated by 40 years of declining attendance at the dome.

UL needs transparency…yesterday. Decades ago TDP started a movement to be a D1/FBS/CFP program. Some say Napier wasn’t charismatic as Hud. We are not a high school. The coach’s job is not sales. Yes, speaking engagements are needed but being rah-rah here, there, and everywhere at a D1 program is so small time. The foundation is there. There is no going back to the SLC or, at times the level of care exhibited felt back to the days of the GCC.

So Martin Hall, lead in 2023. Otherwise, this slide will continue, and will eventually trickle over to the few successful things we have.

Live, breathe, wear and speak THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA.

Rant off.

I’m a fan of this post.

[CajunNation]

Everyone of those examples is p5 schools. Except cincy who will be next year. Plus cincy has a larger population to draw fans from and in turn money.

Find an example of a g5 in a 100,000 city population 50 miles from a p5(highest level p5 at that)

We are behind a giant 8 ball.

Corvalis, Oregon has a 59k pop. (Oregon State)
Manhattan, Kansas has a 54k pop. (Kansas State)

...there are many more.

I have said this a million times. The only difference between Louisiana and Kansas State is
the conference we call home. There is no proverbial 8 ball to overcome. There is no ticket to punch. We just need luck and time for people to realize just how little difference there is between Louisiana and most P5 schools. There are a lot of P5 schools that are getting gutted by the portal just as much as we were.

With the 12 team playoff and our recent excellence on the field, it's time for perceptions of old to be thrown away like yesterdays trash.

The only real barriers we have as a program that still hold it back are in the minds of our fanbase and our haters who can't let go of the past.

[Cajunrunner]

I understand that but sometimes when running a marathon you suffer cramps. It happens to everyone. Just look at Louisiana State after 2019.

A little easier to recover from blunders and a fall when you have a $160 Million budget and are the only P5 program in a football talent rich state.

By the way, you really don’t recover from cramping in a marathon. When that ____ starts at Mile 21-23…very few really come back from it to finish as strong as they were prior to said cramping.

[Jacob81]

Corvalis, Oregon has a 59k pop. (Oregon State)
Manhattan, Kansas has a 54k pop. (Kansas State)

...there are many more.

I have said this a million times. The only difference between Louisiana and Kansas State is
the conference we call home. There is no proverbial 8 ball to overcome. There is no ticket to punch. We just need luck and time for people to realize just how little difference there is between Louisiana and most P5 schools. There are a lot of P5 schools that are getting gutted by the portal just as much as we were.

With the 12 team playoff and our recent excellence on the field, it's time for perceptions of old to be thrown away like yesterdays trash.

The only real barriers we have as a program that still hold it back are in the minds of our fanbase and our haters who can't let go of the past.

Auburn and Oxford are small towns as well.

If we were in a p5 conference our budget would be double to triple what it is. Our home schedules would be worlds better. So support and money would go through the roof overnight. Small conference, small tv deals, small town, small budget, and powerhouse Down the road further handicapping all those things.

[Jacob81]

UCF has over 50,000 students. That’s a lot of support and alumni to build from quickly.

[CajunAmos]

UCF has over 50,000 students. That’s a lot of support and alumni to build from quickly.

With athletic fees generated.

[BeauCajun]

Everyone of those examples is p5 schools. Except cincy who will be next year. Plus cincy has a larger population to draw fans from and in turn money.

Find an example of a g5 in a 100,000 city population 50 miles from a p5(highest level p5 at that)

We are behind a giant 8 ball.

I know it’s 81 miles but how about Tulane and State. Greenies been behind that 8 ball for a long time.

[cajun_lannister]

This end of season thread is actually healthy for RP'ers. All good points. Look based upon the weak schedule I predicted 10 win season. And despite the early off season challenges it was there for the taking if the ball bounces your way. So we took a big step back, not uncommon for new coaching staff. Still 8 wins plus the bowl game was very much in reach so the end results are disappointing. To sum things up, Tulane, freaking Tulane is in the Cotton Bowl this year. We were ahead of them, now they've passed us up made the NY6 reaping tons of free publicity. This alone should set every Cajuns' hair on fire! Our program and athletic admin needs to get the lead out, promote the program at every turn. The mentality/alignment top to bottom including fan base must become make expanded CFB playoff in 2024!! If Tulane can do it, we darn sure can do it.

They couldn't promote it with a championship and the longest win streak in the country. What you think they can do with a losing season and losses to ULM & Rice.

[JMV JustMyView]

Auburn and Oxford are small towns as well.

If we were in a p5 conference our budget would be double to triple what it is. Our home schedules would be worlds better. So support and money would go through the roof overnight. Small conference, small tv deals, small town, small budget, and powerhouse Down the road further handicapping all those things.

Some folks on this site say the schedule doesn't matter. LOL

[Turbine]

You mean about to be P5?

Irrelevant parcing of words.

For all practical purposes they are what they are perceived to be..

Their next RS game will be as a P5 and that is what they are telling recruits.

If some school wants to come behind them and say they "mean about to be P5" that said school will lose every single recruiting battle. Not just on perceived class, but on perceived foolishness.

[CajunVic]

Some posters on this site only post what others think ��

[fanof71]

They couldn't promote it with a championship and the longest win streak in the country. What you think they can do with a losing season and losses to ULM & Rice.

They are so inept, they didn't honor last year's championship...I can't wait to see how they screw up next season...these people in Maggardland are inept and clueless..

[Jacob81]

I know it’s 81 miles but how about Tulane and State. Greenies been behind that 8 ball for a long time.

Tulane could be something if they could ever get Nola behind them. If they could get 3% of Nola to care it would fill the stadium.

[Turbine]

They are so inept, they didn't honor last year's championship....

Mind boggling.