Metro Conference

[HoustonCajun]

What a waisted opportunity! It really make you feel for Southern Miss and their great history. It also begs the question as to why ECU, Memphis and Tulane are still stuck as a G5.

Tulane was an original SEC member and left several decades ago. They would be where Vanderbilt is today. One of the worst moves ever. I believe GA Tech was, too, but they ended up OK in the ACC.

[CajunNation]

….WAS TOLD BY A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE CONTRIBUTOR!……we were making a financial payment to Tulane for their vote of approval….the payment was stopped by Dr A and the rest history….think the payment was very high for the period, but the backers were willing to put up the funds!

Dr. A never missed an opportunity to crush athletic growth.

Our entire athletic department is 2 to 3 decades behind where it should be.

[CajunNation]

Blowing the Metro invite directly led to not getting a CUSA invite when they were forming that conference.

The statement from the Memphis AD was to the effect of, "I can't sell SW Louisiana to my fan base". That comment would never have been made if we were already Metro members.

From the Death Penalty debacle, to the Metro debacle, to the CUSA debacle, to the pulling funds/Toothpick debacle, to not allowing an independent RCAF debacle, Dr. A did exactly the wrong thing at precisely the wrong time, every time. Had he not done these things, there is no doubt in my mind we would be in the Big 12, right now.

[Big Buds]

….WAS TOLD BY A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE CONTRIBUTOR!……we were making a financial payment to Tulane for their vote of approval….the payment was stopped by Dr A and the rest history….think the payment was very high for the period, but the backers were willing to put up the funds!

That is really sad to hear but at no surprise. Thanks, Boom.

[RaginDave]

Blowing the Metro invite directly led to not getting a CUSA invite when they were forming that conference.

The statement from the Memphis AD was to the effect of, "I can't sell SW Louisiana to my fan base". That comment would never have been made if we were already Metro members.

Probably so, but we are in a much better place today vs the current CUSA. And I would dare to say we are in as good of a place as the new version of the AAC. So while the pathway to the end result sucked, the end result probably worked out better for us, that is unless (and their is no way of knowing this), if that pathway would have led us to the Big 12.

[Big Buds]

4 home games - two of them against 1-AA teams. That’s not a schedule to be proud of.

I get that but this was in 1985. Perceptions were different and McNeese was a must watch event.

[Big Buds]

Dr. A never missed an opportunity to crush athletic growth.

Our entire athletic department is 2 to 3 decades behind where it should be.

That could be true but again look at Southern Miss and the others listed…still in the G5.

[Duckster]

The words of Robert Frost sum it up the Cajun Athletics cross roads of opportunities in the mid-to late 80's and early 90's:

"Two roads diverged in the woods, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

Unfortunately in our case, we took the wrong road. Besides So. Miss, none of our current conference mates were playing D-1 football in the 80's. I used to believe LaTech was our biggest enemy or LSU in State budgetary matters, but now realize UL leadership complacency is our largest threat and has been reaching back to the 80's. And that complacency is a major influence of our fan base flatlining in multiple ways. Having said all of that, I do appreciate UL leadership is still working towards long overdue Cajun Field renovations in this high inflationary environment.

[CajunNation]

That could be true but again look at Southern Miss and the others listed…still in the G5.

Southern Miss never could and never will have the access to possible outside funding that we do in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Our problem has always been non-independent fundraising and Boosters being run off one way or another by Dr. A. It is incalculable as to how much he has stunted athletic growth here.

[Big Buds]

Southern Miss never could and never will have the access to possible outside funding that we do in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Our problem has always been non-independent fundraising and Boosters being run off one way or another by Dr. A. It is incalculable as to how much he has stunted athletic growth here.

This is a valid point. The money Dr. A turned away is worth noting. Possibly ran off multiple boosters to the TAF.