Metro Conference

[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.

[HoustonCajun]

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.

Although T-Joe has said that he believes athletics is UL's window to the world, he has not fully supported that and instead supported academics leading to our Carnegie R1 rating. Now that he has achieved that needed academic status, he needs to focus on athletics and getting UL up to a level commensurate with academics.

[Jeaux]

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

Turbs wet dream of going independent and playing this type of schedule. Playing 3 for 1 will also get you this. Also gets you back to 4-7 record in 85 real quick

[R1Letterman]

Early ‘90s Metro

North: BC, Cincinnati, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, St. Joseph, Virginia Tech and West Virginia

South: ECU, Florida State, Louisville, Memphis, Miami (FL), South Carolina, Tulane and Southern Miss.

I’m asking the old heads here, Boomers in particular…did the Cajuns have a shot, dare I say, reject an invitation into the Metro 30+ years ago?

I ask because these teams in the south remind me of the games I attended as a kid at Cajun Field in the ‘80s.

the name is metro, was lafayette a “metro” area at the time? although i am surprised hattiesburg and blacksburg made the cut, not sure about morgantown

[R1Letterman]

also odd that private schools were a good fit with public schools

[R1Letterman]

Although T-Joe has said that he believes athletics is UL's window to the world, he has not fully supported that and instead supported academics leading to our Carnegie R1 rating. Now that he has achieved that needed academic status, he needs to focus on athletics and getting UL up to a level commensurate with academics.

i like that “window to the world” but next he said, that doesnt mean sometimes you dont have to close the shutters

[R1Letterman]

the name is metro, was lafayette a “metro” area at the time? although i am surprised hattiesburg and blacksburg made the cut, not sure about morgantown

also surprised ECU made the cut, still isnt a metro area, and not sure at all how they are up to stature of rest of AAC