They’ve Given Up

[mxpxfr690]

And before 2011, we had never been ranked in the top 25, had a nationally respected program, won 13 games or won an outright league title on our home field. Times have certainly changed and we’ve done nothing with that change. We went Almost two full years without RCAF, marketing or sales staff. We’ve done nothing but hodge-podge midwestern “solutions” for Ragin Cajun challenges.

We just had a winning basketball team playing largely in front of no one until they dragged the Cajun Chicken out of retirement. Tigue didn’t sell out this year. Football attendance worst since the toothpick days. (And then they promoted everyone involved with game day management lol)

There’s always an excuse. It all comes back to leadership. Again, our peers seem to be doing just fine.

Having said that, I’m much more concerned about the future than the past. When what’s planned gets rolled out, I’ll be interested to see how many of you optimists will be much less optimistic.

MAT I tend to agree with you on many things, but giving up isn’t one… Can you explain what you mean by they are giving up, as apparently something just happened that really ____ed you off…. Also are you saying the new stadium will not be that good?

[BabbForHeisman]

I wouldn't say I've given up, but I share the frustration. For me, the biggest thing is not the football stadium, or the baseball stadium, or attendance, or anything like that.

When I graduated from college 17 years ago, if you had told me that in 2023 there would be a conference shakeup of monumental proportions, I would say that my hope beyond wildest hope that we'd be in the mix to make a move to a power conference.

And yet here we are, still in the same position. A power conference is nothing more than a notional future plan. However, if we'd done the right thing all these years...we'd be the UCF or Houston right now. We would.

That's not a knock on the Sunbelt. The Belt is our best option at the moment. But the fact that all this shakeup is happening and we are still just in the Belt...that's disappointing.

And I'm not the only person that feels that way, I'm sure.

[ManAboutTown]

You talking about the final stadium renovations?

Hell, only a few people know anything about that. If it even happens..

I’m talking about more reseating, more price hikes, more changing of RCAF benefit structures, etc. I expect continued alienation of older fans with the coming changes of tickets, parking, etc and more apathy in the younger fans, mostly due to lack of cultivation.

[ZoomZoom]

Alden Report treated like a pick 3 menu is another USL’ing it move. Do the easy things.

[ManAboutTown]

MAT I tend to agree with you on many things, but giving up isn’t one… Can you explain what you mean by they are giving up, as apparently something just happened that really ____ed you off…. Also are you saying the new stadium will not be that good?

No concrete info on the stadium.

It’s not just one thing. It’s several things over the course of the last 2 years that tell me loud and clear, they’ve given up.

Btw, I’m not politicking for anyone else to change how they support the program. I’m telling you guys where I’m at on it and why RR will go from 3 to 2 people.

[fanof71]

Hell, only a few people know anything about that. If it even happens..

I’m talking about more reseating, more price hikes, more changing of RCAF benefit structures, etc. I expect continued alienation of older fans with the coming changes of tickets, parking, etc and more apathy in the younger fans, mostly due to lack of cultivation.

And communication, aka messaging...

[Cajunsmike]

The trifecta screw up…failed the capitalize on the FB championship, failed to search for Napier’s replacement outside the parish line, and the biggest, failure to deliver the stadium as advertised on national tv in interviews during Napier’s last season.

Fans involved needed that championship celebrated, not even a banner. Coaching search, like CMD or not, want to know what USL’ing it is? The way it went down, followed with the “we’re broke” mantra, that’s USL’ing it. The feel of this decision was made by Martin Hall long, long before Napier and Florida was ever in the same sentence.

And the built expectations of the stadium start when the pre construction inspections and engineering surveys not even done yet announcing a start. That is not on Covid or supply chain. The project was not close to even starting this past fall…as announced to the upper deck ticket holders.

And I see zero to be excited about this FB season. I just don’t sense any energy out in public, other than 2 people walked up and asked where I got my Louisiana shirt Sunday. Hint, not on campus.

Been attending different games in multiple sports since high school days in early 70’s. This is the first season I can honestly say I don’t GAF.

There is another “W” word USL hates…winning. It brings expectations.

And I fear by mid October CF will be basically empty.

Cajun Field won't be basically empty in mid October if the football team is winning. I for one, will not automatically assume they are incapable of doing so.

[CajunVic]

. . . seems like a select few have been watching too much news and now want to burn the whole place down . . . don’t take the bait . . . the weak strike when it is hot . . .

[R1Letterman]

The failure to recognize the 2021 Championship, not recognizing the Swamps 50th anniversary, not acknowledging bowl wins inside CF= Apathy in the athletic Dept...time for the the corner office guys to go...

Ladies and gentlemen the best potential rcaf membership drive chairman emeritus

[JMV JustMyView]

It was hard to keep this one in. This has been in the works for a while and I don't blame MAT as his family is way more important than UL or sports. Best of luck bud.

[ZoomZoom]

Cajun Field won't be basically empty in mid October if the football team is winning. I for one, will not automatically assume they are incapable of doing so.

If is the key word.

Our visions tend to be vermilion hued. Nationality, the vast majority see UL will be average, at best.

[cajunjayhawk]

I wouldn't say I've given up, but I share the frustration. For me, the biggest thing is not the football stadium, or the baseball stadium, or attendance, or anything like that.

When I graduated from college 17 years ago, if you had told me that in 2023 there would be a conference shakeup of monumental proportions, I would say that my hope beyond wildest hope that we'd be in the mix to make a move to a power conference.

And yet here we are, still in the same position. A power conference is nothing more than a notional future plan. However, if we'd done the right thing all these years...we'd be the UCF or Houston right now. We would.

That's not a knock on the Sunbelt. The Belt is our best option at the moment. But the fact that all this shakeup is happening and we are still just in the Belt...that's disappointing.

And I'm not the only person that feels that way, I'm sure.

I'm with you. My ideal dream was for Louisiana to be in the Big 12.
Lafayette is no Houston or Orlando, however.

As we search to secure financing for our stadium rebuild...
-Houston received anonymous donations of $15mil in the span of 3 months in 2022
http://thedailycougar.com/2022/07/22...opment-center/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/tex...n-17475344.php

-"According to the university’s funding interest application to the Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force it submitted last month, UCF requested $176.6 million over ten years. It would cover about two-thirds of the full $267.8 million cost of the projects."
https://www.blackandgoldbanneret.com...l-tennis-track

Do we have big money in Lafayette like that? Honestly asking.