15,053

[Esqueleto]

Hud took off like a rocket then as rockets do, fizzled out. He's what we needed at the time. Hud even was going around, at least in the early years to the small town Chamber of Commerce banquets as the keynote speaker. He was visible. Did that make him a better head coach? Nope. But he raised expectations and brought in new fans and money before his fizzle out stage began in 2015. Some might say the fizzle began during the 2014 season. Not pining for Hud's return, but that was as others have correctly stated 'a different time'. The one thing though that would be extremely helpful every off season is Head Coach Mike D. making a meet & greet alumni+ road show to every Acadiana parish and go to Houston, BR, and New Orleans, too. Bring other head coaches as well. That alone will not result in hundreds more season tickets sold. But sometimes you have to go to where people are on the outside looking in, personally invite them to c'mon back. And if coordinated gets media and others talking about your program in off season. One of the largest responsibilities of leadership is communications or in today's lingo- messaging. Messaging with the Ragin Cajun fanbase/customers is average at best at all management levels of the university. IMO this communications complacency is a significant root cause of our fanbase becoming a mile wide and inch thick.

How about setting up shop at all of our local grocery stores of the Ragin Cajuns, Super1, during our ticket sales drive period and greet customers as they're leaving and promote season tickets, maybe have a booth right there at the exit selling season passes. You could have the mascot out there interacting with the kids. That ____ would be too easy.

[Turbine]

There will never be another Hud, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the great.

When it comes to promoting, that doesn't mean UL can't learn from him.

[CajunVic]

. . . I have told this story before about HUD but it so demonstrates his tenacity and perception . . . his first year here, my kids were at Cathedral (purple and gold tigers) . . . Coach Doe's son was in one of my son's classes and he coached the Cathedral school baseball team, so we had access to the indoor practice facility . . . I was there watching with a purple Cathedral shirt . . . HUD after finishing some work with some linemen in the facility (we were both in the facility because of adverse weather) was walking out and screamed across the facility "hey you, (of course pointing at the guy with the purple shirt) are you lost or something, that university is 60 miles east of here"

. . . everybody in the facility, including his linemen got a rise . . . that was HUD . . . everywhere he went, even at home, he was selling . . .

[jaxmc1023]

If one of the benefits of hiring Des is building a meaningful relationship between him and Lafayette citizens.... shouldn't he be out doing the Hud approach moreso than the Napier?

[Jacob81]

Didn't say it was. He got out into the community. He shook hands. He invited people to come out. Say what you want about his personality or his method. It worked. If you want to find ways to poke holes in that, knock yourself out. He did what no one else was able to do.

And he won like we’ve not seen before. I credit him for his public appearances even though it was probably more stroking his own ego than anything. But without winning and doing what hadn’t been done here on the field the stadium would not have been as full as it was.

[Million$Mullet]

2009

Imagine having to sell beer for the first time at the Southern game with 41k there. Lol

[CajunNation]

Didn't say it was. He got out into the community. He shook hands. He invited people to come out. Say what you want about his personality or his method. It worked. If you want to find ways to poke holes in that, knock yourself out. He did what no one else was able to do.

Just like Flair and Rhodes, Hud was a master on the Mic. People around here eat that _____ up.

[ManAboutTown]

I hate to see our area and state decline in population but that's the hard truth. Some people can chose to believe it or not.

It has been said ad nauseam, Lafayette is one of the only areas in the state that has steady growth over the last 5 years. Our population here is not declining. Also, 20% poverty rate but average household income of $82K? You actually believe that?

[facelessjonmoon]

That block accounted for over 43% of the annual season ticket sales.

Thanks. That sounds accurate.

Any idea what that % is today? And how many season tix total were we selling per year from 2011-14?

I think we're around 6k now?

[CajunVic]

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/world-population-review/

https://worldpopulationreview.com/us...ish-population

[CajunT]

Thanks. That sounds accurate.

Any idea what that % is today? And how many season tix total were we selling per year from 2011-14?

I think we're around 6k now?

That was the last number I heard as well.

[CajunVic]

. . . whatever portion that was reduced is a tall order to replace in today’s climate . . .