Zeon Chriss

[CajunNation]

That’s a two way street. They say they want us to look at their players (I have no issue with this), but then when they have a stud we are back to just being the local school and not even considered. When you only want us to consider your guys who aren’t getting looks at the D1 level elsewhere but then funnel your top level guys to P5s, is that really something we should be interested in? Look at the guys we’ve gotten in baseball where we were their fall back after it didn’t work out in BR.

We definitely have missed on some local talent though with success at the G5 level. The wide out for Tech comes to mind.

Understand.

Bottom line, we should be signing all G5 level players in Acadiana. After that, yes, I am saying we should sign a few more FCS level guys. Don't have to sign all of them, but odds are that some of those will be developed into quality G5 players, and if we can build some community support in the process, I don't see the harm.

We need to build bridges. We need to strengthen ties to the community. I want App level commitment from Acadiana. If that means we sign FCS guys, so be it. Time to circle the wagons.

[RedTails]

Understand.

Bottom line, we should be signing all G5 level players in Acadiana. After that, yes, I am saying we should sign a few more FCS level guys. Don't have to sign all of them, but odds are that some of those will be developed into quality G5 players, and if we can build some community support in the process, I don't see the harm.

We need to build bridges. We need to strengthen ties to the community. I want App level commitment from Acadiana. If that means we sign FCS guys, so be it. Time to circle the wagons.

You sign the best available players (regardless of hometown) that intersect in the venn diagram of cultural fit. I don't think you sign local FCS kids just for community support and to build bridges. I mean our coach is from the Berry and Iberia Parish not showing up for Des.

[cajun55]

I see that Des is overly sentimental. This does not make for a good coach. Knowing when to cut losses is where he is lacking.

An interesting question about loyalty in this new NIL transfer era. Say hypothetically if Wooldridge or Fields had stayed healthy would we have Chriss returning this year had he not started those 6 games? It’s almost better for a school like us to have that “average” non-hyped but experienced qb. Giving the hyped prospect early playing time just means we lose him sooner and you risk upsetting the veteran qb as well. Not worth taking chances on those young talents.

Obviously that wasn’t the situation with injuries but it was before the injuries and many wanted to bench Ben for Zeon. We likely have Ben coming back now which probably wouldn’t be the case had Des benched him for Zeon while healthy. We would have lost them both.

Something to consider. Des being loyal to Wooldridge when he was healthy could be a big reason if he comes back for another year!

[JAB]

No. STM only pushes their FCS kids to UL coaches.

I always wondered how good STM players would look in college. Very few of them get a chance to play in the FBS, and the ones that do haven't really panned out. Yet, STM's teams are always wildly successful. Are the coaches that good or should we also give some credit to the players?

[CajunJack55]

An interesting question about loyalty in this new NIL transfer era. Say hypothetically if Wooldridge or Fields had stayed healthy would we have Chriss returning this year had he not started those 6 games? It’s almost better for a school like us to have that average but experienced qb. Giving the hyped prospect early playing time just means we lose him sooner and you risk upsetting the veteran qb as well. Not worth taking chances on those young talents.

Obviously that wasn’t the situation with injuries but it was before the injuries and many wanted to bench Ben for Zeon. We likely have Ben coming back now which probably wouldn’t be the case had Des benched him for Zeon while healthy. We would have lost them both.

Something to consider.

Certainly something to think about....definitely makes the HC job that much harder.

[JAB]

Just to clarify, is the general consensus that Chriss is legitimately good, or is the consensus that he's just kinda good but that he's the best thing that UL has?

[RedTails]

I always wondered how good STM players would look in college. Very few of them get a chance to play in the FBS, and the ones that do haven't really panned out. Yet, STM's teams are always wildly successful. Are the coaches that good or should we also give some credit to the players?

I'm not a HS football fan, but one of the rare times I have ever seen STM play (against my school), they had about 500 kids dressed out on the sidelines to my school's seemingly 50. Probably doesn't hurt.

[CajunEXPRESS]

This is the only part I’ll push back on. I think he clearly should have. However, it actually happening, I’m not positive. Des is a loyalist. Look what he did in the bowl game. I’m sure Burton’s performance was injury related, but it was killing us having him out there when Fordham started the game snapping the ball just fine. Thats how Des was brought up though. Bustle was a loyalist to Babb when he was too timid to run after injury. He was a loyalist to Des when Des was injured but still playing. Bustle couldn’t make the move off of Masson even though everyone could see the burst the team got when McGuire played. I could see Des having a real hard time sticking a 6th year senior on the bench.

The freshman was playing before he got hurt just prior the half. Burton was also not healthy.

It had nothing to do with loyalty to an upper class-man.

[KajunKrazy]

…..the real reason he left…….a QB eating his Lunch! This will be interesting!

I have been told from a very good source Lunch has a really difficult time in the throwing game at this level. He may turn out to be more of a Dion Ray type.

I had a conversation with Chandler in the Marriott after the game on Saturday and after the turn of events yesterday, I would not be surprised if he returned here next year. Heck he has already proven he can win the job against the people that will be in the room next year, unless Beal is the next up and coming Jake Delhomme.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Beale, Veal is a linebacker from Zachary High.