Cannot defend the trajectory of the program

[Jacob81]

Our record is who we are and it’s not good enough. I’m hoping Dez isn’t that far from having a much better record.

Maybe I’m wrong. He seems too smart and too motivated to not succeed.

[zephyr]

Des defender incoming.

Billy also walked into the blank check writing version of our athletic office, along with the joy of not having to deal with college free agency (NIL + Transfer Portal). Which all of you already know, but that's kind of a big deal.

All of this is false. The portal was easily available at that time. We don't have blank checks around this university.

[ULvictory]

No one will convince me that the losses to Georgia State, Southern Miss, Old Dominion, and Arkansas State were due to having less talent or those teams being better. We lost those games due to lack of fundamentals and poor discipline. We lost games in 2022 for the same reasons. We are seeing the same issues we saw a year ago, and they haven't changed. That is why I expect some staff shakeups at the end of this season.

[no1cajunfan]

Good post, very interesting.

My only question is why didn't they try and pay Dez even less, if money saving was ultimate goal.
He makes 750k??? Would he have turned down $550k? How does his contract read, could he even have stayed under prior contract just with "other duties as assigned" as most co tracts state? Probably not..... but why an increase? Is that to keep stature of the program to some extent?

Good question. My guess is because of the success under Napier UL needed to pay a HC a salary at or near the top of the SB. If not, that would have sent a bad message going from 2mil to 550K. Thats my opinion.

[JMV JustMyView]

Good question. My guess is because of the success under Napier UL needed to pay a HC a salary at or near the top of the SB. If not, that would have sent a bad message going from 2mil to 550K. Thats my opinion.

3.1 Million was on the table for Napier and he turned it down. The money will always be found to try to keep the right coach. Coach Justin had some offers and the Cajuns bumped him in pay and title to keep him.

[facelessjonmoon]

If Napier was making 2mil a year and was offered 3mil to stay, dont kid yourself when people say there was no money to go out and do a national search and get a guy better than dez just because we couldn't pay. Money is there. MH rolled the dice thinking Dez could keep the momentum going and not have to pay him. Now it's blowing up in their faces just like it did when they hired Baldwin. Their getting exactly what they deserve.

Dez will get another year just because they gave baldwin three years but if things don't get SIGNIFICANTLY better next year a new coach is needed.

The Baldwin comparison is iffy. The 2 years before Baldwin started the program was 1-10 and 2-9. Anybody being honest would admit it would take more than 2 years

The 2 years before Des started the team was 10-1 and 13-1. Des also needs a third year but the current trajectory is concerning

[shof]

Our record is who we are and it’s not good enough. I’m hoping Dez isn’t that far from having a much better record.

Maybe I’m wrong. He seems too smart and too motivated to not succeed.

I agree with your take. He’s a smart guy. But even smart people can be stubborn! He needs to do an honest assessment and right the ship. Seems most everyone here WANTS him to succeed as do I. But he can’t get 4-5 years to figure it out. Fan support is already thin, and this conference isn’t getting any easier.

[Swamp]

and this conference isn’t getting any easier.

This is where my concern is focused. SBC Football may be Top G5. The path we were on with CBN and his crew was amazing. I hate to say it but if we don't take Monroe to the wood shed tomm., it's time to have a very serious discussion about CMD, the very good programs and only getting better SBC, an expanded CFP, the immediate effect of the portal, abysmal fan support, all out war against the students, Cajun Field being torn down into a pile of rubble, game promotions countered by MH... There is no time to experiment. We're on the brink of wiping from memory back2back seasons of Cajuns Fooball amongst the top 25 teams in College Football.

1. Louisiana

[CajunEXPRESS]

This is where my concern is focused. SBC Football may be Top G5. The path we were on with CBN and his crew was amazing. I hate to say it but if we don't take Monroe to the wood shed tomm., it's time to have a very serious discussion about CMD, the very good programs and only getting better SBC, an expanded CFP, the immediate effect of the portal, abysmal fan support, all out war against the students, Cajun Field being torn down into a pile of rubble, game promotions countered by MH... There is no time to experiment. We're on the brink of wiping from memory back2back seasons of Cajuns Fooball amongst the top 25 teams in College Football.

1. Louisiana

Is 52-21 deep enough in the woodshed for today! Yes we absolutely should have 8 plus wins.

[Louisiana84]

You think this is a dumpster fire now? We USL'd it when we hired Mike D, and we're going to Mike D it when we hire a new athletic director.

[Turbine]

You think this is a dumpster fire now? We USL'd it when we hired Mike D, and we're going to Mike D it when we hire a new athletic director.

Like when they made Nelson Stokley Athletic Director and Head Coach?

[ZoomZoom]

You think this is a dumpster fire now? We USL'd it when we hired Mike D, and we're going to Mike D it when we hire a new athletic director.

Sadly, you’re probably correct. Taking off the vermilion tinted glasses can see this has become the MOO across the board pretty much.

We are slowly turning into McLeast.