Billy Ball

[CajunFun]

The thread was started to point out the great discipline napiers team plays with, because Dez’s teams are supposedly way more undisciplined then napiers were.

I'll re-emphasize: Most coaches' teams are disciplined because the coach instills discipline.

For those of us who watched Michael play, and who have followed his career, he always brings his own, his more intense level of personal, internal drive and discipline.

That's what he's teaching his players. He's not developing a winning team, he's developing a winning attitude. And that means slowly, patiently, convincing the players to foster their own internal discipline.

Most soldiers rush into battle because everyone else is rushing in, but when blood & crap start flying, they freeze. But remember the advertisement, 'An Army of One'? Imagine facing a foe where every soldier, or every player, is internally motivated, and personally disciplined. One tackle, one play, the momentum of the game, even a lopsided score, doesn't stop or even slow a single one of them. They keep coming at you, every one of them, every play, every offensive, until it's over.

No one wants to face a team like that. Lou Holtz once noted about playing against the service academies, "They come at you every play, and they never give up." The service academies have mediocre talent. But they have the strongest drive and internal discipline in the country.

Most coaches don't shoot for that kind of a team. First of all, not many of the coaches understand it. But beyond that, it takes too long, and the product is variable from year to year, depending on how quickly and strongly the players adopt the culture.

The problem is, focusing on the kids doesn't win as many games as focusing on the score. At least not in the short term.

Eventually, though, it begins to pay off.

Remember, the kids and the university are not here to support the fans.

We're here to support them.

[jaxmc1023]

That's all fine and good, but as others have mentioned, the "internal discipline" and "winning attitude" is supposedly what we developed under Napier... and the Des hire was supposed to make sure that we continue that

Now we're back to "it's going to take a while for Des to install the right culture to succeed"

[CajunFun]

That's all fine and good, but as others have mentioned, the "internal discipline" and "winning attitude" is supposedly what we developed under Napier... and the Des hire was supposed to make sure that we continue that

Now we're back to "it's going to take a while for Des to install the right culture to succeed"

There was internal discipline and a winning attitude under Napier; I believe Michael will build it further.

Because they're not the same men, and they don't foster the same culture. Remember, Michael encouraged some of Napier's players to move on to other schools.

A lot of people here have trouble with the phrase "it's going to take a while". I am reminded of the Carey Fisher quote, "Instant gratification takes too long."

People built this rapidly rising university over 125 years through great patience, and by suffering a lot of beat-downs.

In the 1970's, students held protests because U(S)L couldn't afford light bulbs. Today we are over $400M into a half-billion fund-raising campaign.

The much-maligned Ray A. started our research push in 1973. This year we may hit $300M in research.

Ray A. also decided to roll the dice and move up with the big boys in the 1982 1A-1AA split; only UL, Tulane, & LSU moved up. We are about to appear in our 6th consecutive bowl game, and we have a coach who leads the conference in recruiting.

I have watched the Cajuns struggle, in sports and academics, since 1977. If you didn't live through all the bad times in those 4+ decades, trust me.

These are the good ol' days.

And trust me, there are bad times ahead. And great times. And most years, we will have both.

But we will never have a year in which we get everything we want.

[R1Letterman]

This ain't the gotcha you thought it was gonna be.

Duke's three seasons before Coach K:

27-7 Tourney Runner Up
22-8 Tourney Second Round
24-9 Tourney Elite Eight

And don't forget Vic Bubas

[zephyr]

Billy ball is about to not be bowling. And all that talk about his disciplined teams. Ejected for targeting on a QB during a slide. Ejection for spitting on opponent. And 2 defensive lined up offsides penalties.

Good ole billy ball. Enjoy your time off.

Well good thing we got rid of him then huh?.....

[JamesTheJeweler]

Well good thing we got rid of him then huh?.....

Right? Imagine where we'd be had he stayed?

[Million$Mullet]

Right? Imagine where we'd be had he stayed?

Probably 6-6 with a losing record in sun belt play.

[JMV JustMyView]

fixed it for ya

Raise 1 hand up if you know you got haters!

[Ragin9221]

Florida fans are unrealistic, and maybe Napier bit off more then he can chew!

If he gets fired next season and he comes back, if that is a possibility we will get him for the long hall.

I start thinking as fans if we are being unrealistic when it comes to Des?

Now it’s very remote possibility.

Now if I was Des I be using the transfer portal if we are really expecting 17 players will be going out next season.

He really needs to use the transfer portal to his advantage and try to find players to replace the ones that are planning to leave. If he can’t do that then I don’t see how we turn it around by next season.

[Ragin9221]

Tim Rebowe would be a solid hire for us if he doesn’t get it done almost rather him take the reigns

- Led Nicholls to Southland Conference titles in 2018, '19, and '23
- Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2023)
- Team had five consecutive winning season (2017-21), a first in program history
- Nicholls made three consecutive appearances in FCS playoffs -- 2017-19
- Colonels won first-round games in '18 and '19
- Nicholls recorded its fourth FBS win and first against a Power 5 by defeating Kansas in 2018
- 2018 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Football co-Coach of the Year
- Ninth in voting for 2017 Eddie Robinson Award
- 2017 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Football Coach of the Year

MILESTONE VICTORIES AT NICHOLLS
- 1st overall/Southland win -- Oct. 17, 2015 -- HBU (38-17)
- 1st overall/Southland road win -- Nov. 7, 2015 -- at Lamar (30-28)
- 1st River Bell Classic victory -- Nov. 19, 2015 -- at Southeastern (27-24)
- 1st win in NSU Rivalry -- Oct. 29, 2016 -- at Northwestern State (31-14)
- 1st win vs. FBS/Power 5 Conference -- Sept. 1, 2018 -- at Kansas (26-23, OT)
- 1st win vs. ranked opponent -- Sept. 22, 2018 -- #11 Sam Houston (27-7)
- 1st shutout -- Nov. 15, 2018 -- Southeastern (44-0)
- 1st FCS playoff win -- Nov. 24, 2018 -- vs. #18 San Diego (49-30)
- Became program's all-time leader in wins (40th victory) -- Oct. 2, 2021 -- HBU (48-17)
- Won 50th career game -- Oct. 21, 2023 -- at Texas A&M-Commerce (27-7)

[Crawfish]

no

[CajunT]

Florida fans are unrealistic, and maybe Napier bit off more then he can chew!

If he gets fired next season and he comes back, if that is a possibility we will get him for the long hall.

I start thinking as fans if we are being unrealistic when it comes to Des?

Now it’s very remote possibility.

Now if I was Des I be using the transfer portal if we are really expecting 17 players will be going out next season.

He really needs to use the transfer portal to his advantage and try to find players to replace the ones that are planning to leave. If he can’t do that then I don’t see how we turn it around by next season.

That's unrealistic. Most buyouts have a clause that would require Billy Napier to sit out of coaching as a HC for a year or two. If he is fired, it's possible he could be hired as an OC or consultant at a P5. But, I would be shocked if that stipulation was not in his buyout.