Louisiana athletics operated at $8 million deficit during 2023 fiscal year

[ManAboutTown]

Napier's last year was the first time we didn't see a decline in YOY season ticket sales since 2014. It's incorrect to assume as "splash hire" wouldn't have A) continued the excitement and B) been worth the investment. I'll say again, private money pledged $3mm to keep Napier. Those boosters would have spent that on a "splash hire."

I beg your pardon. My post should say overall ticket sales, not just season ticket sales. ALL ticket sales have been on a downward trajectory since 2014 except for Napier's last year. So when our AD tells you, "We were number 16 in the country and nobody came," see it for what it is. Either willful denial of the truth or gross misinterpretation of the data.

[zeppelincajun]

I beg your pardon. My post should say overall ticket sales, not just season ticket sales. ALL ticket sales have been on a downward trajectory since 2014 except for Napier's last year. So when our AD tells you, "We were number 16 in the country and nobody came," see it for what it is. Either willful denial of the truth or gross misinterpretation of the data.

That mindset always makes me smirk.
1. The numbers were up.
2. They just weren’t up like they wanted them to be. Why was that? Because they did half the job and wanted all the results. Put a winner on the field and coupled it with the worst game day experience in our program’s history. Then resents the community because they watched our best days from their couch.

[zeppelincajun]

That mindset always makes me smirk.
1. The numbers were up.
2. They just weren’t up like they wanted them to be. Why was that? Because they did half the job and wanted all the results. Put a winner on the field and coupled it with the worst game day experience in our program’s history. Then resents the community because they watched our best days from their couch.

The admin’s response to not getting the numbers they wanted is the real kicker too. Cant get full results for 50% effort? Let’s kick it down to 25% and see where that gets us. Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night baby!!!

[BabbForHeisman]

This was the first post where our current financial position was blamed on the CMD hire.

It is not from Vic.

Post #1 in this thread is the article

Post #2 is "yowzers"

Post #3 is you talking about having enough money to hire a different football coach.

I guess maybe you think people can't read when you deny saying things you actually said? lol

[CajunVic]

Post #1 in this thread is the article

Post #2 is "yowzers"

Post #3 is you talking about having enough money to hire a different football coach.

I guess maybe you think people can't read when you deny saying things you actually said? lol

And? Your _ is still blazing. Came here just to exercise it.

[CajunNation]

The "splash hire" angle is not relevant here.

It is fair to say that the hiring of CMD caused a letdown in the fan base. It was not because CMD wasn't a splash hire. It is because CMD wasn't as qualified as countless, higher profile candidates who were themselves not really splash hires either.

We didn't need a splash hire big name to keep momentum going in the fan base. We just needed someone hired that that ticked all the boxes of a known, up and coming coach.

Having said that, this is no excuse to quit supporting the program. I get being upset for a while, but sooner or later, reality should have dictated that CMD is one of our own and let's circle the pirogues.

The fact that this hasn't happened yet is a shame on our community and the cULture. We should be better than this.

[Turbine]

The "splash hire" angle is not relevant here.

It is fair to say that the hiring of CMD caused a letdown in the fan base. It was not because CMD wasn't a splash hire. It is because CMD wasn't as qualified as countless, higher profile candidates who were themselves not really splash hires either.

We didn't need a splash hire big name to keep momentum going in the fan base. We just needed someone hired that that ticked all the boxes of a known, up and coming coach.

Having said that, this is no excuse to quit supporting the program. I get being upset for a while, but sooner or later, reality should have dictated that CMD is one of our own and let's circle the pirogues.

The fact that this hasn't happened yet is a shame on our community and the cULture. We should be better than this.

Balanced view

jmo

[CajunVic]

The "splash hire" angle is not relevant here.

It is fair to say that the hiring of CMD caused a letdown in the fan base. It was not because CMD wasn't a splash hire. It is because CMD wasn't as qualified as countless, higher profile candidates who were themselves not really splash hires either.

We didn't need a splash hire big name to keep momentum going in the fan base. We just needed someone hired that that ticked all the boxes of a known, up and coming coach.

Having said that, this is no excuse to quit supporting the program. I get being upset for a while, but sooner or later, reality should have dictated that CMD is one of our own and let's circle the pirogues.

The fact that this hasn't happened yet is a shame on our community and the cULture. We should be better than this.

I love your fandom. It should be adopted by more if they really want to make a difference.

[BabbForHeisman]

And? Your _ is still blazing. Came here just to exercise it.

Actually, this is just me pointing out that you are once again manipulating the conversation to be about one of three topics you like to vector everything towards. Come on man, let people talk. There's no requirement for every thread to have a mention of the budget for CMD's hire.

[CajunT]

When Billy was hired we were a top 25 team coming of a 31-1 season. The job had grown so pay should have grown.

You mean when Des was hired right? Because we were not a Top 25 team when Billy was hired.

[jaxmc1023]

Having said that, this is no excuse to quit supporting the program. I get being upset for a while, but sooner or later, reality should have dictated that CMD is one of our own and let's circle the pirogues.

The fact that this hasn't happened yet is a shame on our community and the cULture. We should be better than this.

Good grief, this nonsense again...

We had a team that was on the doorstep of competing for a NY6 bowl and future playoff berths. We lost our coach and the university basically said "well that was fun, huh!? We got close! Alright now back to business as usual."

Dez is not a "known and up and coming" coach. He was an assistant here, and he played football. That's his experience.
Sure.. he's one of us.. but that "us" is shrinking FAST. That's what thirty years of not giving a s*** about students will do for you.

This isn't the 20th century where kids were praying to be lucky enough to get accepted to UL. Everyone goes to college now, and they pay alot more money to the university, graduate with 50k in student loans and THEN and ONLY THEN does Martin Hall want to interact with them to ask for donations.

UL does next to nothing to engage with the community and make the people of Lafayette feel like they are part of the Cajuns success. So why should anyone -- student, alumni, or just a citizen of Lafayette -- give a crap about the school that only acknowledges them when they need money?

Every single thing that comes out of the UL "marketing department" sounds/reads like disingenuous Soviet-era propaganda. Even this announcement today... $8m deficit but let's spin it into an article about a $2 billion economic impact! Outside of the KATC comment section, people aren't THAT stupid.

[CajunT]

Absolutely. The good old days. When we actually had a real fanbase and a city that was engaged.

Yes, and we had no championships, no bowl games and no televised games. The GOLDEN ERA! But what the heck, we sure knew how to tailgate and do the roster dance. BTW, how is that FCS working out for McNeese St right now? I'm sure you can get cheap tickets in Lake Charles and maybe even a parking pass for $5 dollars. Enjoy the trip.