Jeff Palermo
https://muckrack.com/jeff-palermo
He's been doing high school football games statewide on Cox Sports for several years
23 of 32 leagues garner only one bid most years. Sometimes it is 24 of 32. The SBC dominated the challenge this weekend. Situation today was due to the decision to play all SBC hosted games this weekend. Hopefully both games occur prior to conference next season. Personally I think we are not focusing enough on how well Cajuns played today. The guys deserve loads of credit for how they locked in and bounced back from poor game on Wednesday. The attendance issue has gotten plenty of attention. Too late to do anything about it this season with only 2 games remaining. Serious attention to problem needs to be paid in offseason by administration.
SBC-MAC Attendances
JMU: 6,454
App - 5,437
ORU: 4,569
Troy: 3,912
USM: 3,842
A State: 2,267
GA State - 1,643
USA: 1,539
GA South: 1,524
TXST: 1,407
ULM: 1,102
UL:914
Read an article yesterday with the media questioning attendance at MBB at a Big 10 program and the sharp decline the last few years. The program, Iowa. At the same time, their WBB is setting attendance records. There are only X number of fans and Y amount of money. It’s simple math and logic…follow the money. Catlin Clark is marketing gold today. Fans just migrated to WBB.
So stepping away from the forest, UL softball and baseball has grown over the last 30 years. UL has X number of fans with Y money. As those sports grew, MBB attendance has shrunk. It’s been a growing issue for years and nobody apparently bothered to figure out why. The numbers were there every year in the media guide.
SB is always competitive and baseball righted the ship after a lull for a FEW years.
SB is a NCAA tournament regular. Baseball has 18 NCAA appearances since ‘88 (35 years). MBB has 7, WBB 1.
Always follow the money. I am NOT faulting the fans, it’s basic human nature. Throw in the pain the ass attending games at the CD has become, that’s just another reason.
Note to football, same applies. The SBC championship game set an attendance record. Hiring a home town hero looked good on newspaper (media), but hasn’t translated to ledger paper bottom line. Didn’t move the needle at all for WBB.
Growing the fanbase isn’t happening. That’s why the dome has mostly boomers who were around decades ago. And the same will occur with the other sports if the X number of fans remain static. People leave for other sports, age out, or become indifferent and just quit coming. UL needs to figure out how to replace those fans.
I get accused of hating Marlin, but he’s just the HC of my favorite Cajun program. The bottom line is that Louisiana or Ragin Cajun’s across the front of the jersey is the most important part of the program.
The health of Cajun basketball is floundering. Everyone wants to keep pointing to other excuses, but ultimately it’s on Marlin. He’s not personable and not exciting enough to get the fans interested.
The answer is clear as day.
This is very true. As someone who's kids are now going to college, I've noticed how so many kids don't even consider UL at all when choosing schools. They all want to go and get that experience that apparently here, they just don't see anymore.
I don't think I ever even applied to another school as UL was in my backyard and it was a no brainer and I had a great time but kids today don't see it that way. One way I can tell you for sure that the university has screwed it up is with the greek system. They've neutered it so much that it is laughable. That is one of the main draws for so many of the kids as they all seem to want to rush and what school's have the best atmosphere and feel. We apparently do not.
Our kids were all raised as cajun fans, went to games, tailgated went to bowl games etc.. But as they get older the university just doesn't appeal to so many and its sad. No idea how to fix it but its definitely something I've noticed.
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