Spreading this message across the platforms:
I really hope this can be a wake up call to a good number of the UL fanbase. I push for a mascot so hard because I want our university to get the things WE CAN CONTROL right. In this new NIL world, you cannot control players, couches, or admins leaving for another school. What we CAN control is how we engage with our own community.
Leading Albineaux's campaign has been very rewarding, but also frustrating at times, because I know what its going to take before someone in Martin Hall finally says, "Maybe we should take a serious look at this."
Our university gave John (a good guy but someone with no real ties to UL or the community) access to all of us to start Krewe Allons. I was fine with Krewe Allons constantly asking fans for money in hopes that we see a good return on our investments. A year later, that collective wasn't able to keep some of our biggest star players, one of our top coaches, and the guy who started it all is now gone.
Meanwhile, a FAN who is FROM the community, an ALUMNUS, a Lafayette working ARTIST, advocate, activist, enthusiast, and bleeds vermillion and white has put in hundreds of hours of work for free. And to this day I haven't asked the university, or its fans, FOR A DIME. The only thing I have ever wanted with Albineaux is the support of the community and to see the success of the University of Louisiana.
Albineaux , and myself, will never transfer out, or leave for a better (or arguably worse) job. That's why it's important that someone in the Office of Communication finally give us the time of day; and give all the Ragin Cajun fans something that will stay at UL forever.