TRU Cajuns
TRU Cajuns
Quit it with the marketing schtick. Even if that was better how many people would it pull? A marginal amount. We have a culture issue here. It runs deep starting with administration. That's what was great about Hud. He came in, saw the culture issues and set out to change the culture which he did for a good time period. That's what we need. So many people in this city send their kids and ultimately their money to LSU. I can see it on Sunday on FB. So many people at UL with me years ago posting all their pics at the LSU game decked out and having fun. Honestly, at this point, I'm not sure it will really ever change. Hell, even a number of our students go across the basin to go to football games on Saturday night.
Maybe we need an RCAF Director like Hud to recapture Acadiana. Do we even have an RCAF Director? It is not in Des' personality to be like Hud. Neither was Napier. Both are proof that winning alone does not increase excitement about UL football and related attendance. We need someone to promote UL and get back the excitement we once had under Hud.
When I was texting with my app buddies during the game one mentioned that there was nobody there. I said well you’re looking at the construction side but there can’t be more than 10k here. It was a terrible number and I feel stupid for even thinking this town would bring another 20k plus number at the same time lsu was playing at home against a top ten historic rival. I feel sorry for the players and coaches cause this team deserves more from this city. If we can’t get 20k on a perfect weather night game against app f’n state after beating wake and usm then I don’t really know what else to say. It’s embarrassing.
Festival International occurs on the same weekend as Jazz Fest in New Orleans, but attendance never gets affected by it. Why? Because they don't succumb to the scheduling conflict and don't allow it to affect them by making it attractive for people. For UL events, we throw our hands up and say "Well, there's nothing we can do about what is happening in Baton Rouge." I have heard past administrators tell me that directly. We openly surrender to it instead of being innovative and thinking outside of the box in creating excitement.
Everyone knows that we have a systemic problem in this state when it comes to the school in BR. It's time we start learning how to counter it instead of accepting it or questioning why people in this area don't support the school as much as we should. Start getting answers. I'd even go so far to ask people locally what it would take for them to show up to Cajun Field rather than to drive over an hour in traffic to Baton Rouge. I sound like a broken clock when I say that face to face communication in this area is key. Knock on doors. Shake hands. Go to the morning coffee shops. But for all that is sacred, stop surrendering to it.
At LSU, they've always embraced their history, tradition, culture,and relevance to to the greater population....at UL Maggard has done nothing to accomplish any of the above...nothing out means nothing in...and UL has most of the assets here to accomplish that...it's all just a money grab in a high school environment...it it's not a priority to improve at UL, why would anyone make it that...
I'm not surrendering to it. I'm just stating facts. It has been this way for years and its only getting worse. I hate to say it but UL is just an afterthought for many of the local kids when making their college decision. We've neutered the greek system which is a major drawing factor for many kids and we haven't created a lot of excitement around the university in general. It's a complicated issue. I wish we had more answers.
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