Championship Preview

[jaxmc1023]

the couple of games that I drove home after and TSAB was playing, the upper deck looked empty from the I-10 bridge going into BR. and one was the Alabama game around half time

We were in Tiger Stadium last Saturday for Oklahoma, as my wife's grandfather is a lifelong Oklahoma fan and this may be his last chance to go to a game, so they turned it into an impromptu family reunion. We didn't plan on actually going to the game, but someone basically gave away tickets in Section 102 to us, so we jumped on the chance to take the kids.

Even at half full (because of the cold), that stadium is just a different experience altogether than anything we could ever hope for. And honestly, I've always said it was because they do 'cooler' stuff than us, but really it's just the sheer number of people in there.

Most people at the tailgate were saying that they didn't expect much of a crowd because of the weather and because their "season is over". And yet that place was loud is all hell. By comparison, if playoff berths are how your fans deem your season a success or not, our season has been over since South AL. So we shouldn't be surprised by the same apathy from casual football fans.

Trying to out-football them is never going to work, but we might be able to out-Louisiana them. But that would require leaning heavily into the "Louisiana likes to party" reputation that defines our state, which this administration seems to avoid like the plague, and LSU embraces at every opportunity

[Turbine]

Yep JaxMC.

The old adage "people want to be where people are" is true... at least for a little while.

[CajunNation]

. . . Trying to out-football them is never going to work, but we might be able to out-Louisiana them. But that would require leaning heavily into the "Louisiana likes to party" reputation that defines our state, which this administration seems to avoid like the plague.

Agree 1000%

We should have people in Acadiana waiting impatiently every year to circle the dates of the home games on their calendars.

[jaxmc1023]

Yep JaxMC.

The old adage "people want to be where people are" is true... at least for a little while.

We used to stack 40-50k in the parking lot for a team that didn't have a chance of winning s***, for the simple reason that "that's where everybody else would be"

[RedTails]

Trying to out-football them is never going to work, but we might be able to out-Louisiana them. But that would require leaning heavily into the "Louisiana likes to party" reputation that defines our state, which this administration seems to avoid like the plague, and LSU embraces at every opportunity

That's how I feel. We can't compete on atmosphere within the stadium, but we can compete on atmosphere outside of the stadium. Make tailgating great again.

[Grantvb]

Can someone put together a “tale of the tape” between these two teams. I see that Marshall has a slight deficit on defense compared to the Cajuns, but they have two of the top 6 tacklers in the league as well as the sack leader (3 individuals). Thanks

[HoustonCajun]

We used to stack 40-50k in the parking lot for a team that didn't have a chance of winning s***, for the simple reason that "that's where everybody else would be"

Tailgating when Hud was here would rival a lot of P5 schools. We lost that when we lost/fired an enthusiastic coach that could fire up the fan base. Neither Napier nor Dez has that kind of personality. So, how do we get that back? Just winning hasn't done it. I would argue our conference and schedule hold us back, but even when we hosted Boise State and Kansas State, attendance was poor. However, great tailgating hasn't translated to great in-stadium crowds. Tailgating is a separate issue to the poor in-stadium experience that has been separately discussed ad nauseum. The problem is nothing is ever done. We've played enough P5 schools and seen what their stadiums are like to not take some things back with us and implement changes. Just look at The Grove at Ole Miss for tailgating to any number of schools for in-stadium experience, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, or any SEC school for that matter. Next season with the new stadium is the time to implement changes that will enhance the entire fan experience in tailgating, mascot (gator), band, student attendance and involvement and in-stadium fan interaction. This offseason, Maggard needs to form a committee of athletic department personnel, students and fans to study, recommend and implement changes starting next football season and building on the successes this year. It is the most opportune time to change the face of UL athletics.

[Turbine]

Don't forget the groundwork.

Krew De Chew and The Eauk.

Both Bustle (his entire staff) and Farmer would tailgate after games. Even one that finished around midnight. Win or lose.

Building blocks that Hud maximized

[jaxmc1023]

Next season with the new stadium is the time to implement changes that will enhance the entire fan experience in tailgating, mascot (gator), band, student attendance and involvement and in-stadium fan interaction. This offseason, Maggard needs to form a committee of athletic department personnel, students and fans to study, recommend and implement changes starting next football season and building on the successes this year. It is the most opportune time to change the face of UL athletics.

Agree wholeheartedly. However, what I expect will happen is that we add stuff to the parking lot that has the words "premium", "select", "champions", etc with it. So basically sell upgrades to the people who show up regardless, and continue to ostracize the average Acadiana fan

I don't know the official numbers but I bet LSU gets less than half of their tailgate attendance into the stadium

[SlickRick]

Regarding the comments on tailgating, I agree...it needs to be a party that the casual and even the purple and ____ fans that aren't in BR want to attend. I don't care who they root for, just attend the event and we can possibly move them into the stadium and convert a few along the way. If we keep winning, the football fan will want to be in a new stadium regardless of his allegiance especially if that means having to navigate the basin bridge and the god awful traffic surrounding the TSAB games.

It's such an easy game to attend if you are a football fan! Let's go after the football fans and see where that takes us. Let's create the party and provide the event for the causals and hopefully move them into the stadium. Come on MH....a blind man can see what has happened over the years, fix this ____!

[KajunKrazy]

Tailgating when Hud was here would rival a lot of P5 schools. We lost that when we lost/fired an enthusiastic coach that could fire up the fan base. Neither Napier nor Dez has that kind of personality. So, how do we get that back? Just winning hasn't done it. I would argue our conference and schedule hold us back, but even when we hosted Boise State and Kansas State, attendance was poor. However, great tailgating hasn't translated to great in-stadium crowds. Tailgating is a separate issue to the poor in-stadium experience that has been separately discussed ad nauseum. The problem is nothing is ever done. We've played enough P5 schools and seen what their stadiums are like to not take some things back with us and implement changes. Just look at The Grove at Ole Miss for tailgating to any number of schools for in-stadium experience, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, or any SEC school for that matter. Next season with the new stadium is the time to implement changes that will enhance the entire fan experience in tailgating, mascot (gator), band, student attendance and involvement and in-stadium fan interaction. This offseason, Maggard needs to form a committee of athletic department personnel, students and fans to study, recommend and implement changes starting next football season and building on the successes this year. It is the most opportune time to change the face of UL athletics.

Tailgating was great under Hud because winning and going to bowl games was new. By the time Napier left winning 9 or 10 games became old hat and was expected and no longer excited the locals like when it was new.

[Turbine]

Tailgating was great under Hud because winning and going to bowl games was new. By the time Napier left winning 9 or 10 games became old hat and was expected and no longer excited the locals like when it was new.

Tailgating was great under Bustle and he never went over .500