Oaks Along Cajun Field

[Swamp]

On the 1st day of the last century, Edwin Stevens planted approximately 100 oak trees around the perimeter of the original SLII campus. He had gathered the acorns from a particularly impressive specimen he found in New Orleans.

It was an act of audacity. Stevens planted, around a tiny nothing of a school, in a dead-end backwater of a town, the slowest thing that grows in the South. He planted something he would never see grown, something that his children and grandchildren would never see grown.

He planted something that our grandchildren, and our great-great grandchildren, will never see fully grown.

When I started at USL in the 1970's, Cajun Field was new, clean, modern, impressive.

A mere 50 years later, we're tearing it down.

What will this new stadium look like in 50 years?

On the other hand, what will the oak trees look like in 500 years? Will there even be a football stadium behind them?

In 500 years, will people even play football any more?

ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS EST

Acorns from a specific Oak in Nola you say. First off, very interesting. Next, do you know of which area in the city this oak was? Reason I ask is because there is one in a completely rundown area of Uptown that a hospital was built around (the hospital is shut down as well). This Oak I speak of has Eight (8) trunks. It could well be over One Thousand years old.

[Turbine]

If they have to be removed and Champions Swamp isn't ready....

Move them to the tailgating area.

This is a proven draw and atmoshphere enhancer.

[SMD7636]

Great idea to move them. They could outline a blvd to Cajun Field.

[CajunFun]

Acorns from a specific Oak in Nola you say. First off, very interesting. Next, do you know of which area in the city this oak was? Reason I ask is because there is one in a completely rundown area of Uptown that a hospital was built around (the hospital is shut down as well). This Oak I speak of has Eight (8) trunks. It could well be over One Thousand years old.

I've never seen mention of which oak in the histories I've read.

However, I have a really weird story to tell about the oaks some day.

BTW, moving oaks of that size is a major, major project. Not cheap, not easy, not easy to stabilize after transplanting, and no guarantee they will survive.

[CajunFun]

PS

Really?

You want to remove oaks for that stadium?

Will the new Cajun Field rank as one of the top 100 stadiums in the country?

Will it even rank in the top 500? Maybe not. My nephew graduated from a Texas HS whose stadium is comparable to what we will have at Cajun Field... which brings up an insight: Would the new Cajun Field even make the top 100 stadiums in Texas? Link.

I like our new stadium; it will serve its purpose. It will show that we are competitive... but it will not show that we are among the biggest, nor the best, not in the country, not in college football, not even among mid-majors.

UL's oak trees, and the tradition they represent, are unique across the world. So do we really want to cut down our traditions, the things that make us leaders, the things that show us to be visionaries, the living things that bind us a community...

...just so we can showcase a 3rd-tier football stadium?

[Turbine]

The oaks in question must be around 54 years old

[Swamp]

Great idea to move them. They could outline a blvd to Cajun Field.

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2014 Football Media Guide

[RedTails]

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2014 Football Media Guide

You don't know you're in the good times till they're gone. RIP tailgaiting.

[Esqueleto]

You don't know you're in the good times till they're gone. RIP tailgaiting.

No kidding

[Turbine]

The mad rush all started with an offer to pay to be under an Oak tree.