Louisiana softball searching for consistency as Sun Belt play continues

[CajunsSball22]

During the presser on Monday Alyson was asked about who was the vocal leaders on the team. She paused and said "I think" Gabbie Stutes and Erin Ardion. That's not reassuring to me when you say I think and can't just mention names. She also said she wishes more would step up and that "they" don't know how to lead yet. That's coming straight out the head coaches mouth. That's facts not opinions. It's not ok to state you want to win every conference game and then turn around and lose the series, it's not ok to laugh on the field when you are getting your teeth kicked in. That type stuff never happened with any of the previous coaching staffs. Remember the tail follows the head. Nothing against those two young ladies they are both great kids but they are not to be confused with being vocal leaders during game play. Cheering in the dugout is something every player does as some point and that's not the leadership holding players accountable to the cULture and standards that everyone else talks about. I know it tough to be in your position and be emotionally invested in the team and to some degree ridinsuicide. I also know that most of what is said on this site you have to disagree with to cover for the team. I get it as it's your position to defend. I will leave you and others with this. I'm not a fan of any radio play by play or color guy stating their opinions on message boards. Or talking to the general public about fans and telling fans how to be a fan. Most of those guys don't like fans reactions and opinions. As a paying customer with season tickets, rcaf donations, nil donations, sports specific funds, purchasing Cajun merchandise and concessions I will always state my opinion regardless if the radio guys like it or not. Those guys need to stick to calling the action on the field, court, or diamond only. REMEMBER I AM THE CUSTOMER!

Fair enough.

[Turbine]

Y’all do realize if you look long enough in a field of daisies with the focus of finding a pile of poop you will eventually find a pile of poop, regardless of how minute (My-NOOT) in the grand scheme of things.

Just the same, if your focus and energy is to find a 4 leaf clover in a field of hay you will eventually see the clover. Just sayin…..

True dat.

[Mark Hemphill]

Let me tell you something. When the Cajuns are losing big and the coach makes a visit to the pitching circle and the team is laughing that's not leadership. Tell me different! Girly-girl is the opposite of Alpha Female in case you didn't know. Nothing wrong with that like I said in the original post. It's my opinion we need some vocal leadership to hold everyone accountable. I don't see or hear that happening from anyone including the coaches.

I didn't see this particular instance you reference in your post. Perhaps Aly, in an attempt to diffuse the tension of the situation, said something along the line of "I don't know about you, but my butt is sore from the ass whipping we are getting today" and that made the girls laugh. Sometimes when you are getting your butt whipped, all you can do is laugh. Since the camera isn't on the dugout all the time, maybe when the players got into the dugout after that inning, Gabbie Stutes or Erin Ardoin or Mac Ferguson, etc. got on the starters and chewed some ass. Most of the stuff that happens in the dugout or lockeroom is like what happens in Vegas. It stays there so we, as fans, never know. I know that in this instance, I am not really worried. If it appears to be continuously repeated, then I will worry.

Cajun fans are use to there being a high standard of success for UL softball. However, with the advent of NIL, those days seem to be in the reirview mirror. A pitcher worth a damn will have P4 and top tier G5 programs bidding for her services. UL, unfortunately, just doesn't have the funds to compete. While it chaps my butt to some extent, I really can't blame a girl choosing to play for dollars instead of pennies. Cajun fans need to realize and understand that the days of 4 and 5 star players choosing UL over Texas, Oklahoma, etc. are over with in my opinion. One can hope that there will be some outlier that will give a hometown discount. The coaching staff is really going to have to work hard to identify and sign decent portal players looking for a fresh start or get talented high school recruits that were passed on by the P4 programs who just need to be coached up to play at the D1 level.

[CajunVic]

It is amazing how effective, real and accurate a post by one who has a level head on his shoulders has . . . Learning is a process . . . we should ALL endeavor to embrace the process and to judge our administration, coaches and players based upon the actual facts as opposed to the facts espoused by day dreamers living under past conditions, constraints and availabilities . . .

[Turbine]

Nicely said Mr. Mark

Well rounded take.

[JMV JustMyView]

I didn't see this particular instance you reference in your post. Perhaps Aly, in an attempt to diffuse the tension of the situation, said something along the line of "I don't know about you, but my butt is sore from the ass whipping we are getting today" and that made the girls laugh. Sometimes when you are getting your butt whipped, all you can do is laugh. Since the camera isn't on the dugout all the time, maybe when the players got into the dugout after that inning, Gabbie Stutes or Erin Ardoin or Mac Ferguson, etc. got on the starters and chewed some ass. Most of the stuff that happens in the dugout or lockeroom is like what happens in Vegas. It stays there so we, as fans, never know. I know that in this instance, I am not really worried. If it appears to be continuously repeated, then I will worry.

Cajun fans are use to there being a high standard of success for UL softball. However, with the advent of NIL, those days seem to be in the reirview mirror. A pitcher worth a damn will have P4 and top tier G5 programs bidding for her services. UL, unfortunately, just doesn't have the funds to compete. While it chaps my butt to some extent, I really can't blame a girl choosing to play for dollars instead of pennies. Cajun fans need to realize and understand that the days of 4 and 5 star players choosing UL over Texas, Oklahoma, etc. are over with in my opinion. One can hope that there will be some outlier that will give a hometown discount. The coaching staff is really going to have to work hard to identify and sign decent portal players looking for a fresh start or get talented high school recruits that were passed on by the P4 programs who just need to be coached up to play at the D1 level.

Laughing was going on before the coach made it to the circle. I have a great view of the dugout and no ass chewing has ever happened. Unless things chance your last paragraph is true.

[RoarMan]

Laughing was going on before the coach made it to the circle. I have a great view of the dugout and no ass chewing has ever happened. Unless things chance your last paragraph is true.

There are no players and coach more guilty of laughing and partying, when the coach and the infielders walk to the circle to discuss the situation when the team is in trouble, then Beth Torina and the LSU Tigers. I'm not sure if I have ever seen Beth in the circle when she wasn't smiling and laughing along with her players. I never could, and still cannot, understand that.

[RoarMan]

I didn't see this particular instance you reference in your post. Perhaps Aly, in an attempt to diffuse the tension of the situation, said something along the line of "I don't know about you, but my butt is sore from the ass whipping we are getting today" and that made the girls laugh. Sometimes when you are getting your butt whipped, all you can do is laugh. Since the camera isn't on the dugout all the time, maybe when the players got into the dugout after that inning, Gabbie Stutes or Erin Ardoin or Mac Ferguson, etc. got on the starters and chewed some ass. Most of the stuff that happens in the dugout or lockeroom is like what happens in Vegas. It stays there so we, as fans, never know. I know that in this instance, I am not really worried. If it appears to be continuously repeated, then I will worry.

Cajun fans are use to there being a high standard of success for UL softball. However, with the advent of NIL, those days seem to be in the reirview mirror. A pitcher worth a damn will have P4 and top tier G5 programs bidding for her services. UL, unfortunately, just doesn't have the funds to compete. While it chaps my butt to some extent, I really can't blame a girl choosing to play for dollars instead of pennies. Cajun fans need to realize and understand that the days of 4 and 5 star players choosing UL over Texas, Oklahoma, etc. are over with in my opinion. One can hope that there will be some outlier that will give a hometown discount. The coaching staff is really going to have to work hard to identify and sign decent portal players looking for a fresh start or get talented high school recruits that were passed on by the P4 programs who just need to be coached up to play at the D1 level.

Mark. I always appreciate your comments and I agree with you on recruiting strategy going forward.

Here's what I'm thinking. For 25 years, coach Aly attended the major tournaments across the country. She was very successful recruiting and signing top players.

What allowed her to be successful on the recruiting trail, was the fact that she had an "A" enblazoned across her chest and players wanted to play for Alabama.

I'm afraid, if she is attending those same tournaments as head coach of the Cajuns, that may be a mistake. The coaches sitting next to her from, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Tennessee and on and on are simply fishing for the big fish with much more desirable lures. Lures that dangle money for the big fish to take a gulp of. Because of that, coach Aly is fishing in the wrong pond and is not going to get a bite.

So, maybe she should go to lesser tournaments in which she will be competing with similar anglers using the same bait. That way she might snag a relatively unknown player, and turn her into something special.

[JMV JustMyView]

Mark. I always appreciate your comments and I agree with you on recruiting strategy going forward.

Here's what I'm thinking. For 25 years, coach Aly attended the major tournaments across the country. She was very successful recruiting and signing top players.

What allowed her to be successful on the recruiting trail, was the fact that she had an "A" enblazoned across her chest and players wanted to play for Alabama.

I'm afraid, if she is attending those same tournaments as head coach of the Cajuns, that may be a mistake. The coaches sitting next to her from, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Tennessee and on and on are simply fishing for the big fish with much more desirable lures. Lures that dangle money for the big fish to take a gulp of. Because of that, coach Aly is fishing in the wrong pond and is not going to get a bite.

So, maybe she should go to lesser tournaments in which she will be competing with similar anglers using the same bait. That way she might snag a relatively unknown player, and turn her into something special.

I like the idea of being the bigger angler at the smaller pond. I think this is the strategy the SLU coach uses. He is able to find some diamonds in the rough and coach them up once they get on campus.

[cajunref]

I like the idea of being the bigger angler at the smaller pond. I think this is the strategy the SLU coach uses. He is able to find some diamonds in the rough and coach them up once they get on campus.

Wasn't that basically same approach that Lotief employed, although we did land a couple of gems albeit obviously prior to "NIL" becoming legal
....?