Cajun Men Struggle To 4th Place Track Finish

[VObserver]

_ Great point about the field athletes being better, but the track athletes would be better as well. When your at a school like UL, where the athletes' talents are usually marginal, working hard and training is severely important. There isn't enough hard work nor training being done as far as the track events go. All you have to do is stop by one of the practices and you'll see exactly what I mean! The key to UL track being good isn't the kids because there's plenty of talent. The key is working harder than everyone else because we don't have the quality of athletes as other programs. Plain and simple!!!!!! _

I'm not so sure the track event guys would have been much better. Remember Boo is a jumps coach. I'll give you that it is likely that his long jumpers would have helped out in the sprints. Part of what you say about hard work is true, as well.... BUT the biggest limitation is that a school like UL [and many more prosperous ones as well] does not have the resources necessary to fund 4 highly competent coaches, and it takes at least that number.... Throws, Jumps, Sprints/Hurdles and Distance are all very different animals, and most coaches specialize in one area, or at most two. Given the nature of the athletes in this area that we can likely get to attend UL, having a Jumps/Throws staff makes MUCH more sense than having one that specializes in Sprints/Distance.

Witness our really poor performances under Lance Veazey, a good Sprints/Hurdles coach with no clue about Jumps/Throws/Distance. We had a good flat Jumps coach for a while under Veazey, and it showed, but our throws fell through the floor.

Our athlete base in Louisiana dictates that you MUST concentrate on technique/strength events in order to win consistantly; hence the jumps/vault/throws/hurdles must be the backbone of your team and the focus of your efforts.

[GetTheFacts1st]

The schools that finished ahead of UL at the Sun Belt meet have no more than TWO competent coaches each. I was there in the cold and saw them. Except for the jumps, most of our field points came from athletes coached by volunteers and not by paid coaches. So back to my point about wasted spending and a suggestion that major adjustments still need to be made. For long-term success building, adjustments mean revitalizing a dormant distance program (I'll believe that when I see it) with a long overdue and courageous coaching change there and hiring a paid throws coach who can communicate new-age techniques to today's youth. Stepping outside a tunnel-vision ancient UL family for these will bring added credibility on the recruiting trail and will support building a tradition of athlete development once they arrive. I doubt either will change, however, so let the yawning continue.

[VObserver]

_ The schools that finished ahead of UL at the Sun Belt meet have no more than TWO competent coaches each. I was there in the cold and saw them. Except for the jumps, most of our field points came from athletes coached by volunteers and not by paid coaches. So back to my point about wasted spending and a suggestion that major adjustments still need to be made. For long-term success building, adjustments mean revitalizing a dormant distance program (I'll believe that when I see it) with a long overdue and courageous coaching change there and hiring a paid throws coach who can communicate new-age techniques to today's youth. Stepping outside a tunnel-vision ancient UL family for these will bring added credibility on the recruiting trail and will support building a tradition of athlete development once they arrive. I doubt either will change, however, so let the yawning continue. _

Is Pat not coaching javelin?

[GetTheFacts1st]

OK, you win.

1 Paid field coach = two events
2 Volunteers = ten

Is that a good investment of tax dollars?

[VObserver]

Ten? I only count 8 total field events, 10 if you count the Dec and the Hep as field events. Are you telling me that of these events:

Shot, Discus, Javelin, Hammer, LJ, TJ, HJ, PV, only two are coached by a paid coach?

I know we have a volunteer in PV, and I assume we still do in shot/discus. What other events are volunteers coaching?

[GetTheFacts1st]

Women man women --- multiply everything by 2. The one u mentioned x 2

[Benchwarmer]

Hey, what is the word on hiring the new distance coach. Rumor has it that eyes are set on a coach from overseas. Most teams sell out and go after the foreign runners, I guess it's fitting that UL go after a foreign coach, especially with two of the best runners the cajuns have produced, Kevin & Kelly, still coaching in town. Who makes the decision for the cajuns, Coach Mahfouz or "?". If it is "?", who is "?" and is he/she going to interview Kelly & Kevin before going a broad or is it a done deal like usual where they throw a bone to a couple of locals, give a reason for not hiring them and then bring in the one they wanted in the first place?

[Boomer]

_ Hey, what is the word on hiring the new distance coach. Rumor has it that eyes are set on a coach from overseas. Most teams sell out and go after the foreign runners, I guess it's fitting that UL go after a foreign coach, especially with two of the best runners the cajuns have produced, Kevin & Kelly, still coaching in town. Who makes the decision for the cajuns, Coach Mahfouz or "?". If it is "?", who is "?" and is he/she going to interview Kelly & Kevin before going a broad or is it a done deal like usual where they throw a bone to a couple of locals, give a reason for not hiring them and then bring in the one they wanted in the first place? _

Does anybody know more about distance running then Tom Hopkins??????

[GetTheFacts1st]

1. Benchwarmer, what's this about a "new distance coach?" There's FINALLY an opening? When was THAT announced? I don't get the "Disappointment" so I would not have seen that.

2. Boomer, as for Tom Hopkins, I used to watch him run at McNaspy when I was a kid but didn't know he was a coach. Where did he go after graduating? Does he have collegiate recruiting experience? (i.e. a network for HS distance runners) He might know some young up and comer assistant who could light a fire at UL, IF there really is an opening.

3. Benchwarmer, if there IS an opening, and if choosing between the aforementioned Castille and Brown, that would be an easy choice. It would be Brown in a heart beat. When I'm in Lafayette I see her kids running everywhere. She seems to be intense, she is a good communicator, she is dedicated, respected and she is SMART. I think she won a state championship indoors this year and would be an excellent choice as an up and comer. Having also been to the rodeo herself, she would bring a lot to the table in the way of resurrecting a down-trodden program. MANY positives there for Coach Mafoutz to seriously consider and INSTANT credibility (IMHO).

4. Equally impressive, if not more so, would be Robin Judice who was an all-america collegiate runner (I think in the ACC) and a former (and outstanding) coach with Charles Lancon. Either of them would be an excellent choice, and either would light a fire in the distance program AND under the coaches who are already there.

5. Would any of the above be interested?

6. If there IS an opening, it seems I got the facts LAST. LOL! Any opening would have to occur before seriously discussing any of the above.

7. Just saw where McNeese beat us in Baseball. BUMMER!

[Benchwarmer]

The opening is there. Will it be filled, I don't know. If an offense lineman can become an offense coordinator, then I guess a Field Event Coach can become a distance coach.

Hopkins will always be the behind the scene Granddaddy of all local distance coaches. I would think his role would be an advisory one to the runners he has tutored over the years. I don't see him as wanting to be the coach. His knowledge and experience is unquestioned.

As for Judice, I don't know her but she does carry a fine reputation and has a good history with the cajuns.

Castile and LaMason both have been successful in bringing runners to the top. Kelly would seem the first choice as she is closer to the current coaches. The question is will they give her a chance to move up. Both have had runners sign elsewhere because of UL's lack of recruiting interest. 3 LHS runners going to SLU. Kevin has 2 runners in college, adding 2 more next year both going to UL. Nobody does more for distance runners in acadiana than he does. UL washed their hands of him during the Silvey years and I don't think Mahfouz has reopened the door. I want get started on the reasons as my blood pressure is high enough. Thus, for distance fans of Lafayette, Kelly remains the most likely local candidate but again the question remains, who makes the choice, Coach M or "?". If it's "?", then my bet is someone else most likely with a non cajun accent.