Cajun Men Struggle To 4th Place Track Finish

[GetTheFacts1st]

The Cajuns qualified ONE individual athlete for the Sun Belt mens track finals in texas and aside from five points in relays, scored ONLY FOUR points (from that athlete) on the track for a TOTAL of 9. The only quality points to finish 4th came from field events/

Serious problems in this Cajun sport remain even after the hoopla of hiring a new local coach. The womens program is worse.

UL spent approximately $11,000 per point in the mens running events, which is a waste of athletic department dollars. The Distance running program is in shambles as well. We managed ONLY ONE place in 1 of 10 events and one of a possible 80 places in all individual sprint, hurdle and distance events on the track.

NO points in:

100
200
400
800
1500
3000 steeple
5000
10000
400 hurdles

[Parrott]

At least four of the men's top runners (including Roderick Houston and Stacey Fuller) have been hurt, leaving a lot of inexperience on the track. (In the field is a different issue.). Not an excuse, but a fact that adds background to the late-meet struggles.


igeaux.mobi

[cajun4ever]

They knew going into this meet that they were missing their top sprinters. Fourth place with basically only field events is an accomplishment. I believe this is year 2 for recruiting, so we'll see in 2 years where we are with the runners.

[VObserver]

For those who have never followed UL track, we usually are not really good on the track, even in years that we win the conference. Very few times have we scored well after the field events end.

That being said, we DO usually score a few points more than we did this year. I count this year as a success on the men's side. Third indoors and 4th outdoors is a big improvement.

We were about 10 points short in the field from our old standard, so we're getting there

[GetTheFacts1st]

_ At least four of the men's top runners (including Roderick Houston and Stacey Fuller) have been hurt, leaving a lot of inexperience on the track. (In the field is a different issue.). Not an excuse, but a fact that adds background to the late-meet struggles.


igeaux.mobi _

It's nice of you to come out to their defense. But let's look past those injured athletes who would have only run 100 200 400. What about the six events those guys have nothing to do with? 800, 1500, 3000 steeple, 5000, 10000, Int Hurdles?? LOL! I thought this former HS coach's STRENGTHS were on the TRACK? Injuries happen, but to THAT many "pivitol" players? What happend to the indoor winner in the hurdles. He didn't even make it to the finals.

Something needs significant adjustment. One track qualifier on the womens side too. That's TWO runners on TWO teams needing more than them to make a team. They spend too many dollars on cosmetic issues and not enough to attract people who can score in a conference meet. But then again, old people don't like to travel, leaving other schools in Louisiana beaming from ear to ear. They should have hired Boo Schnexnayder and UL would be the school that is beaming.

[VObserver]

_ It's nice of you to come out to their defense. But let's look past those injured athletes who would have only run 100 200 400. What about the six events those guys have nothing to do with? 800, 1500, 3000 steeple, 5000, 10000, Int Hurdles?? LOL! I thought this former HS coach's STRENGTHS were on the TRACK? Injuries happen, but to THAT many "pivitol" players? What happend to the indoor winner in the hurdles. He didn't even make it to the finals.

Something needs significant adjustment. One track qualifier on the womens side too. That's TWO runners on TWO teams needing more than them to make a team. They spend too many dollars on cosmetic issues and not enough to attract people who can score in a conference meet. But then again, old people don't like to travel, leaving other schools in Louisiana beaming from ear to ear. They should have hired Boo Schnexnayder and UL would be the school that is beaming. _

I am a Boo fan, too; but there is no denying that Charlie and Pat have done a pretty decent job of making the Cajuns competitive. We aren't there yet, but we ARE light years ahead of where we were three years ago.

With Boo, in fairness, you would have had the same thing we have now, except our field event people would have been better, so instead of coming out of the field with 80+ points, we'd have come out with around 100... better, but not earthshattering, and still not much on the track.

[Boomer]

_ I am a Boo fan, too; but there is no denying that Charlie and Pat have done a pretty decent job of making the Cajuns competitive. We aren't there yet, but we ARE light years ahead of where we were three years ago.

With Boo, in fairness, you would have had the same thing we have now, except our field event people would have been better, so instead of coming out of the field with 80+ points, we'd have come out with around 100... better, but not earthshattering, and still not much on the track. _

How many more points and ergo how many places in the standing we could have moved up had the injured guys run??????----I heard today that LSU got the Rhodes girl from A-Ville----I think that seh was 18'9" in the LJ----Skye beat her HJ by 4-5 "---lol

[Parrott]

I didn't write here to "come out to their defense." It's to provide some facts to another one of your online rants.

To provide more facts: Many of these athletes were from the previous coaching staff. This is Charlie's second year, and it's obvious that some steps have been taken in the right direction. Plus, remember that he was limited by his first recruiting class, largely due to timing (not to mention Silvey signing a number of non-qualifiers).

It's nice of you to come out to their defense. But let's look past those injured athletes who would have only run 100 200 400. What about the six events those guys have nothing to do with? 800, 1500, 3000 steeple, 5000, 10000, Int Hurdles?? LOL! I thought this former HS coach's STRENGTHS were on the TRACK? Injuries happen, but to THAT many "pivitol" players? What happend to the indoor winner in the hurdles. He didn't even make it to the finals.

Something needs significant adjustment. One track qualifier on the womens side too. That's TWO runners on TWO teams needing more than them to make a team. They spend too many dollars on cosmetic issues and not enough to attract people who can score in a conference meet. But then again, old people don't like to travel, leaving other schools in Louisiana beaming from ear to ear. They should have hired Boo Schnexnayder and UL would be the school that is beaming.

igeaux.mobi

[GetTheFacts1st]

This abundance of injuries is under this staff. Men and women. They have been here for three years. Non production in middle and distance running is THIS staff as well, and THAT is the pits as far as a once proud distance program goes. The inherited sprinters WOULD have been a factor, but they have to be kept healthy for that to happen. Field event people would have left DURING this year had changes not been made.

For the record, we are a laughing stock outside Lafayette on the recruiting trail. Our teams are made of of people who run 5 minute miles and 11 flat 100 meters and our only concern seems to be keeping our AARP cards current and plugging away. We would not have won an event at AAAA at Northside.

As for Schexnayder, his skills and contacts alone would have put us at another level. Ask any HS coach if athletes (hs & college) don't migrate to him. We are what we are and will remain that way as long as HS criteria are maintained in every corner of the program...al la UL basketball.

[VObserver]

With all due respect, you should read your own name here. The last time UL was really a threat on the track was very early in Charles Lancon's tenure as head coach. We have had a few good hurdlers over the years, but usually not much to write home about as far as sprinters go, and 'Once proud distance program'????? When was that? 50-60 years ago? It sure wasn't in the last 20 years.

We have made our living in the jumps, the pole vault and the javelin, with a few fairly good discus and shot guys.

Bob Cole teams had some great sprinters, as did some of the early Lancon teams; but even with those guys it was field events that made their teams excellent.

[GetTheFacts1st]

_ How many more points and ergo how many places in the standing we could have moved up had the injured guys run??????----I heard today that LSU got the Rhodes girl from A-Ville----I think that seh was 18'9" in the LJ----Skye beat her HJ by 4-5 "---lol _

Former 400 hurdles champ out.
Former conference sprint champ out
2010 Indoor hurdles champ doesn't make the finals
Both would have contributed to top two or win in 400 and 1600 relays. Throw in a 800 guy who can also place in the middle of the 1500 and decent placers in the distances and you win the meet. And FRESHMEN do score points in their first year. Look at the results from yesterday.

[GetTheFacts1st]

VO do the names Walter Whitfield and Jeanne Menard mean anything to you?