The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[ATXCajun]

i do subscribe to the theory that to be the best you have to play the best...but i like this schedule. we need to post an 8 win or better season and win our conference before setting some higher goals, and we have a chance to do that with this schedule. The New Orleans Bowl would be a big first step. What I like about this deal is that we have a win-able conference and a guaranteed bowl if we pull it off. That could put us in a situation where we might be the only other school in LA besides LSU that is playing in a bowl game. Something to build on.

[Swamp Hound]

Originally posted by ATXCajun
i do subscribe to the theory that to be the best you have to play the best...but i like this schedule. we need to post an 8 win or better season and win our conference before setting some higher goals, and we have a chance to do that with this schedule. The New Orleans Bowl would be a big first step. What I like about this deal is that we have a win-able conference and a guaranteed bowl if we pull it off. That could put us in a situation where we might be the only other school in LA besides LSU that is playing in a bowl game. Something to build on.

I agree, we need wins. Winning cures all (attendence, recruiting, name recognition, etc..) We can play aTm, Kansas State, etc...until the cows come home and maybe even come up with an upset here and there but what does that do? What did it do for us in 96'? What did beating Michigan State do for LaTech this past season? These upsets get your school in the paper for a week(if lucky) and a brief spot on Sports Center. On the other hand look at UNT. They have posted back to back winning seasons, had 3 straight trips to a bowl game and gained national attention each time. This has improved their image and quality of their recruits and their home attendence. Does anybody off the top of your head remember who UNT played in 2002 and 2003 for their OOC games? But I bet you remember they had winning seasons. Just because WE feel and see that we are improving does not mean we need to go schedule Texas, Miami (FL) and Florida State for our OOC games. Maybe one day but that day is not here yet. Again, we need continued improvement which means a winning season and hopefully a Bowl game.

[Oldman]

i would hope that fans/people who come to the football game, came to see the Cajuns! but maybe not, i'm sorry you guys, how foolish of me to think that, i know most come to see the B I G name school " a la," BCS; for me i'm going to see the cajuns, i don't care who they play i support the cajuns, i let the coaches handle that, they know what they are doing and i trust they will do what's best for this football team, what we need now more than ever is a competative schedule (which it is), get back to winning on a regular bases, and get to the bowl game.
my suggestion to you (if you are a cajun fan)is, don't be too concern with the schedule, we are having 5 home games, i happy. come on guys, get on board lets have some fun and cheer on "THE CAJUNS."

[USLJim]

Our Schedule is like it is because other conference schools have a schedule already made out and the conference schools have to take what is offered. Example. Why are we not playing Utah, Think about that one. Why didn't we play Arkansas State last year. Because this conference has no balls when it comes to enforcing rules.

[RaginFan2]

You're probably right,Hound, but UNT did play Oklahoma this past season. I think they also played a couple of other "name" schools, but I can't remember.

[Turbine]

Hey cajunreality what is your opinion of next years schedule?

Game Date	Location	Opponent
S 04	The Swamp	Northwestern State
S 11	Ruston, LA	Louisiana Tech**
S 18	Manhattan KS	Kansas State
S 25	The Swamp	Middle Tennessee*
O 02	Miami FL	Florida International*
O 09	LasCruces NM	New Mexico State*
O 16	Moscow, ID	Idaho
O 23	The Swamp	Arkansas State*
O 30
N 06	The Swamp	North Texas*
N 13	The Swamp	Troy State*
N 20	Monroe, LA	Louisiana at Monroe*
		New Orleans Bowl

[cajunreality]

OK Turbine, here is my honest take on the 2004 season:

Sept. 4 vs. Northwestern = W
**a MUST & BETTER win type of game.**
Sept. 11 vs. LA Tech = L
**the LA Tech jinx continues.**
Sept. 18 vs. K. State = L
**waaaay to much of a mis-match!!**
Sept. 25 vs. Middle Tenn. = W
**should be a shootout with cajuns on top.**

Oct. 2 vs Fla. Int. = ?W?
**this one may catch the cajuns sleeping.**
Oct. 9 vs. New Mexico St. = W
**win hands down.**
Oct. 16 vs. Idaho = W
**see notes from NMS.**
Oct. 23 vs. Ark. State = W
**see notes from NMS & Idaho.**
Oct. 30 vs. Open datel = L
**just kdding! I know this isn't a Saints team!!**

Nov. 6 vs. North Texas = L
**cannot put my hand on it. Something just gives me bad vibes about this game.**
Nov. 13 vs. Troy State = L
**see above notes for North Texas.**
Nov. 20 vs. UL-Monroe = ?W?
**cajuns may be in a lull from previous two games. better watch out.**

I am predicting a 7-4 season, with the potential to be 5-6. However, I can foresee drastic improvement from the 2003 season. I will go out on a limb here and say that it will come down to the wire between the cajuns and "someone else" to determine the New Orleans bowl. Who that someone else is, I do not know. Just my opinion only!

On the 2004 schedule, only two teams had a winning record (K. State & North Texas). All of the 2004 teams combined have a less than .500 record that the cajuns need to and better take advantage of to start heading in the right direction!! If the cajuns do end up with ANOTHER loosing season, I do not foresee things getting better anytime soon, AND I cannot foresee the administration really doing something about it (i.e. coaching change). I think the administration will then say "to hell with it" and just settle for the good ol' 6-5 & 5-6 seasons they were having a few years back. AGAIN,........this is just my opinion! What's your take?

[El Sidonio]

Well, I'm a rabid Cajuns fan, and I love football, but i don't know a whole lot about football in depth, so my predictions are based off of the little I do know, and my gut feelings.

Sept. 4th - Northwestern St. - Win
Sept. 11th - La. Tech - Win (we catch them sleeping)
Sept. 18th - Kansas State - Loss, but somewhat close
Sept. 25th - Middle Tennessee - Win
Oct. 2nd - FIU - Win
Oct. 9th - NMSU - Win
Oct. 16th - Idaho - Win
Oct. 23rd - Ark. St. - Win
Nov. 6th - UNT - Win, but a close one
Nov. 13th - Troy State (aren't they I-AA) - Win, but don't know by how much since I don't know who the heck they are and how good they are
Nov. 20th - ULM - Win

I am an eternal optimist, full of hope for the future, and have predicted a 10-1 season. If we do not have a better record than this past season, even if it's only by 1 win, you can say "good-bye big money, hello Div. IAA".

--God Bless--

[El Sidonio]

p.s.- Turbine,what's your prediction?

[CajunFanatic91]

NWST-Never a ball game (W)
LaTech- Cajuns shut down the passing game leaving Tech without an O. (W)
KState-Best time to play 'em if K-State won big the previous week it'll be a ball game for a while, if they didn't blow out (L)
Mid Tenn- Same result as last year without the drama (W)
FIU- 2-10last year in 1-AA this is not a game (W)
NMSU (W)
Idaho (W)
Ark St (W) We are just simply better then these three teams
UNT- not a close game N. Texas comes in overconfident and get's walloped (W)
TSU- Caujuns lose a heart breaker head to New Orleans Bowl regardlessas TSu will have lost to USU and UNT USU will lose to most SBC opponents (L)