2004: Rate Julie Simon-Dronet's job performance

[FTBLFN]

_ I'm sick of the 'not caring' about the name from those whose real agenda is to deny my school its rightful name. _

I don't speak for user name, but for me, I am a Louisiana Alumni and Supporter, and I would love to be known as Louisiana and refer to us as such, but I respectfully disagree that it is our "rightful name" until we earn it. We clearly have not earned it in athletics. JMO

I think that UL-Lafayette is better than ULL. The lafayette tag is easier to slowly get away from than the "L". ULM markets that. It's like Alabama and UAB. I hope the new administration improves our academics and athletic programs so that we are recognized as THE University of Louisiana. The day will come!

[California Cajun]

_ I don't speak for user name, but for me, I am a Louisiana Alumni and Supporter, and I would love to be known as Louisiana and refer to us as such, but I respectfully disagree that it is our "rightful name" until we earn it. We clearly have not earned it in athletics. JMO

I think that UL-Lafayette is better than UL. The lafayette tag is easier to slowly get away from than the "L". ULM markets that. It's like Alabama and UAB. I hope the new administration improves our academics and athletic programs so that we are recognized as THE University of Louisiana. The day will come! _

It was earned when the State Board of Trustees of Colleges and Universities granted the name in 1984.

[User_Name]

Louisiana84,

You are missing the point. I am not discussing the name, but rather the thought that the name is holding UL back in athletics. To blame any shortcomings in athletics on the city tag is dumb. As I stated earlier, FAU has done just fine with the ocean tag in their name.

[User_Name]

Also, is the university required to use the city tag in athletics? I thought it was only on official correspondence, etc... What legally prevents the athletic department from marketing itself using the UL or Louisiana tags? It seems this is done already, just not consistently.

Just win. That will take care of peripheral issues like the one being discussed here.

[CajunT]

_ Louisiana84,

You are missing the point. This isn't a discussion about the name, but rather one about the name holding UL back. To blame any shortcomings in athletics on the city tag is dumb. As I stated earlier, FAU has done just fine with the ocean tag in their name. _

While I agree with you that the name change has nothing to do with the failure of athletics, you might want to do your homework on the Sun Belt. FAU is among a hand full of schools to ask the Sun Belt office to refer to them by a particular name. They have asked not to be called "Florida Atlantic", but FAU in all sport references. So names are a important part of a marketing strategy for sport programs, and not just the Cajuns in the Sun Belt.

[User_Name]

CajunT,

I think most all schools ask to be referred to a specific way, be it Georgia Tech, Troy, Rutgers, etc... Sure it is a part of the marketing strategy, but meaningless without winning.

Again, I thought the athletic department is not bound to the city tag...

[CajunT]

_ CajunT,

I think most all schools ask to be referred to a specific way, be it Georgia Tech, Troy, Rutgers, etc... Sure it is a part of the marketing strategy, but meaningless without winning.

Again, I thought the athletic department is not bound to the city tag... _

Their biggest hurdle is the lack of consistency in implementing the “Louisiana’s Ragin’Cajuns” request to media and the Sun Belt office. When our Adiministration learns to be consistent on that marketing strategy, then we will stop shooting ourselves in the foot. But winning is without a doubt the most important factor in sports marketing.

[CajunNation]

Their biggest hurdle is the lack of consistency in implementing the “Louisiana’s Ragin’Cajuns” request to media and the Sun Belt office. When our Adiministration learns to be consistent on that marketing strategy, then we will stop shooting ourselves in the foot. But winning is without a doubt the most important factor in sports marketing.

"Louisiana's" is bush league and needs to go as well.

Asked to be called Louisiana or UL, nothing else.

Market yourself as Louisiana or UL, nothing else.

Produce clothing and other stuff with Louisiana or UL, nothing else.

This ain't hard.

[CajunT]

_ "Louisiana's" is bush league and needs to go as well.

Asked to be called Louisiana or UL, nothing else.

Market yourself as Louisiana or UL, nothing else.

Produce clothing and other stuff with Louisiana or UL, nothing else.

This ain't hard. _

I don't find Louisiana anymore "bush league" then ULL,LA or Louisiana-Lafayette.

UL is not legal, so you better have tons of money for our legal department.

I do agree that it is time to decide on one name and do a better job of marketing it.

[California Cajun]

_ I don't find Louisiana anymore "bush league" then UL,LA or Louisiana-Lafayette.

UL is not legal, so you better have tons of money for our legal department.

I do agree that it is time to decide on one name and do a better job of marketing it. _

As someone who never heard of the school before he was 2/3 of the way through high school, you learn that with few exceptions double directional names and hyphenated names are a dime a dozen and get you nowhere.

Acronyms have to have a nice ring to them. Examples are UCLA, and UNLV. ULM and UALR have nice rings to their acronyms so there is growth potential to that name if they upgrade their athletic programs. ULL does not have a nice ring to it and there is absloutely no potential to it. If Wright Waters persists in this identification of us, we are represented by the wrong conference commissioner.

The goal in denying us the UL and Louisiana identities is, and has always been, to cap our potential. It has nothing to do with athletic performance or worthiness as a university. It's pursuit is worth any price, and I'm sure those running the university agree with that. So I think they are going to continue to work around the edges until the goal is achieved. Simon-Dronet, whether you like her or not, lives on the edge of infamy. As time passes, the less people that don't like us will fight it. We can purchase souvenirs we couldn't have five years ago and had to make for ourselves.

Eventually I see us becoming like Nevada: "Nevada" is the athletic brand name and "University of Nevada, Reno" is what appears on the diplomas. Potentially in my lifetime (I'd estimate my lifespan has about 10 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter) I see us being capable of running with the best of the Sun Belt, CUSA, and the Mountain West. BCS status is a subject for the next shift, but it won't matter a whole lot if a playoff with each conference champion comes to pass. Win your conference and punch your own ticket.