2011 Football Schedule

[champgolfpro]

_ It was 20-0 and Nicholls had less than 100 yards in total offense. _

didn't they finish in the negative that game?

[AstroCajun]

_ I would schedule a 1AA team every year and open the season with them at home. I do not care what the fans would think if that would get us to 6 home games and another victory towards bowl eligibility. Look we need wins, I do not care who they come against. If UL were to start winning 7 games a year for the next 5 years even with a 1AA team on the slate no one would care. Also the culture of the program would start to change and the perception around town and within the state would begin to change as well. It is hard as hell to get to 7-5 when you only play 5 home games. That means you will have to win at least 2 games on the road in order to get to seven wins. Not likely to happen.

We could schedule Lamar, McNeese, Southern, Northwestern St, and Grambling on a five year rotating basis. Just like LSU does with its lesser instate opponents. The McNeese and Southern games would be guaranteed great attendance which raises money and gives better exposure to the program. Those games could be used to show recruits what Cajun field is like with a packed house.

Now I am against scheduling 1AA teams from anywhere outside of the Southland or the Louisiana SWAC schools. _

I have been advocating for this for quite a while.

I'd like our first two games to look like this every year:

1) Home game v. State FCS (or any FCS)
2) Conference game (Home or Away)

It gives you the best shot at a 2-0 start (worst case 1-1) and even if you play .500 ball the rest of the way, you've got 7 (or 6) wins.

[HoustonCajun]

_ I have been advocating for this for quite a while.

I'd like our first two games to look like this every year:

1) Home game v. State FCS (or any FCS)
2) Conference game (Home or Away)

It gives you the best shot at a 2-0 start (worst case 1-1) and even if you play .500 ball the rest of the way, you've got 7 (or 6) wins. _

Why can't we rotate our first game every year vs. a Louisiana FCS school? Think about the teams we can rotate - McNeese State, Northwestern State, Southern, Grambling, Nichols State and SE Louisiana. We couldn't ask for a better opening game. It is what the BCS schools do, albeit sometimes a Sun Belt school instead of an FCS school (not sure there is much difference). This SHOULD BE a guaranteed win to open each season, at least in the future (certainly not with this coaching staff). We need to get to where we are winning 7 OR MORE games EVERY year, going to a bowl game EVERY year, and this should help to assure that. Heck, even LSU is playing McNeese. LA Tech played Grambling, Auburn played Chatanooga, etc. etc. Every BCS school does it except us. Instead, we play 3 BCS games and lose all three and start the year on not only a losing note, but we got pummeled which hurts the team's morale and the fans psyche. Let's pack our stadium like we did vs. Southern and we won't need to play the money game to open the season. Play an FCS team to open the season, play a team from a comparable conference like the WAC, MAC or C-USA and play a BCS school. If we need a 4th game, play another mid-major program for at least a potentially winnable game, not fodder for a Top 10 program. We can play those games later when we start winning and going to bowl games. We need more of a scheduling strategy to develop a winning program.

[RAGINCAJUN98]

Can anyone post the 2011 football schedule? I think we open up @ Oklahoma St, but not sure about the rest of the schedule.

[mr. cajun]

_ I would schedule a 1AA team every year and open the season with them at home.

Just please make sure it is not Mcnesse.

[Hammer58]

_ Just please make sure it is not Mcnesse. _

Why not? They are no different than any other in-state D1aa. Hopefully this staff will not take warnings from the fans lightly and have our team prepared for the game. Of course that should be true regardless of the opponent.

[ATXCajun]

WE SHOULD NEVER PLAY A D1AA
Weak scheduling........

What is your reasoning? Strength of schedule is the only benefit, and it is a benefit that we don't need right now. We need the visibility provided by conference championships and bowl games. If it is about attendance, two of our largest crowds in history came against McNeese and Southern. Also when you trade an FCS game for something else, you are usually trading home for away.


igeaux.mobi

[Turbine]

Jay Walker as saying you can look at last years conference schedule and flip the home-n-home.

Who ever UL played on the road they will be playing at home and the reverse is true as well.


igeaux.mobi

[Just1More]

We need to play the games that we schedule... and play them well.

50% of the issues creating "schedule shaping" in the minds of some fans are attributable to the way we played OOC games during the Bustle era. It is time to stomp FCS schools we play and become far more dangerous against top 50 teams we schedule. That is the root of the issue with our program... not the schedule.

As for the opening game with instate FCS programs on a rotational basis (as workable as possible)... I agree. A problem of having that on a forever basis is that we are a target team for large programs to play as their opening season game... for large money. I really don't think we have as much perfect OOC schedule shaping capability as we all wish for.

We need to play the games that we schedule... and play them well.

[cjr3888]

HOME GAMES:
Nicholls (I think)
FAU
North Texas
Troy
ULM

AWAY GAMES:
Kent State
stAte
FIU
MT
WKU
9/3/11 - @ Oklahoma State
11/26/11 - @ Arizona

[CajunRed]

Good points...although our goal longer term (IMO) should be to play only ONE top tier BCS program per year...with the other OOC games being against 2nd tier BCS opponents (Okie State, Vandy) and other mid-majors. Another focus in scheduling should be to get as many deals as possible as we are currently in with Okie State (home/away and 3rd game money).

igeaux.mobi

[Geaux]

Can we please get 6 home games!!! I would love to see my Cajuns at Cajun Field 6 times per year!
I also think with a new coach, "WE" as fans need to change our attitude on this board. I feel we can beat OSU as we did for a half this year. We had that game in the bag if it were not for Justin Blackmon and no coaching adjustments in the second half. We want winners, but it starts with our attitude first. Give Coach Hud, his staff and these kids a fair shot before we start setteling for loses. As much as we hate LSU they have it right over thier. Saban changed their culture. They feel as though they should will every game and we should also.
No matter the ranking of the other team, they can lose on any given day. Like Michigan vs. App. St. or VA. Tech vs. James Madison. We have to start believing in these kids and this program more. THAT IS WHY WE PLAY THE GAME!!! Geaux Cajuns!