Matt Viator

[Zeebart21]

Just for the record, I know Coach V. My son attended football camps at McNeese when Broussard was there. Coach V is a fine, fine person. I wish him much luck in the future.

Z

[cajunhawk]

_ For starters Hudspeth, Sewak and the other candidates all had diverse resumes with experiences and exposure to a number of different coaching philosophies, styles and programs. Other than high school experience and time at mcneese what does Viator have on his resume? _

I thought McNeese was just disguised as a University but was in fact Ryan Street High School? Nothing funnier than seeing someone proudly display there MSU alum license plate and wondering what kind of career path they had majoring in Cow Milking. Goldman Sachs doesn't have a barn out back.

[cajungrad00]

Great response! Thank you Cajun 90!

[jayrr]

I would not have any problem at all if the powers that be gave serious consideration to Matt Viator and if his interview was impressive, I would not have a problem with him being the successful candidate. I knew Matt when he was a high school football coach, attended a number of his team's games including the HS championship game and played a number of rounds of golf with him. My opinion of hime is that he is a class individual and he appears to be highly adaptive, a quality that would serve him well if he moved from McNeese to UL.

[J-Town Cajun]

_ One of my big concerns with any coach from an FCS school who has little or no FBS background is recruiting. Believe it or not we really are not going after the same set of recruits. McNeese and many other FCS schools aren't saddled with the academic requirements. They also pick up transfers from FBS schools because they didn't make the grades or they are seeking more playing time and don't want to sit out a year etc.

In a lot of ways I just think coaches (head coaches) need a slightly different set of skills between the divisions. Similar to a college coach going to the pro ranks. We have seen great college coaches turned in to bad pro coaches. _

Oregon HC Chip Kelly went from FCS to FBS. He coached at New Hampshire before going to Oregon. I am sure he recruited different type of athletes at New Hampshire than Oregron.

[allncr1966]

_ I not saying I want Viator as our next coach but I would like to meet him. My parents are from Sulphor. I would guess he may have went to school with some of my family. I know has nothing to do with the coaching deal. _

He went to Sam Houston High School in Moss Bluff playing under his father. He was head coach at Sulphur High School before going to McNeese as an assistant coach. He won a state championship at Jennings High School before going to Sulphur. He had a winning record at Sulphur but he didn't coach there more than 3 years if that much I can't remember.

[CajunT]

_ Oregon HC Chip Kelly went from FCS to FBS. He coached at New Hampshire before going to Oregon. I am sure he recruited different type of athletes at New Hampshire than Oregron. _

Coach Viator is a hard worker and solid candidate for any SBC head coaching position. There is no need to dismiss his credentials in my opinion. Has anyone ever stopped and considered he may not want this position after his interview?

[Clutch0364]

_ Oregon HC Chip Kelly went from FCS to FBS. He coached at New Hampshire before going to Oregon. I am sure he recruited different type of athletes at New Hampshire than Oregron. _

He was the OC at Oregon for a few years before taking over as HC.

[RaginWaldo]

_ I thought McNeese was just disguised as a University but was in fact Ryan Street High School? Nothing funnier than seeing someone proudly display there MSU alum license plate and wondering what kind of career path they had majoring in Cow Milking. Goldman Sachs doesn't have a barn out back. _

imagine the millions of people that say the same thing about us with our Ragin Cajun License plates...

[allncr1966]

_ One of my big concerns with any coach from an FCS school who has little or no FBS background is recruiting. Believe it or not we really are not going after the same set of recruits. McNeese and many other FCS schools aren't saddled with the academic requirements. They also pick up transfers from FBS schools because they didn't make the grades or they are seeking more playing time and don't want to sit out a year etc.

In a lot of ways I just think coaches (head coaches) need a slightly different set of skills between the divisions. Similar to a college coach going to the pro ranks. We have seen great college coaches turned in to bad pro coaches. _

News flash for you they do compete for some of the same players. I know of at least 15 players on the McNeese roster that were actively recruited by UL during their recruitment. I know a HS coach Calcasieu Parish and one in Lafayette Parish and they have both told me that if UL is recruiting a player its a good bet McNeese is too. Now granted UL does get more 3 stars players than McNeese does do doubt about that.

McNeese traditionally has not actively gone after FBS transfers. I went to UL but I am from LC and have gone to many MSU games over the years mostly because of a couple of nephews that played there and some close friends kids played there. By the way one of my nephews was actively recruited by UL as were 2 boys of close friends. They on average have only about 3 FBS transfers on their roster per year. Jacksonville State which used to be in the Southland used to average about 10 to 15 players who were FBS transfers and McNeese usually beat them and the same can be said about Sam Houston State they have a lot a FBS transfers.

As far as small divisions school coaches not being able to recruit to larger schools. Tell that to Bobby Bowden, Jim Tressel, Paul Johnson, and the Notre Dame coach whose name escapes me all were head coaches at D1-AA or FCS schools before becoming HC at FBS schools. In fact the Notre Dame coach won 2 or 3 Div III natioinal champioinships before getting a head coaching job at an FBS school. Granted he didn't go from Grand Valley State to Notre Dame but UL is not Notre Dame. UL's player talent is only slightly better than McNeese's talent the main difference is numbers 20 more players and the ability because of UL's size and conference getting more 3 star players and possibly a couple of 4 star players.

I agree with you about college coaches moving up to pros hasn't always been a good thing but the difference between college and the pros is a much greater leap than say moving from the high school ranks to college. Coaches have to start some place HS to college is usually the transition. I am not saying Viator should be the next UL coach because I personnally don't think he would be a good fit but your logic from my standpoint is flawed.