What about coach Gerald Broussard?

[CajunT]

_ Who is "we" (UL)? If you are asking this question to Walker and Farmer... I don't think you'll get a post on here answering that question from them. As far as staff goes, it is up to the head coach to decide who he wants on his staff. His head is on the block for results.

Who is "we" that you refer to? Was I supposed to contact Hudspeth about my favorite past assistant coaches? Did you? I'm not getting where you think this communication system is supposed to exist. I almost think your tone is criticizing "us" (UL)... whoever that is... for not hiring our old favorite coaches back. Again, who is supposed to have Hud do this? And, as a follow... do you really expect him to listen to whoever advises this? He better take whatever people here say with a grain of salt... or else he's doomed.

The only advice I would have for Coach Hudspeth is that he should have some long candid discussions with BJ Thompson. If I wanted a bridge to the past and the lay of the land of UL football, good and bad, I'd probably want to hear it from a guy like BJ. I'd filter out just about anyone else I can think of. _

I said two words about the staff and then shut my mouth. I would expect any coach taking over another program will want to bring in his own staff that are committed to his goals. No way would I advise a coach on what coaches he should keep and be shown the front door. My expectation of Coach Hudspeth and his staff is to win, to that point its his decision. We all have coaches we liked and wanted to see do well, but its not smart to tie the hands of a new coach in concern with staff. No coach would take the job under those circumstances.

[geo_cajun]

_ I agree Gerald Broussard is a great coach and should have been retained. But as always we (UL) always allow the good ones to get away or we never bring them back. For example Clay Jennings at TCU, did we every consider him for the Head Coaching job or bring him back as a coordinator, Mike Gibson is another he has a large amount of experience and was very solid when he was here. Of course we all know Brian Jenkins who is the Head coach at Bethune Cookman and has won the conf. championship as well as the HBCU National Championship in his first year. Gary Bartel, one of the best recruiters we every had. Hurley brown is another. He did an outstanding job when he was here. There are several others as well. Did we even consider these coaches for the job or reccomend them to the new coach. _

We have never had 'great' coaches and recruiters because we have never had great success. I don't think anyone has a bad thing to say about Bustle, Broussard, et. al; but being a great guy and a great coach are not the same thing. Hopefully we will see that those two characteristics are not mutually exclusive with Coach Hud. Good leadership from TJoe here is getting good people in the right places, and letting them do their job. I hope Coach Hud keeps his get on the bus or get out of the way attitude!

[Just1More]

_ I said two words about the staff and then shut my mouth. I would expect any coach taking over another program will want to bring in his own staff that are committed to his goals. No way would I advise a coach on what coaches he should keep and be shown the front door. My expectation of Coach Hudspeth and his staff is to win, to that point its his decision. We all have coaches we liked and wanted to see do well, but its not smart to tie the hands of a new coach in concern with staff. No coach would take the job under those circumstances. _

I totally agree with you and know you cannot put yourself in a position of giving opinions on Bustle's staff (guys that were on it recently or in the past). If Coach Hudspeth was interested in gaining a perspective on existing players, recruiting ups and downs, relationships with past coaches and specific recruiting areas both bad and good, and many other things, I would advise he single you out for some discussions. Although I made the early comment that I figured whoever the new coach was, I expected him to retain a single staff person on defense and one on offense to bridge him through this coming year... who those coaches should be and why... I would not know. I think it is kind of comical that people think Hudspeth... or any head coach... would snatch up people he doesn't know... but a bunch of Cajun fans "like".

Just the fact that you kept your mouth shut makes it apparent that you are worth approaching. Unlike so many people that get on here and give their genius advice, you are guarded in what you say about players, recruits, coaches and the system we operate. I respect that. Hudspeth will too.

[Lexhead]

"Clean house!" Throw the bums out! "Namzy Pamzies!" Really? I mean, c'mon, really??

I'll begin by pointing out the Coach Broussard has given more to UL than any of the rest of us ever will. I don't care how much you donated to the RCAF (and shame on you if you haven't donated to the RCAF), it STILL isn't more than Coac Broussard has given. He grew up a Ragin' Cajun. He bled and sweat as a Ragin' Cajun (O-line 79-83). He has represented our U (S-club prez). He has lived our triumphs and our embarassments as a coach and a player. Kids love him. Alumni love him. He recruits well. The man knows his s&*(%, but most of all he bleeds vermillion and white.

Now, I will agree that Coach Hud is entitled to staff as he sees fit. The best for the job is what really matters. But let's not pretend that having a hold over like Coach Broussard doesn't have value. The man is bedrock around here. He knows the ropes and the roads. That has some value. If Coach Hud thinks that there is someone better for the spot, then I respect that. I am sure that Gerald does too. Gerald is a class act, and he is going to land on his feet. The loss very possibly may not be Gerald's. It may be ours.

One final point. One of the reasons I love the college game is because of the family feel it has. There are traditions and loyalties that do not and cannot exist in the pro game. UL has a few of those traditions, but I am not sure that us (here on this board) being so dismissive and cavalier about losing a pilar like Gerald Broussard really furthers any of that for us. I hate to see him go.

OK, let the post bashing begin. ("Stupid!" "Clean house!" "You Namzy Pamzy!" ....)

[CajunHood]

I am in agreement that Hudspeth needs to clean house with one exception to help guide the new guys through the screwed up system that is the State of Louisiana and UL, and the ONLY ONE he should have kept is Broussard.

If he kept any other coach from the previous staff Hudspeth is an idiot and that tells me we have another 4 or 5 more years of Bustle type of records.

No offense to Hudspeth, but was that truly the best we could do in terms of finding a head coach?

But he is our coach and we must support him, but God help him if he keeps any from the previous staff with the exception of the above...............

[CajunT]

_ I am in agreement that Hudspeth needs to clean house with one exception to help guide the new guys through the screwed up system that is the State of Louisiana and UL, and the ONLY ONE he should have kept is Broussard.

If he kept any other coach from the previous staff Hudspeth is an idiot and that tells me we have another 4 or 5 more years of Bustle type of records.

No offense to Hudspeth, but was that truly the best we could do in terms of finding a head coach?

But he is our coach and we must support him, but God help him if he keeps any from the previous staff with the exception of the above............... _

You must not know Hudspeth's reputation, that would answer your concerns.

[cajun4life]

_ I am in agreement that Hudspeth needs to clean house with one exception to help guide the new guys through the screwed up system that is the State of Louisiana and UL, and the ONLY ONE he should have kept is Broussard.

If he kept any other coach from the previous staff Hudspeth is an idiot and that tells me we have another 4 or 5 more years of Bustle type of records.

No offense to Hudspeth, but was that truly the best we could do in terms of finding a head coach?

But he is our coach and we must support him, but God help him if he keeps any from the previous staff with the exception of the above............... _

Hudspeth comes to UL with the best credentials out of any coach who UL has ever hired in any sport.

If you honestly think that he is not qualified for the job then you need to read up on him. He has won at every program he has ever been a part of.

[Turbine]

_ Hudspeth comes to UL with the best credentials out of any coach who UL has ever hired in any sport.

If you honestly think that he is not qualified for the job then you need to read up on him. He has won at every program he has ever been a part of. _

I'm thinking how small my window to the coaching world is.

I'm reminding myself how many coaching clinics coach Hud has probably been to, and how many coaching connections he has, and how many coaches he has gone up against and how many quality referals he's gotten from people he trusts.

And I remind myself, I know nothing about hiring assistants.

All I know is I like winners and according to coach Hudspeth, he is hiring winners.

[TuffGuy84]

_ Hudspeth comes to UL with the best credentials out of any coach who UL has ever hired in any sport.

If you honestly think that he is not qualified for the job then you need to read up on him. He has won at every program he has ever been a part of. _

Lets not get carried away, I'd say that Bustle had a good resume when he accepted the job, Marlin has one heck of a pedigree and you cant forget that Robe was HIGHLY successful at Mcneese before coming to UL.

With that said, I'm surprised that Wingerter and Rebowe were even kept. No offense to Broussard, I know he loves the University, but loving the University cant overshadow the fact that he was coaching our D-line and our D-line has been absolutely atrocious.

The old coaching staff did have a bunch of good guys on the staff, but, just because someone is a good guy doesn't mean they are good at their job. Hell I know people I work with that I like as people, but they absolutely suck at their job.

[CajunFun]

_ "Clean house!" Throw the bums out! "Namzy Pamzies!" Really? I mean, c'mon, really??

I'll begin by pointing out the Coach Broussard has given more to UL than any of the rest of us ever will. I don't care how much you donated to the RCAF (and shame on you if you haven't donated to the RCAF), it STILL isn't more than Coac Broussard has given. He grew up a Ragin' Cajun. He bled and sweat as a Ragin' Cajun (O-line 79-83). He has represented our U (S-club prez). He has lived our triumphs and our embarassments as a coach and a player. Kids love him. Alumni love him. He recruits well. The man knows his s&*(%, but most of all he bleeds vermillion and white.

Now, I will agree that Coach Hud is entitled to staff as he sees fit. The best for the job is what really matters. But let's not pretend that having a hold over like Coach Broussard doesn't have value. The man is bedrock around here. He knows the ropes and the roads. That has some value. If Coach Hud thinks that there is someone better for the spot, then I respect that. I am sure that Gerald does too. Gerald is a class act, and he is going to land on his feet. The loss very possibly may not be Gerald's. It may be ours.

One final point. One of the reasons I love the college game is because of the family feel it has. There are traditions and loyalties that do not and cannot exist in the pro game. UL has a few of those traditions, but I am not sure that us (here on this board) being so dismissive and cavalier about losing a pilar like Gerald Broussard really furthers any of that for us. I hate to see him go.

OK, let the post bashing begin. ("Stupid!" "Clean house!" "You Namzy Pamzy!" ....) _

It's just the game of football. Not only do very good people lose their jobs, they lose them at Christmas time.

Gerald Broussard is just a great human being, and I can't imagine anyone who knows him well feeling otherwise. I can't say if he was a good coach, because I just don't know enough about football.

But that's the game we play. One person can only win if another one loses. One person can only be happy by making another unhappy.

That part of it stinks.

I hope Broussard can find some way to stay in Lafayette, because he sure loves this town and this University.

[IHateLaState]

_
No offense to Broussard, I know he loves the University, but loving the University cant overshadow the fact that he was coaching our D-line and our D-line has been absolutely atrocious.

Yea but... but.... but... he was a niccceee guy.... and besides that I KNEW HIM... we cant let him go...........

[Boomer]

A new coach (HUD) has obviously huge decisions to make re staff-----But I tell you that there is a very important aspect in keeping qualified former staff members--------I remember a kid from S.Lafourche thinking how stupid a Yankee coach for Tulane was when he asked the kid what the name of the Canal was with the boat in it!!!! I remember meeting a number of black coaches in the hood to have a couple of cold ones-----my competitors didn't even know where the schools were------I remember having my Josten's job at the schools and the hours of waisted time trying to find these schools----empirical knowledge is very important of what to say and WHAT NOT TO SAY on the recruiting trail!!!