2004 Season The chase for 8 wins

[RaginFan2]

Originally posted by Turbine
Rack him.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? (Should I be insulted or feel good?)

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Cajun1997]

on the Jim Rome Show that is a good thing.

[California Cajun]

Originally posted by CAJUNGURU
I totally disagree Turbine. We have the same record as last year, but it was against weaker schedule. Our special teams were not as good as last year. Our offense was better in some areas. Our defense improved towards the end of the year, but overall it was a wash compared to last year. This program finished the year poorly and that is a step backwards. Next year is crucial to this program and staff. I believe it will be do or die with this staff. Their credibility is on the line now.

In my gut I tend to agree with you. Your opinion is in the minority, but so was the one when you warned us to be wary of a certain coach and you turned out to be right.

What I haven't heard you say, and haven't heard anybody say for that matter, is the impact of not having Ross Brupbacher and Kyries Hebert on the team this year. How would have the defense of this year and last year compare if those two weren't on last year's team?

[texascajun]

hebert left in Baldwin's final year- he wasnt a part of last years team.

Our safeties were CC Brown [SS] & Dave Prater/Lamar Morgan/Wendell Williams[FS]. Had Jamal Smith [2nd on the team in tackles the previous year- behind 2003 SI/NFL Rookie of the Year, Charles Tillman] stayed healthy, he and CC wouldve been the safeties. CC would've played FS.

that was the most crucial blow of the season. He broke his ankle 4 days before South Carolina during a non-contact "screen" period.

people/fans dont realize how good of a ballplayer Jamal Smith was...and the difference he made

shoulda, woulda, coulda

[J-Town Cajun]

Although it did not turn into more wins this year

Cajuns 1st in total offense yds/game in the Belt
Cajuns 2nd in total defense
Cajuns 1st in 3rd down conversions, a much over looked stat, keeps drives going.

[RaginFan2]

Originally posted by J-Town Cajun
Although it did not turn into more wins this year

Cajuns 1st in total offense yds/game in the Belt
Cajuns 2nd in total defense
Cajuns 1st in 3rd down conversions, a much over looked stat, keeps drives going.

I agree, there is solid improvement. Unfortunately, the bottom line is the most important: W-L. We failed to improve in that vital area. That is the only improvement we will be focusing on next year. Of course, to get there we'll need additional improvements in some other areas. However, if we get those other improvements but fail to improve the bottom line, then I'm afraid there will be some cratering of the support we finally started getting back this year. I am cautiously optimistic that Coach Bustle WILL get the job done. (That caution is not lack of faith in coach, but the concern that other factors might have an impact - funding, recruiting, injuries, weather, etc.) It is important that we keep supporting the coaches and the team!

[J-Town Cajun]

RaginFan2 I agree with you 100%
For the first time in 8 years that I have been following the program closely, I was pleased with the effort put forth on the field at each home game and walked away proud of the team even though we were 3-2 at home. I was not so proud of the losses to Idaho and ULM. I feel we should beat those teams each and every year. I listened to the ULM game and felt the effort was there and that we dominated the game, but it was just one of those nights. If we beat those two teams we are 6-5 and everyone is jumping up and down around here. '04 is now in the past and it is on to recruiting. In the past it was very hard to sell the program to in state kids. But word is getting around about the improvements of the program (although not wins and losses yet), attendence improvements, these kids love playing for Bustle and his staff, the city of Lafayette, and the student body has turned out like I have never seen before. I think each and every year we will all see the program continue to grow to its potential.

[Sonsissymia]

Originally posted by J-Town Cajun
Although it did not turn into more wins this year

Cajuns 1st in total offense yds/game in the Belt
Cajuns 2nd in total defense
Cajuns 1st in 3rd down conversions, a much over looked stat, keeps drives going.

folks, herein lies the problem; this is a losers mentality. in fact these stats make our won-loss record even more distasteful, for what in the world is the team with the best offense and nearly best defense doing winning only 4 games and losing to Monroe and Idaho and all the rest of the conference team that beat us?

i was listening to the stevie p show a couple weeks ago, just before Troy, and some guy actually said, with seeming pride, that even if we lost the last two games, "we still were guaranteed a better winning percentage than last year because there were 12 games last year"---i kid you not. how will we ever be major league with that kind of attitude?

[Turbine]

Originally posted by sonsissymia
what in the world is the team with the best offense and nearly best defense doing winning only 4 games and losing to Monroe and Idaho and all the rest of the conference team that beat us?

Turnovers!

Nothing more, nothing less. . . in my opinion.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by sonsissymia
i was listening to the stevie p show a couple weeks ago, just before Troy, and some guy actually said, with seeming pride, that even if we lost the last two games, "we still were guaranteed a better winning percentage than last year because there were 12 games last year"---i kid you not. how will we ever be major league with that kind of attitude?

That was me. But it wasn't said with pride.

The comment was preemptive I admit, it was meant for those who say its all about wins and losses. For some reason fewer losses doesn't matter.