2011 Vermilion & White Spring Game

[cajun67]

_ Ok. it's time for somebody/bodies to pony up. I'm sure someone knows what the average home attendance was last year. I'll wager with anyone who wants to that Hud averages at least 5k per home game more than Bustle did. Hell, make that 6k more. $100 to RCAF & $100 to Ragin Pagin by the loser. _

I'm waiting patiently for a coach to match Augie's 76-77 run.

[zephyr]

_ Because the wager I offered up was based upon this coming year's attendance being at least 6000 stronger per game average than last year's. The discussion has become whether the people of Lafayette would support the team all year, & my stand is they will absolutely support the team all year & next year, even if they have a sub 500 season this year. The reason being, because people know that Coach Hud has to build his talent level to an SBC championship level, which this team has never had since it's been in the SBC. The silent majority realize this & will give him a year to let his first recruiting class mature.

They will look for major improvement next year & a kick butt SBC champion in the years to follow. _

I don't think you should ever judge a coach by his first season anywhere, no matter how good or bad. However, what you don't realize is that he has the pieces in place to have a nice year now. He has components of a team that can help us win right now and with a few good breaks in games and a limit to the injuries we endure, we can win the belt this year. He inherits decent talent. Not great but certainly more than you can say for coach Marlin in basketball. However, this fanbase will continue to stand on the fence until something happens like it did in basketball this year and the huge winning streak. Once that occurred, you had people filling the stadium and it will take something like that to sustain our attendance numbers all year even though we only have 5 games at home.

[zephyr]

_ UL can average 40+ k regardless of conference. I believe that, and I believe that in another 10 years, the SBC will be the best non bcs football conference bar none.




igeaux.mobi _

I would agree with you except the SBC will not be in its present form in 10 years so, or at least not with its current membership, especially if it continues to improve as it has for the past 5 years or so where the current members are going to be more attractive to the CUSA's of the world. Hopefully, if the belt were to continue growing and improving, it would create an environment where teams would not want to leave but rather, pull other schools from outside. Either way, I don't see it being better than MWC for sure and it would take some major improvements to pass CUSA.

[Bandwagon King]

_ Yea but those other states don't have retards talking down to us when we don't root for the other team down the road. Some peope in this state think it is our "civic duty" to root for the school in the east, and the retards follow across the basin in masses to fulfill their Louisiana "civic duty"
I don't think there is this kind of hippocracy anywhere else in the state... I love Louisiana and will NEVER cheer for lsu


igeaux.mobi _

Don't go to New Orleans then. it's always had more LSU fans than Tulane fans. At least UL could boast a solid fan base if it begins a winning football tradition. Tulane has used every trick in the book & even gone undefeated in a season & can't get solid fan support in a city that used to be ten times the size of Lafayette.

[sportsfanatic21]

_ Or look at it this way, if you do this now, all the bandwagoners will assume this is the way it's always been b/c this will be their first year coming to games, and if you loaded up the car, got the kids with their Cajun gear, packed the ice chest, bought food prepared your day out at Cajun field only to let 5$ to park change your mind! Then I don't know what to tell those people, everyone has gotten away with everything free for long enough. If we want to play with the big boys, you gotta pay like the big boys. Say it's only 4000 cars, which is a low estimate I think, that's 20k times 5 sometimes 6 games a year, that's 100-120k a year just in parking. Put that in a fund for hud's new 500k a year contract extension in 4 years

igeaux.mobi _

Let me start by saying that "the bandwagoners" are exactly the people that you are trying to impress, not turn away. There will NEVER be the crowds you (or I) want at Cajun Field without 50% (or more) of them being "new" customers. And trying to pull the wool over their eyes, and saying "everyone's gotten away for free long enough" is crazy. They havent gotten away with anything, because they havent been here!!

I didnt mean they would turn around with a car full of people (and I was referring more to people that come to a game every couple of years OR have never come, so some would know the difference). It's the people with the mindset of thinking that "just because there's a new coach, the University thinks they can jack up the price on everything". Im sure you know people who would think exactly that. And again, in my opinion, even if you have to go the other way and discount some things, you need to get people in the door.

Think of businesses with Grand Re-Openings. Business isnt good, make a few changes, put some products on sale, and get people in the door. Treat em well, and hope you have a loyal customer who will return in the future. Kinda like the "Fear the Beard" promotion. There was some momentum from winning a few in a row, a buzz in the community, and with that promotion, there were more butts in the seats. Its just too bad that it was so close to the end of the season that the attendance jump wasnt felt for more games. Hopefully it was carry over into next year, but I think you get my point.

I just dont want to do anything that even MIGHT discourage anyone from coming to Cajun Field to see what the buzz is about. Once you get em in the door, make them want to come back for more. And then, you can start to do some things to increase revenue. Lets be honest, the product here over the last decade plus, has not been anywhere near the level that you can expect people to pay MORE to see it before you give them a reason to want to come back again and again. I think Coach Hud has got things going in the right direction, and maybe the wins dont pile up this year, but I think the effort, intensity, and competitiveness definitely will. And the wins will follow. And so will the crowds. And so will the oppurtunities to generate funds. Rome wasnt built in a day guys, its a process, and one that is heading firmly in the right direction.

Geaux Cajuns!

[Bandwagon King]

_ I don't think you should ever judge a coach by his first season anywhere, no matter how good or bad. However, what you don't realize is that he has the pieces in place to have a nice year now. He has components of a team that can help us win right now and with a few good breaks in games and a limit to the injuries we endure, we can win the belt this year. He inherits decent talent. Not great but certainly more than you can say for coach Marlin in basketball. However, this fanbase will continue to stand on the fence until something happens like it did in basketball this year and the huge winning streak. Once that occurred, you had people filling the stadium and it will take something like that to sustain our attendance numbers all year even though we only have 5 games at home. _

I highly disagree with your talent assessment. I am not trying to be cruel when judging the overall talent of this team because there are a few nice players on it, but make no mistake, it is extremely defficient in D-1 level talent & has practically no D-1 depth anywhere except TE, QB, & possibly, potentially, maybe if everything comes together OL. That's it brother. DON"T be trying to fool yourself into thinking anything else or you're gonna be setting your expectations WAY WAY higher than they ought to be in year one.

[RaginRash]

I say we charge Boomer $25.00/post on here....

Cha-Ching!

_ About the tailgating------With an RCAF membership a group becomes eligible to purchase a spot---2 stickers are given for each place---Any other vehicles are charged to enter UL parking--about $5 per car---UNless they have their parking sticker from being an RCAF member!!!! Any objections to that????? Seems OK to me!!!! _

[CrazyCajun]

Bandwagoners is not derogatory in my book, I know we need them and I want them, but a bandwagoners is a person who jumps on board when things are looking up, a fan or "fanatic" are people that are there no matter what. We are talking about 5$ to park, if you don't want to pay 5$ to park then go across the street. A small fee to everyone that can make huge monetary difference is smart, do it now. We are not talking about 25$ to park or doubling the cost of tickets, the same people that complain about paying 5$ bucks just b/c we got a new coach are the same people who will complain after we win. " what they think they can charge to park b/c of one winning season?" you will never please those people. You have to do what is right for the program. Strike while the irons hot, and it's hotter than I can remember in a long time. It's not pulling wool over anything, it's way over due and it is what it is

igeaux.mobi

[STEVEAUX UL 78]

Sportsfantic21...I agree with you...5 home games this year...we can get'm all in the parking lot..come early, support the Cajuns...if you need to park close then RCAF gets you a pass! Fear The Beard was a great promo! Don't kill the momentum!...GEAUX CAJUNS!!

igeaux.mobi

[CrappDaddy]

So, outside of the QB's, what was everyone's thoughts on individual performances?

I thought the following players really stood out:

Cordian Hagans - Always provided pressure and often against double teams. I think LSU missed the boat on this guy.

Bernard Smith - Always in the backfield. Very fast

Javone Lawson - I know you all saw the drive where he cought 3 straight passes and ended up in the endzone. He was also wide open several other plays and Masson either didn't see him or didn't have time to throw to him.

Melvin White - Haven't got to see much of him before but he looks solid IMO.

Any thoughts?

[VObserver]

_ So, outside of the QB's, what was everyone's thoughts on individual performances?

I thought the following players really stood out:

Cordian Hagans - Always provided pressure and often against double teams. I think LSU missed the boat on this guy.

Bernard Smith - Always in the backfield. Very fast

Javone Lawson - I know you all saw the drive where he cought 3 straight passes and ended up in the endzone. He was also wide open several other plays and Masson either didn't see him or didn't have time to throw to him.

Melvin White - Haven't got to see much of him before but he looks solid IMO.

Any thoughts? _

All three tight ends had really nice days. You can add Butler and Surgent to Lawson as WR's with good performances.

By FAR, the biggest difference between this team and last year's is in receiver play [to include all who catch the ball, WR, TE, FB, RB]. It ain't close. Much better route running, much better blocking by receivers, much better attention to detail and focus on the ball.

If Saturday was not an aberration, and we can come up with any kind of running game at all, our offense will annihilate SBC defenses.

Also.... this offense will make Ladarious Green a first team All-American and a first round draft pick.

[anhil8tor]

Also.... this offense will make Ladarious Green a first team All-American and a first round draft pick. _

This would be HUGE for the program. Imagine Hud selling that to local players...