Excited

[DaddyCajun]

I just got back from meeting on UL Athletics, and boy is there something to be excited about. The info will be put on the site in the near future by Turbine with Gerald Heberts blessing!!

Well over 100 big backers and potential backers were there and if they did not know how they could help they do now! Gerald was exciting, thorough, intense, mater of fact, and bleeding with UL pride.

One project already drawn and another in the process Gerald said is the Universities way of planning ahead for success! Skyboxes on a lower level have been drawn and interest already exist to purchase suites. Secondly, additional seating in the bowl and beyond are in the works. Gerald said, "We must be ready for success and we will be and so should you!"

DaddyCajun Pumped

ps One additional reason I am PUMPED! There were some door prizes given out and DaddyCajun won one! I won a full size football autographed by Jake Delhomme, Brian Mitchell, and Brandon Stokley!! My little boy is excited to have it!!

[Clutch0364]

I have been excited about the future here but this is making me feel even more excited than I was before.

[CAJUNS]

I think we need to fill the seats that we have before we start to add on. When was the last sell out in Cajun Field?? 1996?? I believe these projects can wait and that money go to many other things that we need. Like putting more money into the indoor facility to make it the best it can be. Or how about somewhere that the basketball team can permanetly practice, since this is the team that has had 4 straight postseasons, and the only mens conference champion of late if I recall correct. I dont think we need to improve seating in a stadium with attendance under 20,000. We need to win some games and sell out a few before all this takes place. Then, we can add on all you guys want.

[Boomer]

I think we need to fill the seats that we have before we start to add on. When was the last sell out in Cajun Field?? 1996??

That is not the attitude --it is full speed ahead with everybody on line---I have NEVER seen this in UL sports ---always somebody fighting the other either coach Booster of fan----A great evening that was helped along by Dr. Wayne Andrepont's mentioning of outstanding success in Academic areas by the student athletes. Gerald Hebert has piggy-backed on all sorts of big and small contributions to really get this thing started.......And it has in a huge way!!!!

[Tripple Threat]

I got to speak with Coach Hartman (Asst men's basketball) after the presentation and we spoke about possible recruits and he told me about another australian their working on. He wouldn't give me details (NCAA rules), but he definitely was excited. He did give some insight on Ed Turner, a 6'8'' guard that can play the 1 or 2. His eyes lit up and looked like he was going to burst. He assured me that the guard spot is not a concern...

Coach Bustle was one of the other's I spoke with and his humility and eagerness for the season was evident. He's very ready "to turn the corner" and to see the new recruits on the field. We spoke about the difficult transition from High School to College and the over confidence players have coming in. One thing I didn't know is that we've had players request to be red shirted because they weren't ready to play. I thought it was purely the coach's call. Coach Bustle really seems anxious to give the community something to be proud of and when they spoke about putting in more furnished patio's on the end zones I really started liking the big picture. Sometime in the next month or so, all of the roads encomposing the athletic complex will be repaved by the same contractors that paved Johnson Street.

The baseball field is going to have permanent gazebo's erected in the area were the RV's park during the football games. I could go on, but I'll leave you with a perspective with where we are with the only other school with a decent athletic program; the ULL athletic department had 7 million to spend this year and LSU had 55 million. The 3 largest contributers to LSU live in Lafayette! That money is going to the wrong school...

[DaddyCajun]

Read the post carefully, as I stated they were preparing for success. The drawings are being done for additions to the stadium they are not ready to add on, but giving the demand through winning that is on the horizon UL WILL be ready with the plans in hand.

Now, the Skyboxes on the first level of the student side, this would be the next addition to the stadium, might have the patio's acctually prior, but there are companies signing up as WE speak for the Lower level skyboxes. These boxes will be PRE-SOLD and will be an REVENUE GENERATOR.

Additional revenue generators are the SwampGates going at $12, 000/yr times 4 and the others WILL be constructed prior to the season.

Gateways into the Athletic complex will be constructed and sold to corporations as Gerald spoke of traffic flow on Bertrand, Congress, and Cajundome Blvd on a daily basis and also during BIG events giving EXPOSER to would be Sponsors of the GATES.


Per Game Sponsorships are available and some have been sold for Football, Basketball(M/W), Baseball, and Softball and I am sure Track would be a future consideration(or atleast should be)!!

UL is tying the shoes of the preverbial GIANT, as UL has awaken and thus has ACADIANA!!!!! Hang on to your DAWGS because IT is happening, jump on, get involved and enjoy the excitement of BUILDING WHAT WILL BE A GREAT UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!

DaddyCajun out for now.
LOUISIANA!!

[shof]

I love the idea of skyboxes on the student side. Had seen a previous thread where ideas of putting the skyboxes adjacent to the press box had been mentioned. Doubt that would fly. Skyboxes need to be on a premium level to view the field. Putting them on the student side would (I assume) also provide cover from the elements for concessions and restrooms that doesn't exist today. I'm not an architect and I have not seen the plans; but I would also assume that the plans provide for future seats "above" the skyboxes should we ever have a need to have a "matching" upper deck opposite the original.

DC - as always, thanks for the updates!

[Oldman]

I believe these projects can wait and that money go to many other things that we need.

why don't you apply for the job of keeping ul going backwards as you think it should, it seem you lack vision.....we've had enough of that over the years it's time to move on and if you don't want to be a part of that then step out of the way, but we would like to have you THINK POSITIVE stay on board.

[DaddyCajun]

why don't you apply for the job of keeping ul going backwards as you think it should, it seem you lack vision.....we've had enough of that over the years it's time to move on and if you don't want to be a part of that then step out of the way, but we would like to have you THINK POSITIVE stay on board.

Sheer wisdom from a wise Oldman!! We must ALL learn by the past and not return there except to NOT make the same mistakes! UL and ALL(ALL) its supporters MUST use Vision when planning and Act on it with timely efforts both thru sweat equity and MONEY!!!


DaddyCajun,
Louisiana Moving Forward!!

[CajunProud]

This news makes me soo excited I can hardly type this post. I, along with all of the other die-hard Cajun fans (many of whom post here) have been waiting for this for a long time. At times it seemed like it would never get here, and we were just floundering around in some deep funk. MY HOW TIMES ARE A CHANGIN.


It's amazing, once the administration made a firm committment to the athletic program, people started coming back. What a great time in this community.

GEAUX CAJUNS and may we never look back. I sincerely thank all of you who work so hard for this University and have never lost the faith.

[DaddyCajun]

Trip I enjoyed speaking to you and Gupta, sorry I was cut off from our conversation at one point. Your last post was GREAT as I too was there listening to yourself and Gupta speak with coach Bustle you would make a nice news anchor.


DaddyCajun!


ps The only FLAW in your post was the use of the illegal accronym, you know what I am talking about!!! Come on dawg maybe you just made a typo, please use UL!!

See ya at the baseball game tonight, box seat 10, 3rd base!!

[Tripple Threat]

Thanks Daddy-O... It had to have been a typo! The open bar kept the heineken's flowing, so I'll blame it on the Dutchy's. Coach Bustle is very easy to talk to, the credit goes to him for having such a great personality; it's easy to see why the players and everyone else for that matter love him like they do...UL SHOULD BE PROUD!