The Book: 2007 Football

[NOCajun]

I just finished watching the Hawai'i vs. San Jose State game on ESPN. As embarassing as we may think our attendance was last week, at least we weren't in a position where we had more of the opponent's fans in CAJUN FIELD than our own, like what I saw tonight!!!

[Turbine]

Major college football programs do not lose, errrrr...get blown out, to IAA stepchild rival in your own backyard!!

"Do not" and "should not" are 2 different things.

Major college football programs "do" in fact lose to progams who have NEVER been their rivals, in their own back yard.

UL lost by 3 scores. I can find 3 plays from that game that if changed could reverse the outcome of the game. 3 plays and blown out don't sound like they go together, but I guess they do.

"Do not" and "should not" are 2 different things, just ask Michigan.

[NewsCopy]

JONESBORO, Ark. - UL's football team has the top rushing offense in the Sun Belt Conference by a wide margin, but most of the matchups favor Arkansas State tonight when the two teams meet in a pivotal league contest. Both UL (1-1) and ASU (0-1) have a loss in league play, and neither can afford another setback since only once in Sun Belt history has a team with two losses won the league title. UL and ASU were both part of a three-way 5-2 tri-championship in 2005, but it would take an odd set of circumstances for a two-loss team to again figure in the race for the New Orleans Bowl. That's why tonight is vital for both teams, and why both are looking for a matchup edge. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

JONESBORO, Ark. - The last time UL's football team journeyed north to face Arkansas State, the Ragin' Cajuns were a struggling offensive team. But that night, one at the mid-point of the 2005 season, the Cajuns found their offensive spark despite a topsy-turvy 39-36 loss. UL didn't lose again, averaging 36 points over the final four games on the way to a five-game win streak and a share of the Sun Belt Conference title. The Cajuns don't need to find an offensive attack in tonight's game against the Indians. When UL takes on the host Tribe at 6 p.m. at Indian Stadium, defensive consistency is the much-prized commodity if another such run is a possibility. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Rizzo said the off week will not only let him heal but help the team prepare for the Ragin' Cajuns, who beat FAU 6-0 last season at Lockhart. "The more you see them the more you can spot their tendencies and know what to expect," said Rizzo, a junior from Coral Springs. The rest of the story

[Turbine]

I can find 3 plays in every game this year, and if undone or made UL would be undefeated.

That is is how close going undefeated and winless can be.

[RCAJUN90]

I just finished watching the Hawai'i vs. San Jose State game on ESPN. As embarassing as we may think our attendance was last week, at least we weren't in a position where we had more of the opponent's fans in CAJUN FIELD than our own, like what I saw tonight!!!

It is amazing with our record over the last what 12 years we have anyone in the stadium. Didn't San Jose have a good year a few years back? Everything has always been in place for us but a winning tradition.

[Big Buds]

Turbine, do you sleep?

I know what you mean about the three plays. The fact is those three plays happened against good competition and we allowed it to happen. Good teams take advantage of poorly timed mistakes; now it is our time to take advantage of the Sun Belt.

[LaGrid]

That is close

[Just1More]

_ I can find 3 plays in every game this year, and if undone or made UL would be undefeated.

That is is how close going undefeated and winless can be. _

Turbine, you don't mean the 3 opposing teams scoring plays, I hope? I know not... you mean a first down here, a stop there, a completion here, a interception not thrown... that sorta stuff... right?

It is not fair, as life is not, that "close", "hanging tough", "great losing effort", and all of those, are not only dismissed, but readily an ignition source for "don't know how to win", "who cares, winning is all that counts", "they suck"... and more.

I tend to look at the entire body of work and look for effort, improvement, and hope for a better future. This football team has far from collapsed... which could easily be the case in another time and place. It might be that we will have to make a very tough choice later this year, if you know what I mean. And, I know this forum is for sharing opinions and venting, in all shapes, colors and sizes. But, it does a program no good to hear continuous bashing on the open airwaves. I do not doubt these people's loyalty to UL... but I often doubt their grasp of good sense. I do want to hear argument. I love it. Just not moronic ideas that will not be done, but damage much more than the intended victim.

I miss the hemoroids that come on here and show hate for our institution and athletic programs. They unite those that have a smidgen of Cajun love in their blood. Instead, pretty much all I hear as of late is a bunch of insiders doing knife fights with candle sticks... no blood drawn, no results... just a bunch of hand waving and tough talk.

I'd like to see this season play out with fans being as tough and gritty as I know we keep asking the players to be. When the clock runs out on the final game... that is the time to storm congress and demand the collective consensus will be done.

Sorry if I hurt anyone with my candlestick.

[Just1More]

Everything has always been in place for us but a winning tradition. _

Sorry RC90, but you are putting the cart before the horse. I disagree that we have everything in place. What, pray tell, has been basically the same for our institution for the past 30 plus years... the lead dog that pulls the sled. It is irrelevant to have the lead dog pulling you, ever so slightly, away from the destination, and expect the great dogs behind him to make up for the misdirection.

LEADERSHIP (at the peak) is key to every program in the country making a step change upward. It is ridiculous for everyone to keep saying "we have great tires, a big engine, slick design, but we need a new driver" when the engine has a governor on it!

New, improved leadership for the university is what will unleash the notorious potential of UL, and build that "winning football tradition". I've heard all the other stuff for over 30 years and we will keep getting the same results if we keep doing the same things.

[Just1More]

My thoughts are with the game today, but if there were ever a game this season that we are going to have to throw a wrinkle in our giddy-up, it is this FAU game. They are going to exploit every one of our tendencies. They have plenty of time to work on them, plenty of game footage, and they have all the capability to jump on our weaknesses. I say it is time to bring in the freak of our game (whatever that is) and throw it all over them.