The Book: 2007 Football

[MetryCajun]

You know your team is bad when a walk-on has one good game and is called an "emerging star".

[AstroCajun]

that actually sounds good ill mention it to them

I can be subversive when I want to.

[ulforlife]

_ You know your team is bad when a walk-on has one good game and is called an "emerging star". _

The guy is a starting true freshman, he will be good give him time. Plus, the guy obviously wants to play pretty bad no matter what, that's something that can't be said as much throughout the reat of the team.

Why not give him some credit?

[AstroCajun]

He needs others to help him....has to be a team effort. I see alot of players waiting and not reacting and I think that is just lack of experience. It comes with the confidence of knowing exactly where to be and when. Again a new defense and offensive scheme....it takes time. Many don't want to give it time but it's a reality. There is a learning curve for every profession no matter how good you are at it. Everyone says you've given it enough time. Reality is, it is all new this year and no there hasn't been enough time given. You have to have faith in those who lead and teach these boys. This is a learning season. Plain and simple. If you were a business executive and hired a new employee, would you expect them to know their job immediately, of course not. There is no difference in football. Let's get through this year with our heads held high and give these guys a chance. SHOW UP FOR HOMECOMING!!!!!! I know my stand isn't a popular one but can I have a bravo happy face too?

Keep the faith. It is most important in this difficult time that we here and consider all points of view.

The more points of view we have, the more likely we will find the one which is right.

While I am inclined to agree with you, the other side is making some pretty good arguments too.

[CajunNation]

_ We had a team that went on a run and won a co-championship...that team was young. But then we turned around the next year after starting off very hot and went down hill...now 2 years after that we are young again? how does that happen, wouldn't that be a problem with coaching?

Ok so we give Bustle another 2 years and we are going to be a great veteran team right...no not really we would have lost fenroy, desmo, chery, and smith...so we would be young again so would the same excuses work then to?

That doesnt make much sense the way i typed it but i think yaL get the point _

I get ya.

It's a cycle of having 1 OK team every 4 years.

Now is the time to break the cycle.

[MakoMaker]

_ Question: Are you a lsu graduate disquised as someone who hates em and making us think you are for UL but just like to poise questions which could cause descent amongst us? Don't want to ruffle your feathers, just want to know the truth here. I believe we are causing more damage to our University's image with these blogs than we are doing good. We don't need to expose our dirty laundry to the world, DO WE ANYMORE? _

Wow...I have talked to IHateLaState and he's a pretty stand up guy....def not anti-cajun.

[rhineaux]

_

Keep the faith. It is most important in this difficult time that we here and consider all points of view.

The more points of view we have, the more likely we will find the one which is right.

While I am inclined to agree with you, the other side is making some pretty good arguments too. _

I'm not trying to say that I don't hear what you're saying, and I know that differing points of view are what this is all about. But, I see it differently than you. Like i said before, I was still on board with bustle before last weekend, or at least I was ok with keeping him. I was the guy that was playing devil's advocate and listening and kinda repeating that we should give it more time and at least let it play out a little more. the problem now is that not only do we have a really bad season on our hands, but the team took a major step back on Sunday.

Maybe some of the desire to wait for a while has to do with the relationship that some folks have with bustle. Its not uncommon for anyone who has some relationship with someone else, to want to see that other person succeed. Especially since bustle did bring some excitement to this program a couple years ago. It binded the fans with him that much more. but, as i said before, this isn't about us and the coaches. This is about the public, the recruits (not only this year's recruits), the students, the sponsors, the boosters, and everyone else who isn't as involved with the program as us, seeing a problem. It is not worth the risk of keeping him around and it not working. I know some folks will be sad to see him go, but a change has to be made to continue the momentum. If it isn't, then in four or five years, Bustle's name will be added to the list of recent coaches who have run this program into the ground. and when he's gone, it will make the job seem that much worse to future potential coaches.

Our long period of losing season has most certainly brought forth some complacency from the older Cajun fans. but here is an oppurtunity to end that complacency and become proactive and progressive and take the next step. We can't hope for things to change on our own. We have to demand that they are changed now.

Again, the risk of the "let it play out" experiment failing, is not worth actually failing and falling back into a hole that we all know will be too hard and take too long to get out of.

[anhil8tor]

The guy is a starting true freshman, he will be good give him time. Plus, the guy obviously wants to play pretty bad no matter what, that's something that can't be said as much throughout the reat of the team.

Why not give him some credit?

I am tickled pink for the guy. Kudos to him for not giving up and making bustle give him a chance.

[IHateLaState]

_ Are you in Louisiana yet? Hope you enjoy your time down here. _

Sounds like she is coming down?? it would be great to meet her and let her know we all are very appreciative that her son chose to come here.... Maybe it would be fun to have a gathering of posters on here.... I can wear P&G to just ____ UL JIM off.... Problem is I dont own any P&G...lol... Anyone interested??? How about the Alumni Tent at 3??

[NewCajunDad]

Leave your frustrations here or at the stadium. Support is what these boys and these coaches need when you see them in public or on the walk!!

Part of the problem IS youth and inexperience. Bustle has recruited talent and has the most qualified staff here since his tenure began.

One or two freshmen can make a positive difference but when the majority of your "trench" players are freshmen / sophomores, you will struggle even at seasons' end. These guys all try very hard and UL, as a program, has tried to aggressively redshirt but many things have forced a change. We have seen other teams with this situation and things turned around a year later. It will happen here.

UL-L has had as many as 38 - 39 freshman / sophomores travel and dress / participate in games this year. I count atleast seven true freshmen playing and 3 of these have atleast one start on defense. That coupled with injuries (both sides of the ball to senior linemen, DBs, RBs etc.), we are very young! We have very little experienced "depth" anywhere!! Defensive line has had three senior starters with true freshmen forced to see action behind / with them. Same in O-line. Tough to be consistent with inconsistent lineup and youth.

Do I still believe there is room for improvement on the offensive and defensive schemes we are implementing? Absolutely, and this should have improved substantially more than it has to date. But with the given youth factor, these young men are having difficulties adjusting to the speed of the college game not to mention a new system where the guy next to them is also unfamiliar. When the guy in the trench beside you is also a freshman or sophmore, where is the leadership? Put that many freshmen in a system and you will struggle.

I know it is difficult to be understanding of the season but we must. This team had more depth last year in the offensive and defensive lines. While we struggled at times (maybe this was why we changed coordinators!!), the juniors you see now as seniors were backing up last year's seniors in the line. We have only 14 juniors that play this year and a couple are strictly on special teams. With the exception of Seth Adams and Erik Jones (TE), this junior group does not have a single lineman who plays or provides depth in the trenches. A couple of other guys in this group are transfers as well creating similar experience problems in the defensive secondary.

Next year's team will still be young by some standards due to the 14 only juniors (seniors to be). But, there will be 17 juniors to back that up including significant parts of your starting offensive and defensive lines. Depth and experience.

I see that as a significant step up in competitive ability. I still see this as a positive recruiting tool. The rope is short, but we must continue to hang on.

Running back is / will be solid
QB will have experience (and the RS Freshmen will have another year in the system)
OL will be solid due to forced development this year
DL, same as OL
Defensive backs / LB are young now and another year developing bodies / experience as well as getting a couple of kids involved who missed out academically.

All the while giving a young man who wants to bust his b--- the opportunity to play as a true or redshirt freshman.