The Book: 2007 Football

[Pirogue]

_ Good news:

Opposing teams have averaged 55 points per game on their defense. NT's offense averages 17 points a game.

NT defense has given up 2,481 yards in four games. That's an average of 620.25 yards a game.

We definitely have a good chance to win this game. Keep fingers crossed.

Z _

Bad News
Last year, UNT was worse... Cajuns were better.... UNT came here and whipped arse...

[Cayenne Eyeman]

_ WOW, so we're to be excited if we beat one of the worst teams in the nation(next to us)? Great we'll be 1-5.

Look at UCF. They beat us on a field goal two years ago. Which team has improved since that time. That's what I'm looking for.

We are not getting the quality athletes. You can't make a Div. I-A team out of Div. II or NAIA type of athletes. Until that changes, we will never be any more than what we are.

In my opinion, Fenroy is the only quality player we have. Des is a great athlete but he's not a qb.

Defensively, noone stands out in comparison to players from teams beating our behinds. _

I wouldn't say excited...but I'd be happy with a win...and then another...and then another. 1-5 certainly beats 0-6. My original point is in response to the concept that UL football has reached a new low. Do we say that UL football is at a new low because we lost a game that we were picked to lose? And Des is doing a great job as QB, especially given our need to scramble in the backfield. He may not be a long passer, but he certainly mixes up the run, option and short pass quite effectively. You are correct that we need better defense...hopefully it will come soon. But let's not say that we are at an all-time low after losing a game that we were expected to lose.

See you at the Swamp on Saturday for the W!!!
Geaux Cajuns!!!!

[Cowboy Up]

I am good with that. Show me.
L'te'

From the Legislative Auditor's Office as of June 2006:

UL Foundation

http://app1.lla.state.la.us/PublicRe...E/0000081E.pdf

[Clutch0364]

_ How many turn overs has he had. When your QB is your leading rusher you've usually got problems. WE HAVE PROBLEMS.

I agree though that the defense is atrocious. _

Oh yea Florida has huge problems don't they?

[Cayenne Eyeman]

_ Bad News
Last year, UNT was worse... Cajuns were better.... UNT came here and whipped arse... _

That may be true...but this is another year....we're looking for payback...I think our boys will be hungry for the W.

See you and the Swamp!!!
Geaux Cajuns!!!

[Cayenne Eyeman]

_ Oh yea Florida has huge problems don't they? _

Good point....Wasn't Brian Mitchell our leading rusher during his time at USL? Perhaps still our all-time leading rusher? Keep on rushing Des Mo!!!!

[Clutch0364]

_ I would seriously doubt that coaches like Applewhite and Crowton would consider a head coaches position at UL. Bustle makes somewhere in the neighborhood of $194,000. Jimbo Fisher made $450,000 per year while at LSU, so, I am sure Crowton's salary is comparable to that figure. Alabama's assistant coaches are the highest paid assistant's in the SEC.

I would love to think that we are an attractive program for top BCS level coordinators to want to coach at, but I don't think that is realistic, for these reasons:

- We couldn't pay them what they are making now
- Our facilities, while getting better, are nowhere near BCS level
- We have one of the smallest athletic budgets in the country
- We have never had a head coach move on to bigger and better things after coaching here

Getting rid of Bustle is not the answer. I hate always having to say "wait until next year", but not letting Bustle finish out his contract would be a mistake. We would not get the caliber coach that you mentioned above, and we would go into rebuilding mode AGAIN. Plus, we can not afford to buy him out. It would be like setting $500,000 on fire. _

I understand that those coaches might not want to come here but unless you spend money you won't make money. This program needs a kick in the ass and the only way to do it is to maybe spend more than we have in the past and hey if those big time OC's or DC's dont want to come here then go on to the next group of coaches.

Conque from Central Ark was under Crowton for a while and if we couldn't out spend central ark then something is wrong. Hatcher at Georgia Southern was i believe 77-12 as the head coach at Valdosta state before taking the job at Georgia Southern. Hatcher was also in the running for the OC position at Florida State and for the HC job at La Tech. Look to proven head coaches to turn around the program and not at the coordinators. There are plenty of guys who would be great fits here.

____ look at Brian Kelly who is the HC at Cincinnati...in 3 seasons he turned Central Michigan into the MAC champion but before that he was the HC at Grand Valley State where he won back to back D2 national titles. The point being Central Michigan took a chance on a guy who was a proven winner and it worked...take a chance on a D1aa or a D2 coach who has proven to be a winner. What do we have to lose?

[Cowboy Up]

I understand that those coaches might not want to come here but unless you spend money you won't make money. This program needs a kick in the ass and the only way to do it is to maybe spend more than we have in the past and hey if those big time OC's or DC's dont want to come here then go on to the next group of coaches.

What do we have to lose?

Without being disrespectful, Clutch, with the State of Louisiana still woefully behind in funding, and no student fees allowed for supplemental funding football programs have to be almost "self-funding" which is an ardous task to say the least.

Big time programs will require big time funding. Just look at the UL-NCAA audit from 2006 on page 11 attached. UL football lost 1.22 million dollars on operations while the coaches salaries were at the 1 million dollar mark.

Maybe it is time for accountability. But, where will your money come from?

http://app1.lla.state.la.us/PublicReports.nsf/BE67CCAF2D54900E8625727400556FCB/$FILE/00000A97.pdf

[bigspanky95]

_ I'll say this. It's a good thing the coaches and players haven't quit like some of our fans.

If you went to the QB club lunch today, you saw first hand the passion the coaching staff has and how personally they are taking this 0-5 start. If I hadn't seen that passion and fire, I'd probably be signing a different tune. _

What else would you expect from them it is their job!..... They would be crazy to say how they really feel. "We s-ck but wait until next year"

I heard this story last year "Wait until next year". It gets old after awhile!

[Clutch0364]

_ Without being disrespectful, Clutch, with the State of Louisiana still woefully behind in funding, and no student fees allowed for supplemental funding football programs have to be almost "self-funding" which is an ardous task to say the least.

Big time programs will require big time funding. Just look at the UL-NCAA audit from 2006 on page 11 attached. UL football lost 1.22 million dollars on operations while the coaches salaries were at the 1 million dollar mark.

Maybe it is time for accountability. But, where will your money come from?

http://app1.lla.state.la.us/PublicReports.nsf/BE67CCAF2D54900E8625727400556FCB/$FILE/00000A97.pdf _

I understand all that and trust me im not smart enough to figure out where the money is going to come from...im a fan its not my job to figure that out although I will help where ever a poor student is able to help. I just know if as a school you are serious about athletics you have to find a way to get things done. We have had a lot of big things happen under Bustle as far as funding goes but imagine if we would WIN. In the last week I have spoken to 2 UL alums who have money and would love to watch football games at the Swamp if the product was worth it. Us fans who make it to every game see what the team is capable of doing but a lot of people show up for a few games and see what they view as the same ole Cajuns and don't come back. I love coach Bustle I think he has done a lot for this program but like i have been saying I feel he has hit a plateau and he will not take us any further. And if money is an issue I gave 2 other names who are not big time coordinators who UL could afford to get. There are plenty of names out there who are proven winners. This program has come a long way sense Baldwin and I don't want to see it fall back into the same position it was in.

[Clutch0364]

_ Good point....Wasn't Brian Mitchell our leading rusher during his time at USL? Perhaps still our all-time leading rusher? Keep on rushing Des Mo!!!! _

Mitchell is still the all-time leading rusher.

I don't care who runs the ball, who catches the ball,and who tackles the person with the ball all I care about is winning. I don't want to hear about throwing the ball to the TE or Desmo is running the ball to much...why does it matter if we arent winning. There are a lot of teams that don't throw to the TE or don't run the QB at all. then some temas throw to the TE all day long and run the ball with the QB all day long, why does it matter. If we were 5-0 no one would be saying a damn thing about who is running with the ball or who is catching the ball. It's all about winning!!!! I am personally sick of losing when I see a team that has the potential to do very well in this conference. I understand this team is young but come on no more excuses this is Bustles 6th year, he has had time to get the guys in here to do things. He could have gotten JUCO talent to fill holes till a young guy was ready to take over...I do like Bustle and what he has done but come on guys the excuses we have all been using for the last 2 years aren't good anymore because this is his team.

[BrudaCajun]

_ That may be true...but this is another year....we're looking for payback...I think our boys will be hungry for the W.

See you and the Swamp!!!
Geaux Cajuns!!! _

I'll be there. Hoping, wishing, waiting for a W.