2005: 100% occupancy attainable at Lady Cajun Basketball Earl K. Long Gym!

[RaginFan2]

2) We thought moving to the Cajun Dome from Blackham was going to be the "Ticket". It was a much nicer place, but it is too big for college basketball in Lafayette. When the place is half full, it's a decent crowd but it still looks fairly empty. The atmosphere cannot "electrify" without being close to a full house. Blackham would "rock" with 6,000 to 7,000 people. Earl K Long can "rock" with a few thousand, but those same few thousand or even a few more will look like nothing in Blackham or the Cajun Dome.

I hate to be "disagreeable", but I don't think the Cajundome is too big for college basketball in Lafayette. The problem is we've lost our crowds. Blackham used to to have crowds of 8-10,000. If we had those crowds in the Cajundome, it still be electric. It is true that Blackham would rock with 6-7,000 (but those were considered relatively small crowds back then), but how many times in the past 10 years have we had even that size of crowd show up at the Cajundome? When we have, the Dome was rockin' too! The Beryl Shipley teams always seemed to have a buzz about them that was basically lost during the "death penalty". We had some decent crowds afterward, but they didn't give quite the same energy as prior teams had. Then when the move to the Cajundome occurred, a combination of things changed the environment. The team went down for a while (record-wise and with problems), the previously successful coach (Paschal) left, the new coach (Fletcher) never really connected with the community, many of the season ticket holders felt alienated during the transition from Blackham, considerably more college BB on TV (ESPN, etc.), the team to the east gained a stronger BB fan base, etc, etc. All of that resulted in our attendance drastically dropping. We used to average 6-8,000. Now we rarely get that for a single game anymore. I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with the venue. I think that feeling from many people has more to do with nostalgia than anything else. I myself remember the games I saw at Blackham with great fondness. But it was the team the generated the crowds, which in turn generated the excitement. I remember my first game at Blackham and how I was very surprised at how dumpy a place this top 10 team was playing in! I love the Dome, despite some of its obvious drawbacks (mainly the fact that the crowd seems more removed from the action & the arena is too bright outside of the court). I also think we need to have a good band playing at ALL games and more students at the games. I think WHEN we get back to averaging 6-8,000 a game, the electricity will be back. Let's try to get it done! Everybody try to bring some new folks to the games this coming year! We can do it!

[Turbine]

CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO GET MORE STUDENTS OUT TO OUR GAMES HERE ON CAMPUS. IT IS BIGTIME FUN I PROMISE. I'M OPEN TO ALL SUGGESTIONS. THANKS.

I suggest giving EKL a nickname like "The Rage Cage"

For those who may not know a basketball court is often refered to as the cage. 100 years ago teams like Trenton actually played inside of a chainlink fence or cage, roof and all. Other references say cage stands for the basket.

There are still basketball tournaments around the country called "Cage" tournaments.

The first time I became aware of the term was when Sports Illustrated ran a headline a few years back that went something like this "There's no Caging the Cajuns" past reference

Anyway I think it could be a huge draw have students saying
"I'm going watch the game at The RAGE CAGE "

[gorcajun]

Football-----Cajun Field-----"The Swamp"
Baseball-----Tigue Moore Field-----"The Tigue"
Men's Basketball-----Cajundome----"????????"
Women's Basketball-----E. K. Long Gym----"The Rage Cage"
Softball------Lady Cajun Park-----"????????"
Volleyball------E. K. Long Gym------"???????"
Tennis------Ragin Cajun Courts-----"??????"

Any ideas for a "nickname" for these sporting places. It is not important that UL Ragin Cajun fans know the nicknames, but it is imperative that the opposing teams are reminded of exactly where they are playing.

[CDeb]

I suggest giving EKL a nickname like "The Rage Cage"

For those who may not know a basketball court is often refered to as the cage. 100 years ago teams like Trenton actually played inside of a chainlink fence or cage, roof and all. Other references say cage stands for the basket.

There are still basketball tournaments around the country called "Cage" tournaments.

The first time I became aware of the term was when Sports Illustrated ran a headline a few years back that went something like this "There's no Caging the Cajuns" past reference

Anyway I think it could be a huge draw have students saying
"I'm going watch the game at The RAGE CAGE "

I like just plain ole'

"THE CAGE"

[sportswatcher]

Coach, we went to every home game you had last year even before you signed local player Broadhead. We were extremetly excited when you did get her. THe Acadiana area has many prep female players that are capable of playing at the next level and they would all bring a huge support system if they were to move on to the next level and play for you at UL. My suggestion would be to try and keep getting some of our home grown ladies to come and play for you - I promise you there is talent out there to be had. This sure seems to work for Coach Robichaux and his baseball program. Note the two local signings today in the Advertiser. Lafayette tends to support its own!!

[Oldman]

Having gone to some of the Lady Cajun Basketball games I noticed that there was a whole bunch of room behind where the score keepers sit!! I think Long Gym holds 1,500 now but what if the place sells out(packs) every game this coming year, "Do we add another 500 seats or so on the vacant side"??


DaddyCajun!!!

ps Fill the stands at ALL UL Sports and cause a problem with inadequate seating so the University Officials have to add additional stands!!!!!!!

"COME AND THEY WILL HAVE TO BUILD IT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PUSH TO....................." BUY SEASON TICKETS............." come to the meeting tonight

[Turbine]

I like just plain ole'

"THE CAGE"

I like dat too.

[lxa656]

Football-----Cajun Field-----"The Swamp"
Baseball-----Tigue Moore Field-----"The Tigue"
Men's Basketball-----Cajundome----"????????"
Women's Basketball-----E. K. Long Gym----"The Rage Cage"
Softball------Lady Cajun Park-----"????????"
Volleyball------E. K. Long Gym------"???????"
Tennis------Ragin Cajun Courts-----"??????"

Any ideas for a "nickname" for these sporting places. It is not important that UL Ragin Cajun fans know the nicknames, but it is imperative that the opposing teams are reminded of exactly where they are playing.

Lady Cajun Softball field-- "the Morgue" teams come here to die!

[headragincajun]

Lady Cajun Softball field-- "the Morgue" teams come here to die!

lxa656:
I LIKE THAT "RAGE CAGE". That is pretty good. Let's add to it the word "HISTORICAL". Not sure if you know this or not, but we currently have the NATIONS 12th longest HOME COURT WINNING STREAK IN THE COUNTRY. We are 20-2 at HOME the last 2 years. with the last 15 in a row. How about "HISTORICAL RAGE CAGE". Just a thought.
Headragincajun1

[CDeb]

I would suggest "Chamber of Horrors," but it's already been used. :-)

[Pup]

"HISTORICAL RAGE CAGE"

so we can take the Rage Cage name to the Dome in a couple of years. Right ?

[BirdofParadise]

I would suggest "Chamber of Horrors," but it's already been used. :-)

I like simply "The Chamber"