2005-06 Basketball Preview

[DaddyCajun]

The question was rhetorical. OF COURSE they've been asked. They only want to play us in New Orleans.

We maybe should call Toolame back and remind them as of right now not even the great Tulane is able to play in N.O., maybe then they would realize the opportunity to play LOUISIANA!


DaddyCajun

[NewsCopy]

UL game moves to Stephens UALR’s Feb. 25 men’s basketball game against Louisiana is being moved to the Stephens Center and could be designated for television by ESPN. The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 25 at Louisiana's Cajundome. But that facility is scheduled to host Mardi Gras events that evening. Due to the late notification of the conflict by Louisiana, UALR was not able to accommodate alternate proposed dates. Last season, UALR beat Louisiana 64-63 on ESPN2 in the Trojans’ final game at Alltel Arena. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported on Sept. 7 that UALR hadn’t released its schedule because of this game. It’s now expected early next week. UALR officials have also remained tight-lipped but optimistic about playing the game in Little Rock. Louisiana released its schedule earlier this week, but left the UALR date as to be announced. "They [UALR] haven’t exactly been helpful in changing the game," Louisiana Coach Robert Lee told The Daily Advertiser of Lafayette. That comment irked UALR officials because Louisiana was responsible for clearing calendar dates for conference games when the master schedule was sent out to teams several months ago. The Mardi Gras parties are annual events. The rest of the story By Jeffrey Slatton

[CajunProud]

The question was rhetorical. OF COURSE they've been asked. They only want to play us in New Orleans.

Ease up. We're on the same team.

I'm sure they were asked. All I am saying is that they need to be asked again because of the hurricane.

[CajunProud]

I'll post this question here because I don't want to call J Walker and have him scold me before he even gives me a chance to explain.

Why not refurbish Blackham and just use the Cajun Dome for concerts, rodeos, etc....?

I know J Walker hates it there, but it is a great venue. Notice I said venue and not facility. There is a difference. Yes, the Cajun Dome is nicer and more fan friendly, but Blackham is a visiting teams nightmare. I remember the old days when we would pack that place and it would get noisy as hell. Visiting teams would have to sit out on the court because they couldn't hear. It would be better, or at least as good, as where Duke plays. What an advantage. Let's face it, we can't even sell out the Cajun Dome, but we would sell out Blackham every time.

I'm sure it would be expensive, but what about the FEMA money that is supposed to go to the Cajun Dome for repairs from the evacuees? Just a suggestion. I don't have the answers, just putting it out there.

[Tripple Threat]

Is Blackham owned by the University or privately owned? Who would foot the bill to refurbish? I would hate to not be able to drink beer at a game this season...

[CDeb]

I'll post this question here because I don't want to call J Walker and have him scold me before he even gives me a chance to explain.

Why not refurbish Blackham and just use the Cajun Dome for concerts, rodeos, etc....?

I know J Walker hates it there, but it is a great venue. Notice I said venue and not facility. There is a difference. Yes, the Cajun Dome is nicer and more fan friendly, but Blackham is a visiting teams nightmare. I remember the old days when we would pack that place and it would get noisy as hell. Visiting teams would have to sit out on the court because they couldn't hear. It would be better, or at least as good, as where Duke plays. What an advantage. Let's face it, we can't even sell out the Cajun Dome, but we would sell out Blackham every time.

I'm sure it would be expensive, but what about the FEMA money that is supposed to go to the Cajun Dome for repairs from the evacuees? Just a suggestion. I don't have the answers, just putting it out there.

On the surface, it's not a bad idea.

But then you mention "fan friendly."

That means: much more restrooms. Much more concession stands. No more hard bench seats. That all adds up to tons of money, and less capacity than in the "good old days."

[CajunProud]

On the surface, it's not a bad idea.

But then you mention "fan friendly."

That means: much more restrooms. Much more concession stands. No more hard bench seats. That all adds up to tons of money, and less capacity than in the "good old days."

You're right. It would take a lot of money, I guess. I don't know the answer to that. I just know that it was a great venue to whip ~~~ in. The Cajun Dome just doesn't do it for me.

Like I said, I don't know the answers. Just posing the questions.

[CajunProud]

Is Blackham owned by the University or privately owned? Who would foot the bill to refurbish? I would hate to not be able to drink beer at a game this season...

I don't know who owns the facility.

I agree with you on the beer

[Jason]

What??? No Dome Foam?????????

[lcitsh]

I'll post this question here because I don't want to call J Walker and have him scold me before he even gives me a chance to explain.

Why not refurbish Blackham and just use the Cajun Dome for concerts, rodeos, etc....?

I know J Walker hates it there, but it is a great venue. Notice I said venue and not facility. There is a difference. Yes, the Cajun Dome is nicer and more fan friendly, but Blackham is a visiting teams nightmare. I remember the old days when we would pack that place and it would get noisy as hell. Visiting teams would have to sit out on the court because they couldn't hear. It would be better, or at least as good, as where Duke plays. What an advantage. Let's face it, we can't even sell out the Cajun Dome, but we would sell out Blackham every time.

Blackham was a visiting team's nightmare because the fans cared enough to make a difference. The vast majority of students at the time of Blackham's heyday were local residents who were into the games and wanted to boost the Cajuns on to victory FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. Today's fans are there to be entertained, not to make a difference. Most current fans cheer only when there's a spectacular dunk or when the team is in trouble.
You have fond memories of Blackham Coliseum, so do I. But the Cajundome could be just as much a visiting team's nightmare if the people of this community cared enough to make it so.

[Tripple Threat]

Blackham was a visiting team's nightmare because the fans cared enough to make a difference. The vast majority of students at the time of Blackham's heyday were local residents who were into the games and wanted to boost the Cajuns on to victory FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. Today's fans are there to be entertained, not to make a difference. Most current fans cheer only when there's a spectacular dunk or when the team is in trouble.
You have fond memories of Blackham Coliseum, so do I. But the Cajundome could be just as much a visiting team's nightmare if the people of this community cared enough to make it so.

It seems that in general, UL's fans don't know when to yell and when not to yell. The football games drive me nuts, because we as a crowd yell when Babb is making audible's and don't yell when when we're on defense. I have to explain to my wife that it's important to yell when the crowd doesn't.

I sit with a h_ll of a lot of students, who you'll be happy to know, yell more than you think (or hear) at the basketball games. The only time they don't yell is when we shoot freethrows. (Although we probably should; the yelling may give a jolt to the shooting percentage.) I've never been to game where the fans yelled the whole game, sounds like Cameron Indoor. I would have liked to have been there. Maybe the local stations can put together some footage of previous games during UL's heyday; instruction to the present Cajundome/Blackham fans may be required. I'll be going to Kentucky this season to see the Wildcats play, maybe I'll learn something and possibly get Ashley Judd's phone number...

What are the chances of getting "The Dorito Girl" Ali Landry to to some advertising bits in a cajun basketball jersey?

[DaddyCajun]

You're right. It would take a lot of money, I guess. I don't know the answer to that. I just know that it was a great venue to whip ~~~ in. The Cajun Dome just doesn't do it for me.

Like I said, I don't know the answers. Just posing the questions.

To me with a land locked main campus, Long Gym is on its way out and possibly Blackham. However, prior to Blackham going down to the Dozer I think it(Blackham) would be a great UL Womens Basketball venue. Its larger than Long(to build on attendance) and it is a noisy place like Long. This to me would be a great stepping stone for the ladies program.


DaddyCajun!