New Orleans Bowl good deal for Cajuns

[moorecajun]

There is one other fact that can be missed by some of our fans. The New Orleans Bowl "payoff" is much more than just the money they pay us. The "payoff" for a more or less local NO Bowl will be recruiting more local fans, more New Orleans area recruits and potential recruits getting to attend the game, selling season tickets, and Cajun stuff.

NO Bowl is a super deal if we can get it.

That's the way Crawfish; looking at the BIG picture!

[Crowley Cajun]

There is one other fact that can be missed by some of our fans. The New Orleans Bowl "payoff" is much more than just the money they pay us. The "payoff" for a more or less local NO Bowl will be recruiting more local fans, more New Orleans area recruits and potential recruits getting to attend the game, selling season tickets, and Cajun stuff.

NO Bowl is a super deal if we can get it.

And that's exposure that's priceless.

[RaginWaldo]

That was a very good and factual article. Talk of going to a "bigger" bowl is just silly. I think we owe it to the New Orleans Bowl to go there and represent our conference with pride AND totally demolish the attendance record. Remember, the New Orleans Bowl being created is what got our conference into bowl games.

On another note; I was looking for the thread listing UL's attendance figures for both Cajun Field records and Sun Belt records. Would that poster please update that info; I know we now have a new top record for the Sun Belt, but I know FAU opened their new stadium and had a good sized crowd. Thanks.

I think the majority of this fanbase thinks way to small STILL
Everyone was thinking rebuilding...no one believed in instant success. now everyone thinks New Orleans Bowl is the best bowl for the cajuns??? honestly If we went the distance I would be a bit disappointed that it would be the New Orleans bowl playing against the slums of the Conference USA. wouldnt you want to see us play Houston in a bowl game?? if Houston goes undefeated I can gaurantee you they wont want to play in the New Orleans bowl...and honestly i dont care where the cajuns will end up I will be attending the game no matter what state it is in!

People stop thinking so small and try to envision how big this program can go. In a sense, if you think all the Cajuns can get is the New Orleans Bowl as the best deal then you have the same mindset as the people you always hate, the people you always say look down on....UL is in Division I football just like LSU and the only way to get on the competitive level as them, is by thinking big and playing big....It starts with an Idea...My idea is competing with an instate rival.... how about you?

The New Orleans Bowl took the cold shoulder to a bowl eligible Ragin Cajuns team 4 times and "we owe it to the New Orleans Bowl"....please We had one of the most electric offenses with Fenroy, Desormeaux, Chery and deserved atleast 1 bowl game with those guys....We don't owe New Orleans bowl anything

[Hammer58]

I think the majority of this fanbase thinks way to small STILL
Everyone was thinking rebuilding...no one believed in instant success. now everyone thinks New Orleans Bowl is the best bowl for the cajuns??? honestly If we went the distance I would be a bit disappointed that it would be the New Orleans bowl playing against the slums of the Conference USA. wouldnt you want to see us play Houston in a bowl game?? if Houston goes undefeated I can gaurantee you they wont want to play in the New Orleans bowl...and honestly i dont care where the cajuns will end up I will be attending the game no matter what state it is in!

People stop thinking so small and try to envision how big this program can go. In a sense, if you think all the Cajuns can get is the New Orleans Bowl as the best deal then you have the same mindset as the people you always hate, the people you always say look down on....UL is in Division I football just like LSU and the only way to get on the competitive level as them, is by thinking big and playing big....It starts with an Idea...My idea is competing with an instate rival.... how about you?

The New Orleans Bowl took the cold shoulder to a bowl eligible Ragin Cajuns team 4 times and "we owe it to the New Orleans Bowl"....please We had one of the most electric offenses with Fenroy, Desormeaux, Chery and deserved atleast 1 bowl game with those guys....We don't owe New Orleans bowl anything

My understanding of the past missed opportunities or as you characterize it "cold shoulder" from the NO Bowl were due to the 7 before 6 rule that was in place at the time and the conference tie-in rules. In those instances the NO Bowl did not have the option of picking us. In each of those instances, had we taken care of business and not blown a game we should have won in the second half as we did year after year we would have hit the 7 win mark and then we would likely have been in NO.

[moorecajun]

I think the majority of this fanbase thinks way to small STILL
Everyone was thinking rebuilding...no one believed in instant success. now everyone thinks New Orleans Bowl is the best bowl for the cajuns??? honestly If we went the distance I would be a bit disappointed that it would be the New Orleans bowl playing against the slums of the Conference USA. wouldnt you want to see us play Houston in a bowl game?? if Houston goes undefeated I can gaurantee you they wont want to play in the New Orleans bowl...and honestly i dont care where the cajuns will end up I will be attending the game no matter what state it is in!

People stop thinking so small and try to envision how big this program can go. In a sense, if you think all the Cajuns can get is the New Orleans Bowl as the best deal then you have the same mindset as the people you always hate, the people you always say look down on....UL is in Division I football just like LSU and the only way to get on the competitive level as them, is by thinking big and playing big....It starts with an Idea...My idea is competing with an instate rival.... how about you?

The New Orleans Bowl took the cold shoulder to a bowl eligible Ragin Cajuns team 4 times and "we owe it to the New Orleans Bowl"....please We had one of the most electric offenses with Fenroy, Desormeaux, Chery and deserved atleast 1 bowl game with those guys....We don't owe New Orleans bowl anything

I don't think too small, but I do deal with facts. It has been mentioned in this thread many times about the other bowls, their contractual obligations and their payouts. In your opinion, you may think the Las Vegas Bowl is a "bigger" bowl than the New Orleans Bowl; let's just say it was. Is their payout guarateed money; no, they will send the university X amount of tickets. What you sell is what you get. Do you think you will see 30,000 cajun fans in Las Vegas? Do you really?

It has also been mentioned in this thread that the rules have changed. A 6 win team and a 7 win team carry the same weight. That wasn't the case when the Cajuns won 6 games. So we have never been snubbed by the New Orleans Bowl.

Differing opionions are good; that is what makes people think. But we are not thinking "small". We are building a resume. We are making money for our team and our conference. Ask the other Sun Belt teams how they fared financially in their bowl games. Ask UConn how they fared financially in their "big" bowl game a year or so ago.

Let's go to New Orleans, have fun, make some money for the school, get a win and build our resume.

[Arkstfan]

I think the majority of this fanbase thinks way to small STILL
Everyone was thinking rebuilding...no one believed in instant success. now everyone thinks New Orleans Bowl is the best bowl for the cajuns??? honestly If we went the distance I would be a bit disappointed that it would be the New Orleans bowl playing against the slums of the Conference USA. wouldnt you want to see us play Houston in a bowl game?? if Houston goes undefeated I can gaurantee you they wont want to play in the New Orleans bowl...and honestly i dont care where the cajuns will end up I will be attending the game no matter what state it is in!

People stop thinking so small and try to envision how big this program can go. In a sense, if you think all the Cajuns can get is the New Orleans Bowl as the best deal then you have the same mindset as the people you always hate, the people you always say look down on....UL is in Division I football just like LSU and the only way to get on the competitive level as them, is by thinking big and playing big....It starts with an Idea...My idea is competing with an instate rival.... how about you?

The New Orleans Bowl took the cold shoulder to a bowl eligible Ragin Cajuns team 4 times and "we owe it to the New Orleans Bowl"....please We had one of the most electric offenses with Fenroy, Desormeaux, Chery and deserved atleast 1 bowl game with those guys....We don't owe New Orleans bowl anything

New Orleans has NEVER had the opportunity to select the Cajuns therefore there has never been a "cold shoulder".

2005. New Orleans was the only bowl tie-in the conference had and they had to take the league champion. Arkansas State won the tie-breaker.

2006. Troy was the champion and had to be selected. Louisiana was 6-6 which was not "bowl eligible" under NCAA rules. It was an exception that a 6-6 could be selected if needed to honor an pre-existing primary bowl contract, the Sun Belt had a bowl eligible champion (Troy) and they could not be released to make UL the team.

2008. Same scenario as 2006, only difference was the confusion over the Memorandum of Understanding. Despite some assertions that the league messed this up, the problem was simple. The MOU obligated Birmingham, St. Pete, or Shreveport to take a Sun Belt team if "bowl eligible". Neither Arkansas State nor Troy was "bowl eligible". No mess-up, no mistakes. Just the cruel fate of bad luck colliding with the NCAA Rule Book. Some have claimed the bowls would not have honored no matter what, but the Birmingham officials were present at the Arkansas State - Troy finale prepared to offer Troy an invitation if ASU won and had clinched the New Orleans Bowl.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has wanted UL in since day 1. The only reason UL hasn't been in, is because UL has never given them the opportunity to select UL.

[RaginWaldo]

I don't think too small, but I do deal with facts. It has been mentioned in this thread many times about the other bowls, their contractual obligations and their payouts. In your opinion, you may think the Las Vegas Bowl is a "bigger" bowl than the New Orleans Bowl; let's just say it was. Is their payout guarateed money; no, they will send the university X amount of tickets. What you sell is what you get. Do you think you will see 30,000 cajun fans in Las Vegas? Do you really?

It has also been mentioned in this thread that the rules have changed. A 6 win team and a 7 win team carry the same weight. That wasn't the case when the Cajuns won 6 games. So we have never been snubbed by the New Orleans Bowl.

Differing opionions are good; that is what makes people think. But we are not thinking "small". We are building a resume. We are making money for our team and our conference. Ask the other Sun Belt teams how they fared financially in their bowl games. Ask UConn how they fared financially in their "big" bowl game a year or so ago.

Let's go to New Orleans, have fun, make some money for the school, get a win and build our resume.

....OK, just hate to see an 11-1 or 10-2 team play the New Orleans Bowl...but Economically it IS better so I see the side of the argument....I guess I just get impatient and forget to take baby steps too

[Arkstfan]

I don't think too small, but I do deal with facts. It has been mentioned in this thread many times about the other bowls, their contractual obligations and their payouts. In your opinion, you may think the Las Vegas Bowl is a "bigger" bowl than the New Orleans Bowl; let's just say it was. Is their payout guarateed money; no, they will send the university X amount of tickets. What you sell is what you get. Do you think you will see 30,000 cajun fans in Las Vegas? Do you really?

It has also been mentioned in this thread that the rules have changed. A 6 win team and a 7 win team carry the same weight. That wasn't the case when the Cajuns won 6 games. So we have never been snubbed by the New Orleans Bowl.

Differing opionions are good; that is what makes people think. But we are not thinking "small". We are building a resume. We are making money for our team and our conference. Ask the other Sun Belt teams how they fared financially in their bowl games. Ask UConn how they fared financially in their "big" bowl game a year or so ago.

Let's go to New Orleans, have fun, make some money for the school, get a win and build our resume.

Most Sun Belt teams traveling to the New Orleans Bowl have needed to sell about 4,000 tickets to break even. There are not many bowls you can go to and break even on 4,000 tickets sold. A few years ago the Las Vegas Bowl told the Pac-10 that they would be willing to drop the requirement that the Pac-10 buy $350,000 worth of tickets but they would drop the payout from $1million to $650,000. Same money. Pac-10 said no thanks we prefer announcing a $1million payout.

If people want a big New Orleans payout on paper, the accounting is easy to finagle.

UL, if the fans will buy from the Cajun ticket office, has a chance to make more money in the New Orleans Bowl than the CUSA champ will make in the million plus Liberty Bowl.

[wcd35]

I think the majority of this fanbase thinks way to small STILL

Then the majority of fans are sheep and dont understand how bowls work. That doesnt mean we have to cater to their ignorance. What good is going to any bowl that's not a BCS or prestigious non-BCS bowl (Cotton, Cap One, etc) if we're going to lose money out the wazoo. Is there really more name recognition for going to the Texas Bowl than the NO Bowl where we will pack the house and likely end up in the black. Nearly every other bowl will put us in the red.

The New Orleans Bowl NEVER gave us the cold shoulder. Reasons have been posted numerous times about the number of tie ins the conference had in the past and how the champ had to go there. Other bowls gave us the cold shoulder and took other 6 win teams at times. Other times they took the 7 win team because they were obligated. Yet you still beat this drum. What's so hard to get about that? And that's not to mention the financials listed below.

[Arkstfan]

....OK, just hate to see an 11-1 or 10-2 team play the New Orleans Bowl...but Economically it IS better so I see the side of the argument....I guess I just get impatient and forget to take baby steps too

Why?

1999 9-3 Boise State wins Humanitarian Bowl in their own stadium (first Boise bowl appearance)
2000 9-2 Boise State wins again in Humanitarian
2001 Boise misses a bowl thanks to La.Tech, who turned down a trade that would have sent Tech to New Orleans, Colorado State to Silicon Valley, opened Boise for the Broncos and would have sent MTSU to Boise.
2002 11-1 Boise again plays and wins at home.
2003 12-1 Boise goes to the not any more prestigious Ft.Worth Bowl to play TCU at the Horned Frogs field and wins.
2004 11-0 Boise goes to the Liberty, first "upgrade" in game they had made. Lose to Louisville.

Boise never thought playing in bottom tier bowls was beneath them. While other schools were getting a "bowl experience" seeing a new city and getting to travel, they were sitting in their dorm rooms until the night before the game except when they had to go to a banquet across town.

[moorecajun]

....OK, just hate to see an 11-1 or 10-2 team play the New Orleans Bowl...but Economically it IS better so I see the side of the argument....I guess I just get impatient and forget to take baby steps too

Boy are WE ALL with you on the impatient part! WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS AND WE WILL ROCK NEW ORLEANS!

I agree with you on wanting to "show off" our team to a wider television audience should we wind up 11-1 or 10-2. But that is part of building our resume. If we go to New Orleans, bring 30k (or even more) fans and win, next year, with a good record we will have bowl representatives in our stands at home games!

That is a good thing.

[RaginWaldo]

Boy are WE ALL with you on the impatient part! WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS AND WE WILL ROCK NEW ORLEANS!

I agree with you on wanting to "show off" our team to a wider television audience should we wind up 11-1 or 10-2. But that is part of building our resume. If we go to New Orleans, bring 30k (or even more) fans and win, next year, with a good record we will have bowl representatives in our stands at home games!

That is a good thing.

I agree with both You and ArkSt.
I really feel like we can pull 45-50k to new orleans and I would love to see the SEA of Red in the stands!
I think that is the first time Ive ever used see and sea in the same sentence in my life lol