UL "12th man" instrumental in getting New Orleans Bowl bid

[Just1More]

I'm tired of the references to "fair weather, bandwagon, diehard, true" fans... as if they adequately describe all fans. If you're a fan, you're a fan. Only you decide which category you want to be in. There are way more types of fans than the old ones and the new ones. And every participating fan is the "12th man". As to what put us in the New Orleans Bowl... everything that led up to the success we are having. Personally, as for the definition of the most important fans... I leave that up to the athletes on the field to define who they believe are the "most important" fans.

The NO Bowl committee has wanted the Cajuns ever since the day they started that bowl and had the SBC as a tie-in. It didn't just start this year. We were expected to win the SBC way back then, by anyone that knew "the potential" of our program (and fans), and the fact that most SBC teams were start-up FBS programs. We were always regarded as the NO Bowl committee favorite. So, our latest situation is not what has the NO Bowl giving us the nod. They have been dying to try to get us an offer. We just didn't qualify. Now... we qualify... and they can invite us.

The fans that were around in the Bustle years, for instance, helped build the IPF, helped start RCAF, helped get the new turf in Cajun Field... and much more. It is a little disingenuous not to acknowledge a lot of effort from those years being a big assistance to the current success. Those fans were not just around during "the bad years". We had "building years" and don't think for a second that those fans were not responsible for making the management move things in the current direction. Think differently... you'd be very, very wrong.

Everyone is welcome to be a fan. You decide what kind of fan you are. No one else.

[Bandwagon King]

I'm tired of the references to "fair weather, bandwagon, diehard, true" fans... as if they adequately describe all fans. If you're a fan, you're a fan. Only you decide which category you want to be in. There are way more types of fans than the old ones and the new ones. And every participating fan is the "12th man". As to what put us in the New Orleans Bowl... everything that led up to the success we are having. Personally, as for the definition of the most important fans... I leave that up to the athletes on the field to define who they believe are the "most important" fans.

The NO Bowl committee has wanted the Cajuns ever since the day they started that bowl and had the SBC as a tie-in. It didn't just start this year. We were expected to win the SBC way back then, by anyone that knew "the potential" of our program (and fans), and the fact that most SBC teams were start-up FBS programs. We were always regarded as the NO Bowl committee favorite. So, our latest situation is not what has the NO Bowl giving us the nod. They have been dying to try to get us an offer. We just didn't qualify. Now... we qualify... and they can invite us.

The fans that were around in the Bustle years, for instance, helped build the IPF, helped start RCAF, helped get the new turf in Cajun Field... and much more. It is a little disingenuous not to acknowledge a lot of effort from those years being a big assistance to the current success. Those fans were not just around during "the bad years". We had "building years" and don't think for a second that those fans were not responsible for making the management move things in the current direction. Think differently... you'd be very, very wrong.

Everyone is welcome to be a fan. You decide what kind of fan you are. No one else.

Good post J1M. You make some very great & critical points, especially about the fan base that stuck it out & determined to build during really hard times. Those times are changing though. It is time for this fan base to continue to step out & make new challenges for itself & continue that momentum. There is nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing wrong with newer fans making points or coming up with ideas or challenges to help in this area, just like there is nothing wrong with older fans reminding newer fans what they had to accomplish to make the present possible. There is no denying that there is an older established fan base. This fan base shouldn't feel intimidated or insulted with the newer fan base, but should rather feel the pride of knowing that their individual as well as collective sacrifices & efforts have built the fence for those who are on said fence crowing about UL or their fandom.

[cajunhawk]

The difference between a true fan and a band wagoner is simple...the true fan is always there...ALWAYS. The band wagoner comes and goes when it is convenient.

I would like to see a push to recruit more UL alumni to come back to Cajun Field...

[Gbbaseball7]

I have become a UL fan beginning in 2007 when my son received a scholarship to play football here. I can tell you that over the last 5 seasons I have seen the ups and downs, the coaches come and go, the team play good and bad. The point is even though this is his last season playing as a Cajun he and I will always be Cajun Fans in the future. This University has grown to be a large part of our lives. That is something that will never change. As we finish this season in a Bowl game the memories will be there from day one until the present. Some good and some not so good. However you look at it, it is good to be know as a Rajun Cajun fan. In the final assessment all I can say is GEAUX CAJUNS'!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DieHard1280]

The difference between a true fan and a band wagoner is simple...the true fan is always there...ALWAYS. The band wagoner comes and goes when it is convenient.

I would like to see a push to recruit more UL alumni to come back to Cajun Field...

...especially those who have gone over to the dark side.

[Just1More]

Good post J1M. You make some very great & critical points, especially about the fan base that stuck it out & determined to build during really hard times. Those times are changing though. It is time for this fan base to continue to step out & make new challenges for itself & continue that momentum. There is nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing wrong with newer fans making points or coming up with ideas or challenges to help in this area, just like there is nothing wrong with older fans reminding newer fans what they had to accomplish to make the present possible. There is no denying that there is an older established fan base. This fan base shouldn't feel intimidated or insulted with the newer fan base, but should rather feel the pride of knowing that their individual as well as collective sacrifices & efforts have built the fence for those who are on said fence crowing about UL or their fandom.

There is no "new fanbase". There is no "old fanbase". There is a fanbase. There are so many fan splits that it's impossible to define them all. There are people that have been around for 10 years... and they sure don't identify with people that have been around for 40 years... and there's all points in between. There are new students. There are existing students that were around during a good portion of the Bustle years. There are recent alumni that are now fans. There are recent alumni that were fans since they were kids. There are people related to athletes that are recent fans. There are people related to athletes that were always fans. There are people of every age that are both new and old. There are people that used to be part of the program and are just coming back... are they "new, old, new-old, old-new"? There is just a fanbase. It moves through time and takes on and drops people. That is all. Are you trying to say that because of this recent success... that could have a bump in the road ahead... that this "new fan group" that just came on board is all made of the same super DNA? I'll call BS on that one. The latest people coming on board are future "bandwagoners, diehards, fair-weather, true"... and whatever else.

I've been around for a while as a football fan. I sure as hell don't feel "intimidated" by anyone. What are you referring to when you say that a "new fanbase" may "insult" the "old fanbase". That makes no sense whatsoever. There is no "new breed" that wants the Cajuns to win more... or knows how that gets done... or anything else. I find it kind of hilarious that anyone that just joined the fanbase would think that they are immune from the exact issues that exist for all of us. The existing fans from years back... and more years back... and the overlap of years before that... are not all the same... "old fanbase". That is just BS that is attempting to create a split that doesn't need to be made.

Do you believe that every "new fan" is in agreement with every other "new fan"... or that every "old fan" is in agreement with every other "old fan"? Not a chance. These two groups do not exist. Now... there are "existing fans" and I consider you one of them now. If you are still on the "bandwagon fence"... that is up to you.

What you don't realize even about the incident you had this year... you could have been confronted by another "new fan" that didn't like your standing and yelling and screaming all game long. I know some "new fans"... and they do not resemble you and your attitude. So, you need... and others need... to stop this divide that does not exist but in your head.

I am... just one more... fan.

[Rebel02]

Class warfare between fan bases! Bandwagon fans, fans by birth, wal-mart fans, alums who went to the dark side but are now back, etc etc! It's gonna get ugly!

[NOCajun]

The only thing I care about is that the CAJUNS are winning and the CAJUNS FANS set a new CAJUN FIELD and Sun Belt Conferfence(?) record for attendance!!!

[RaginFan2]

The only thing I care about is that the CAJUNS are winning and the CAJUNS FANS set a new CAJUN FIELD and Sun Belt Conferfence(?) record for attendance!!!

What's a "conferfence" Is that what those bandwagon fans are constantly sitting on??? LOL

[Bandwagon King]

There is no "new fanbase". There is no "old fanbase". There is a fanbase. There are so many fan splits that it's impossible to define them all. There are people that have been around for 10 years... and they sure don't identify with people that have been around for 40 years... and there's all points in between. There are new students. There are existing students that were around during a good portion of the Bustle years. There are recent alumni that are now fans. There are recent alumni that were fans since they were kids. There are people related to athletes that are recent fans. There are people related to athletes that were always fans. There are people of every age that are both new and old. There are people that used to be part of the program and are just coming back... are they "new, old, new-old, old-new"? There is just a fanbase. It moves through time and takes on and drops people. That is all. Are you trying to say that because of this recent success... that could have a bump in the road ahead... that this "new fan group" that just came on board is all made of the same super DNA? I'll call BS on that one. The latest people coming on board are future "bandwagoners, diehards, fair-weather, true"... and whatever else.

I've been around for a while as a football fan. I sure as hell don't feel "intimidated" by anyone. What are you referring to when you say that a "new fanbase" may "insult" the "old fanbase". That makes no sense whatsoever. There is no "new breed" that wants the Cajuns to win more... or knows how that gets done... or anything else. I find it kind of hilarious that anyone that just joined the fanbase would think that they are immune from the exact issues that exist for all of us. The existing fans from years back... and more years back... and the overlap of years before that... are not all the same... "old fanbase". That is just BS that is attempting to create a split that doesn't need to be made.

Do you believe that every "new fan" is in agreement with every other "new fan"... or that every "old fan" is in agreement with every other "old fan"? Not a chance. These two groups do not exist. Now... there are "existing fans" and I consider you one of them now. If you are still on the "bandwagon fence"... that is up to you.

What you don't realize even about the incident you had this year... you could have been confronted by another "new fan" that didn't like your standing and yelling and screaming all game long. I know some "new fans"... and they do not resemble you and your attitude. So, you need... and others need... to stop this divide that does not exist but in your head.

I am... just one more... fan.

Did somebody not get their milk, cookies, & a nap today? Let's not talk about fans, let's talk about supporters. I have always pulled for the Cajuns to do well. I have not always supported the Cajuns in ventures that I felt were counterproductive. You can say what you will, but being a fan is NOT the same as being a supporter of a program. There are therefore people who have been long time supporters & people who have just begun to support this program. Quit trying to put words in my mouth that I didn't speak, & quit trying to accuse me of trying to cause division, when my whole point was to say that while the old & the new have done & seen many good things done this year, there is still so much more good that can be done & we can do by pulling together instead of trying to one up each other all the time. There are a lot more goals to be achieved. If this is offensive to YOU in any way then YOU are just trying to stir crap, & I won't go any further with you down your BS road that dead ends in the middle of the town of stupity on the corner of ignorance is bliss & I'm having a bad hair day.