2011 New Orleans Bowl: LOUISIANA (32) SDSU (30)

[UL Alum93]

For three days I wore my Cajun gear in the city and it was awesome!!! I've always been proud to wear it over the years, good days / bad days, the only one in the office on wearing it week after week, etc...., but this weekend seeing the quarter in red right along side just really got to me!! Oh yeah....the game was the icing on the cake!!

[IHateLaState]

Anyway, as I was leaving, a girl (around 11 years old) came up and gave me a high five, and a little boy (about 7) came up as well and gave me a high five with their parents. The little boy asked me if I were a UL football player and I told him that I wasn't good enough to be a player for UL. What the little boy said next absolutely made my night worth every minute. The little boy told me "I want to grow up to be a UL Football Player". I talked to him a few minutes more and told him that if he worked really hard he could one day be a UL Football player. It was incredibly rewarding to see a child so excited about UL football. Its so exciting for all of us, but to see someone that young so excited about UL football was incredibly rewarding. This is the best time to be a Ragin Cajun. Our future is so bright!

Had a conversation with a friend... that went along the lines of "What does this mean to the University"... after the glow fades and we get back to life....

Several ideas came out... better recruiting... more fund raising.. etc etc.... But the idea that maybe this has created a new culture of Cajun Fans... The kid in the post above... "I want to grow up to be a Ragin Cajun football player"... Kids running up and down the hills at Cajun Field... memories of having fun at games and not being crunched into seats with 93,000 drunken idiots.... maybe they will grow and say.. I had FUN at Cajun games... THATS where I want to go....

[IHateLaState]

Yes good post.... It said what i have been saying for years... Lafayette is exploding (my term has been a Sleeping Giant) and there is no reason why we cannot be a viable successful mid-major.... On par with the So Miss's of the world....

[BirdofParadise]

I think when national heads talk about too many bowls and meaningless bowl games they forget something.

When you win a bowl game, your fans are every bit as happy as the fans who leave the stadium after winning the national championship.

The stakes may not be as high, but the euphoria is.

[Boomer]

Well as one who has never been the guy who can find the diamond in the rough---------I thought that Go-Chay stood out from the very beginning-----First time I saw him bootleg in a misdirection play I think in a Spring scrimmage I thought he could be special ---then his gun arm---then his touch throws----then his wheels---then the thing I didn't know----He is one tough dude!!!!! hey VOB where are you man????? LOL--------- Sorry I missed the family at the game Skye said the clan was impressive!!!!

[NOCajun]

I think when national heads talk about too many bowls and meaningless bowl games they forget something.

When you win a bowl game, your fans are every bit as happy as the fans who leave the stadium after winning the national championship.

The stakes may not be as high, but the euphoria is.

Well said!!!

[Turbine]

Yes good post.... It said what i have been saying for years... Lafayette is exploding (my term has been a Sleeping Giant) and there is no reason why we cannot be a viable successful mid-major.... On par with the So Miss's of the world....

But if you limit the phrase to "Lafayette" (avoid at all costs) Louisiana will never explode to its full potential.

[rgncjn12]

There's something wonderful and pure about a fan base that hasn't been jaded yet. One that's suffered for years in the desert, only to finally devour a Ritz cracker, as if it were a Ruth Chris' ribeye.

http://www.wafb.com/story/16355240/j...et-their-taste

Great article from Jacques Doucet. If he would only see the light and support his alma mater instead of bow down to LSU!

GEAUX UL!

[CajunNation]

When you win a bowl game, your fans are every bit as happy as the fans who leave the stadium after winning the national championship.

Whoa there.

Back it up BOP.

We experienced euphoria because, to us, it was euphoric simply because we have never been there.

To 90% of the bowl winners, a bowl win is just another win. Don't get me wrong. They're happy, but nowhere near the level of happiness a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP will induce.

[Geaux]

Great article from Jacques Doucet. If he would only see the light and support his alma mater instead of bow down to LSU!
GEAUX UL!

No my friend, Jacques is a Cajun to the core. Have you ever talked with him from time to time? You would be suprised how much he loves the Cajuns. The man has a job to do here in Baton Rouge, unfortunately that is to promote and cover a certain school. Over all, I have never met a more well informed "sports head". By the way, Jacques loved Coach HUD and "Da Juice" from day one.