Magic number for a bowl game is... 8?

[locoguano]

Seems to be 8 wins or a conference championship.

We have OSU and UF scheduled for next year. While it would be nice to say that we can hang with these guys, anyone who thinks we are there yet is delusional. Our only chance is that one of them has a REALLY BAD day and we have a great one.

So with the high probability of an 0-2 record against the BCS schools, that means UL has to go 6-2 in the rest of their games to become bowl eligible.

Is there no way to offset the payoff for these BCS rent-a-wins so we can schedule some fellow mid-majors and work our way into the polls with several consecutive seasons of high # wins?

<--- love this guy

[locoguano]

Just to clarify.. I'm not complain.. I'm asking some of the folks on here who are connected enough to know the $ numbers.

[CrazyCajun]

We went 8-4 this year with 2 money games and we didn't win the conference, Arkansas state went 10-2 with their money games. We just had a million dollars cut from athletics due to budget cuts. Money games aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Donate RCAF.

[RaginWaldo]

If you still aren't convinced UL has the talent to atleast compete with Florida or OK St. then you sir, are the delusional one.
Time to start believing in the future of this program...and the future is now!

[leeman]

If you still aren't convinced UL has the talent to atleast compete with Florida or OK St. then you sir, are the delusional one.
Time to start believing in the future of this program...and the future is now!

I agree with you.... UL is becoming more competitive every year.. Hey, every Great program has to start from somewhere!.. right?... Geaux Cajuns....

[Turbine]

I predict a 2012 win over OSU.

[NOCajun]

Florida was 6-6 this year and barely made a bowl game. They're probably at least another year off before gaining any further prominence so I think they're ripe for an 'upset' in the feaux-swamp...

Question for Loco: Why do you say the magic number is 8? Is there a rule-change I didn't hear about??

[awadelewis]

Consistently having 8-4 seasons is the baseline for success as a mid-major - that means you're splitting your OOC games at 2-2 and gives you that 2 game cushion in conference. That's why Larry Blakeney's had such a long tenure up at Troy; he's been able to guide that program to that record more often that not recently. But the margin between 8-4 and 4-8 is razor thin...

That said, next year isn't a bad time to be playing both Florida and OSU. It'll be rebuilding years for both and we'll be returning a bunch of people on offsense. OTOH, we're going to be replacing some key people on defense due to graduation. But I can see us getting an upset at either of those games.

[VObserver]

8 is the magic number because with 8 wins, a team will rarely NOT get a bowl game. UL is virtually guaranteed the NO Bowl with 8 wins, barring very unusual circumstances.

[CajunRebel]

Our magic number for next year is 6.

The New Orleans bowl only has to take the SBC champion 2 out of every 4 years. They took us last year so they can (and almost certainly will) take us again next year if we get bowl eligible again with 6 wins.

[HoustonCajun]

Our magic number for next year is 6.

The New Orleans bowl only has to take the SBC champion 2 out of every 4 years. They took us last year so they can (and almost certainly will) take us again next year if we get bowl eligible again with 6 wins.

Maybe, but our expectation level is up after this year and 8 should be our minimum expected wins. We have to start thinking big and winning big if we are to move our program forward.

[Boomer]

Well here are some magical numbers for the Cajuns---+15K which was the increase over the largest crowd that the NO Bowl had ever had----45K the number at the game that put the NO Bowl in the middle group of bowls attended this year-----Now looking at the number to qualify and that remains at 6----now looking at the chances of getting there which will be much tougher this year and this is why-----remember that we crept up last year on EVERYBODY and were very lucky to win some games therefore (ergo) those wins will come through harder circumstances----also except for PEE Wee we were VERY fortunate in injuries-----Our defensive side of the ball will be hurt a lot by graduation---the kicking game should be good on FGs but again who will kick off???? As far as punting goes we are OK but if you talking about punters look at LSU and TECH. that is field position---On Offense we lose an All-American of which we Cajuns don't have often---------And now the Bright side---On Defense we do return some really good players and I trust HUD to fill in some areas with damn good surprises----I guess our receivers are as good as anybody's--Off line all back---look for backs to be pretty good---G-Chay and B-Way at QBs will be fine---How about the coaching staff of which all I think are staying---this is tremendous as we take our schemes and add to an existing playbook with a lot more things to help----We should beat Southern and Tulane we certainly can---We should be picked to lose by about 17 points against Fla and Okie ST---Everybody will be better in conference but so should the Cajuns---I think that we have 6 home games and if we win 5 we should get to 1-2 of the conference road wins----Now we are at 6 or 7 wins and that puts us in NO again and that is magic for me!!!! Nothing under 10K is acceptable for our spring Game!!!!!!