What project would you like to see done next?

[DestinCajun]

_ Thanks for the supportive comments as you understand what I am saying. I think it is great that you guys have the volunteer days and do all that you do. My point, however, is that it is a shame that a 1A athletic program cannot keep up with simple maintenance tasks on a weekly basis and allow the athletic properties to look like crap. There is a difference, IMO, in doing some volunteer painting or stadium washing, for example, vs. having to cut grass and trim weeds. That some volunteers need to step up to do the work is to be applauded, but should be unnecessary. Every time I go to Lafayette, the grounds at the athletic complex are unkept, even CajunDome Blvd. is uncut and that is on game days. There is just no excuse for that and it shouldn't take volunteers to keep up the grounds on a daily basis and particularly on game days. We have a nice athletic complex that is improving each year. It is bad enough to have it tarnished by a lack of maintenance on the facilities. But to not have proper grounds maintenance is inexcusable and only serves to detract from the kind of image we seek. _

Alum, I was at the Ohio and McNeese games to begin the 2007 home football season and then the rest of our games and frankly the stadium and surrounding grounds/parking area were clean and maintained (outside the big expensive renovation jobs the stadium requires). Volunteers were a major contributor to the painting and cleaning done within the stadium done prior to the season and we did so gladly. But not after the season began.

Yes, I have seen occasions in the offseason when things were not "up to snuff". I even recollect mentioning the huge ugly weeds all over the gravel parking areas to Gerald Hebert and he assued me on the spot they would be dealt with before the season began. They were.

Do I want to see dollars spent to upgrade the overall appearance of our athletic complex? Absolutely I do, but I understand too we have priorities. The new indoor practice facility and the brand new playing field are just a couple of important recent ones. Things like housing, updated training facilities and enhanced academic support for athletes should top a "if money were no object" wish list.

Please be assued that Cajun athletics are not all a picture of "gloom and doom". We are indeed moving in the right direction albeit not on all fronts simultaneously and at the speed everyone might prefer.

[CajunNation]

Things like housing, updated training facilities and enhanced academic support for athletes should top a "if money were no object" wish list.

All I hear from the Academic people is that student housing is the paramount issue facing the university.

All I hear from the Athletic people is that enhanced academic support is the paramount issue facing the athletic program.

These 2 items can't be "wish list" items.

[USLJim]

first off all it ain't gonna be called CAF, its gonna be Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation RCAF.

Geaux Cajuns

[Hammer58]

_ first off all it ain't gonna be called CAF, its gonna be Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation RCAF.

Geaux Cajuns _

I don't know about that. I'm sure all the folks that try to tell us we can't use the UL abreviation because Louisville already uses it will tell us the Royal Canadian Air Force has dibs on RCAF. But if we do use it can we get one of those neat airplane logos? Afterall Gen Chenault lived here and the the first Acadians were from Canada.

[DestinCajun]

_ first off all it ain't gonna be called CAF, its gonna be Ragin Cajun Athletic Foundation RCAF.

Geaux Cajuns _

What's second of all?

[DestinCajun]

_ All I hear from the Academic people is that student housing is the paramount issue facing the university.

All I hear from the Athletic people is that enhanced academic support is the paramount issue facing the athletic program.

These 2 items can't be "wish list" items. _

Nation, please be assured the program (hideous peppers, hideous clothes, helmets, black paint, crappy shirts at Academy Sports and all) IS moving in the right direction.

PS Point me to the posts we exchanged about LaTex coach Dooley's salary. I have some related info and opinion to post.

[reddot]

Now that we have a beautiful field....I think the university should take
a bulldozer or a small controlled nuclear device to the dreadfull UL hedges
in the endzone. The straight lines of the field will only enhance the ugliness
and unkemptness of them. I know some will be offended because they
worked hard to spruce them up....well kudos for the hard work but "THEY GOT
TO GO"
Also what is the need for the fence around the parking lot?What are we keeping out or keeping in for that matter? The black spray paint makes them look a tad better but a tad better than ugly is still ugly. The brick gates are
so nice but the fence takes a bit of the luster off.

[Zeebart21]

Now that we have a beautiful field....I think the university should take
a bulldozer or a small controlled nuclear device to the dreadfull UL hedges
in the endzone. The straight lines of the field will only enhance the ugliness
and unkemptness of them. I know some will be offended because they
worked hard to spruce them up....well kudos for the hard work but "THEY GOT
TO GO"
Also what is the need for the fence around the parking lot?What are we keeping out or keeping in for that matter? The black spray paint makes them look a tad better but a tad better than ugly is still ugly. The brick gates are
so nice but the fence takes a bit of the luster off.

Upper Lafayette weighs in !!!!! HOLLA!!!!!

Z

[reddot]

Z,
We know a few things about making things pretty....ain't no
stinkin' bus station gonna drag my side of town down.
Hey, maybe we could do a land swap with greyhound. We trade
that patch of land on the endzone hill for the old greyhound station.
That way when the buses unload it will boost attendance.
This stuff is so easy.

[reddot]

Speaking of improvements.....I heard through the grapevine there is going to
be an upgrade of the video boards in the Cajundome. Supposedly there was a mention of this in the bid presented by the Cajundome for the Top 28.

Back on task. The the projects I'd like to see are

1. Clean the stadium
2. CAF
3. Improvements of living conditions for student-athletes
4. Plasma TVs and beer taps installed for UL basketball courtside seats
5. Ragin Jazz Chloe given a fifth year to dance (reshirt)