Ragin Cajun Army Podcasts

[Turbine]

Mine wasn't a critique, it was a selfish request.

[ManAboutTown]

I don't listen to as much terrestrial radio as I did when I lived in the local market but I still listen we I can through the app. I have heard credentialed hosts criticize portions of the fan base for lack of support or for opinions that said host has reason to believe a strong portion of the fan base has. I don't think I have ever heard a host make a blanket statement like "loser fan base" or make jokes and laugh about a portion of the fan base that could be considered outright discrimination (age).

Look to say "I think part of this fan base is plagued by a loser mentality" and then expand on that is fine. To say "It's concerning to see how few fans from the younger generation we have at basketball games" is fine. I think those are the points you are trying to make and there is nothing wrong with that. I was simply trying to make suggestions on cleaning some things up that I thought were rough around the edges. If you want to keep things more "harsh" as you said well go ahead it's y'alls podcast. Speaking for the more casual fan certainly has its place, but then again is it the casual fan that is taking the time to download and listen?

Mr. Hatch, I think you do a good job of making your points on the board. I understand your position.
You might be surprised to know that some of my inner most circle are old blue hairs that take those "jabs" in stride, and give me grief about it when we watch games together (which is often). The fact of the matter is, we've missed out on a generation of younger fans because people stopped caring. That's what no results and no buzz will do to a program. I think a big problem with our basketball base is that we take ourselves a little too seriously. We defend our coach in a way that borders on bizarre and definitely is too personal for the business of collegiate sports. And I'll never understand that.

As far as the "cleaning up" speach.. Listen, people are sick of the puffy drivel that has cocooned coaches and administrators for way too long in this town. I'm not trying to reach a new kind of fan, or recruit. I'm trying to speak to the fans we already have or potentially have. And the way that I feel is most effective is to A) Tell the truth in a brutal way and B) cut to the chase without the word salad as to not offend the subjects of the discussions. We need to strengthen the bond with the fans we already have, and fans that we can get back.

If I can't have a genuine conversation about what we are seeing on the field / court / diamond, what's the point? If I can't be honest about performance of coaches and admins, what's the point? No one wants an alternative outlet to become like the outlet that they are looking for another option from. Yes, I'm snarky. I've become cynical over the many years of BS. I guess in a way, my views tend to be the "rebuttal" to the propaganda. That's going to p(i)ss some of you off. I'm ok with that.

I'm more concerned with positive change in the basketball program. If y'all want to be mad at MAT, that's fine. I'd rather hurt feelings than hurt the program by constantly defending a situation that only prolongs purgatory.

[angeleast]

Well, I ve said before that a real Fan post has to be real. The elephant in the room thing. As long its not personal and such I expect A fan pod cast to speak about issues. The great, bad , good, and the terrible. The podcast is a learning as you go type of thing and I'm sure it will evolve as needed. The truth is every legit fan base has one or several. I appreciate the effort of RCA and look forward to its evolution.

[VObserver]

I am one of the old blue hairs that MAT spoke about, and so is CajunExpress. We are probably the biggest critics of both of our basketball programs, but I can assure you that it is not personal. By SunBelt standards, both of our basketball programs are very well funded and have excellent facilities. Neither of our teams is performing anywhere near the expectations we as a fan base should have, given the level of our support.

Pointing that out is legitimate criticism. So is pointinting out the fzilure of both coaches to compete well against the top of the SBC and better non conference foes. If our coaches dont want to hear criticism, all they have to do is perform to the level for which they are compensated; and not by winning 20 games against very bad teams.

[Hatch]

Mr. Hatch, I think you do a good job of making your points on the board. I understand your position.
You might be surprised to know that some of my inner most circle are old blue hairs that take those "jabs" in stride, and give me grief about it when we watch games together (which is often). The fact of the matter is, we've missed out on a generation of younger fans because people stopped caring. That's what no results and no buzz will do to a program. I think a big problem with our basketball base is that we take ourselves a little too seriously. We defend our coach in a way that borders on bizarre and definitely is too personal for the business of collegiate sports. And I'll never understand that.

As far as the "cleaning up" speach.. Listen, people are sick of the puffy drivel that has cocooned coaches and administrators for way too long in this town. I'm not trying to reach a new kind of fan, or recruit. I'm trying to speak to the fans we already have or potentially have. And the way that I feel is most effective is to A) Tell the truth in a brutal way and B) cut to the chase without the word salad as to not offend the subjects of the discussions. We need to strengthen the bond with the fans we already have, and fans that we can get back.

If I can't have a genuine conversation about what we are seeing on the field / court / diamond, what's the point? If I can't be honest about performance of coaches and admins, what's the point? No one wants an alternative outlet to become like the outlet that they are looking for another option from. Yes, I'm snarky. I've become cynical over the many years of BS. I guess in a way, my views tend to be the "rebuttal" to the propaganda. That's going to p(i)ss some of you off. I'm ok with that.

I'm more concerned with positive change in the basketball program. If y'all want to be mad at MAT, that's fine. I'd rather hurt feelings than hurt the program by constantly defending a situation that only prolongs purgatory.

Appreciate the response, sorry if it came across like I was trying to lecture you. I was just trying to give some insight from someone outside of your inner circle.

[ManAboutTown]

Appreciate the response, sorry if it came across like I was trying to lecture you. I was just trying to give some insight from someone outside of your inner circle.

It was well taken. I appreciate your thoughts. Sincerely.

[ZoomZoom]

As far as the podcast, well done in the respect of "breaking the mold" so to speak...doing something fan driven outside the norm. Not everyone will be lock step in agreement, but it's a starting point for discussion. Just remember, don't wiz on people too much that disagree with you, be it ML supporters, basketball supporters or such. They are still supporters, and if the podcast is about UL and not yourselves, you need them in you corner. You may be too young to know this, one of our older and maybe forgotten trolls back to the Delphi days, Mike, a USL student, now of Tiger Rag etc fame, stayed his course and has quite the enterprise now. Wish the same success, abet please don't be a donkey like him.

Just remember, on a few occasions we've had opponents' podcasts linked here and they were trashed pretty brutally. Expect the same, just grow thick skin and smile.

Good luck and God Bless. I'll get my blue haired self back to chasing people off my lawn.

[Turbine]

Ps historically"blue hair" referenced little old ladies who dyed their own hair.

[ULvictory]

As far as the podcast, well done in the respect of "breaking the mold" so to speak...doing something fan driven outside the norm. Not everyone will be lock step in agreement, but it's a starting point for discussion. Just remember, don't wiz on people too much that disagree with you, be it ML supporters, basketball supporters or such. They are still supporters, and if the podcast is about UL and not yourselves, you need them in you corner. You may be too young to know this, one of our older and maybe forgotten trolls back to the Delphi days, Mike, a USL student, now of Tiger Rag etc fame, stayed his course and has quite the enterprise now. Wish the same success, abet please don't be a donkey like him.

Just remember, on a few occasions we've had opponents' podcasts linked here and they were trashed pretty brutally. Expect the same, just grow thick skin and smile.

Good luck and God Bless. I'll get my blue haired self back to chasing people off my lawn.

Ah the Delphi troll ULLJimJones. How could we forget that goon?

[ManAboutTown]

As far as the podcast, well done in the respect of "breaking the mold" so to speak...doing something fan driven outside the norm. Not everyone will be lock step in agreement, but it's a starting point for discussion. Just remember, don't wiz on people too much that disagree with you, be it ML supporters, basketball supporters or such. They are still supporters, and if the podcast is about UL and not yourselves, you need them in you corner. You may be too young to know this, one of our older and maybe forgotten trolls back to the Delphi days, Mike, a USL student, now of Tiger Rag etc fame, stayed his course and has quite the enterprise now. Wish the same success, abet please don't be a donkey like him.

Just remember, on a few occasions we've had opponents' podcasts linked here and they were trashed pretty brutally. Expect the same, just grow thick skin and smile.

Good luck and God Bless. I'll get my blue haired self back to chasing people off my lawn.

Very interesting comments.

My skins are on the wall. I'm Verm & White, through and through; unabashedly so. You guys know that. Thickest skin in the Parish. Like you ZZ, I'm happy Matt started this outlet. It's gold, and it's the future of audio content. Thrilled that he asked me to be a part of it. I certainly take your guys' critiques into consideration, but I still have to be me. It's all I know how to be. I think we need to continue shining the light on things that have been ignored. One of which, is the enormous generational gap in our basketball fanbase. I know we will not always be perfect with stats, with player pronunciations or dates from 20 years ago. But as long as I'm involved, you'll get the discussions that traditional media shy away from. I am beholden to know one, so I can say certain things. I will do my best to never make it personal with anyone, but sometimes, conversations need to take place in order to advance the cause. I'll take the heat.

Please keep listening!