The Book 2008 Football

[beaux66]

hey man i am not attacking your school but it is true that the SEC has set higher standards than those set by the NCAA. It is what it is. DeAndre made the requirements to play at most Ncaa schools but not the SEC. Or if he did it was really late. You guys didnt even know until after you signed him if he would clear. DeAndre probably didnt want to take that chance. I think its great that we get certain players that way. It helps even the playing field sometimes. I just said stop harping on how you got him and just be thankful that you did.

[SpreadEagle]

Supporting a coach like Bustle is a disaster for a football program. The man is clueless. To express disappointment by not attending games is certainly reasonable and to be expected. College football is a business and fans are the customers. Jeff Bower was still having winning seasons and going to bowl games, but USM fans could tell he had settled for mediocrity. That was not acceptable. The last game of the year last year against Arkansas State was very poorly attended. Our AD new it was time for a change. To settle for losing is just not being a responsible fan or alumnus.
I had a hard time understanding how in the world Bustle got a contract extension considering his poor record, but after reading some posts in this thread, I get it now.

[CajunRage]

_ Supporting a coach like Bustle is a disaster for a football program. The man is clueless. To express disappointment by not attending games is certainly reasonable and to be expected. College football is a business and fans are the customers. Jeff Bower was still having winning seasons and going to bowl games, but USM fans could tell he had settled for mediocrity. That was not acceptable. The last game of the year last year against Arkansas State was very poorly attended. Our AD new it was time for a change. To settle for losing is just not being a responsible fan or alumnus.
I had a hard time understanding how in the world Bustle got a contract extension considering his poor record, but after reading some posts in this thread, I get it now. _

Somebody gets it.

[Membertou]

If you are accepting of mediocrity, you'll get more of it. If you are accepting of losing, you'll get more of it. It isn't the least bit complicated.

[zephyr]

_ That post was directed to the LaTech fan that attacked USM on this board. Best wishes with Gustav. Hope all is well. _

Interesting. Sure seems you were attacking several of our fans on our board again...Not that it really matters anymore. I'm just sick of seeing you guys posting. I guess its just post Gustav frustration..

[HoustonCajun]

_ He will stay, but I am not sure about Gerald McRath.

Damion is a Brian Westbrook type back. He's physical, shifty, and intelligent, but lacks that breakaway speed once he makes it to the secondary to really bust out the huge runs- so he needs all four years to really pump his numbers up and show scouts what he's capable of.

Whats even more scary is that he only had 1 reception Saturday. I didn't notice that until someone on our board pointed it out. We've been hearing all pre-season how much they are going to integrate him into the passing game. I'm hoping we have a lot of surprises for Auburn. _

Good luck to USM and beat Auburn!

[CajunFun]

What are you talking about? We are discussing how to become a successful football program. You are digging way to deep to defend these guys. Bustle is paid to do his job, just as you and I are. His job is to win football games. He is not performing. If I don't perform at my job, I get fired.



Where did I say there was no reason for living? You even quoted me. I said, "There is no point in playing the game if you don't want to win." Don't put words in my mouth.

So let me see if I understand you guys.

I've spent the past 18 years trying to make education in South Louisiana-- including UL-- better. Because let's face it, education in Louisiana is still some of the worst in the US. But I'm wrong on this. I should have waited until UL and Louisiana education were already great, before I put in any effort, right?

I have constantly worked to emphasize the positives about Acadiana and UL, but you're saying I was wrong on that point? I should have complained about the deficiencies, and run down the efforts of others, until those efforts were superior-- correct?

I have put in many hours trying to support our students, faculty, coaches & staff, so that UL and Acadiana would be a pleasant, attractive place, one that would help us recruit even better students, faculty, coaches & staff. If I understand you, I should have been harping on the problems, not the positives?

So apparently, I have been in the wrong. I have worked under the concept that support for others, encouragement, and optimism motivate people to try their hardest. I have mistakenly believed that people work harder for their friends, family and community that they do for their critics.

But you have corrected me on that. People will work much harder when they are surrounded by negativity and criticism.

In short, I should not help build winners. I should wait for a winner to come along, and then get on board.

Unless I have misunderstood, you are saying character is equal to band-waggoneering. Winners are followers, not leaders.

Or did I miss something here?

[CajunRage]

_ So let me see if I understand you guys.

I've spent the past 18 years trying to make education in South Louisiana-- including UL-- better. Because let's face it, education in Louisiana is still some of the worst in the US. But I'm wrong on this. I should have waited until UL and Louisiana education were already great, before I put in any effort, right?

I have constantly worked to emphasize the positives about Acadiana and UL, but you're saying I was wrong on that point? I should have complained about the deficiencies, and run down the efforts of others, until those efforts were superior-- correct?

I have put in many hours trying to support our students, faculty, coaches & staff, so that UL and Acadiana would be a pleasant, attractive place, one that would help us recruit even better students, faculty, coaches & staff. If I understand you, I should have been harping on the problems, not the positives?

So apparently, I have been in the wrong. I have worked under the concept that support for others, encouragement, and optimism motivate people to try their hardest. I have mistakenly believed that people work harder for their friends, family and community that they do for their critics.

But you have corrected me on that. People will work much harder when they are surrounded by negativity and criticism.

In short, I should not help build winners. I should wait for a winner to come along, and then get on board.

Unless I have misunderstood, you are saying character is equal to band-waggoneering. Winners are followers, not leaders.

Or did I miss something here? _

Get this through your thick skull. We are talking about football. And from what you have been saying, you believe that if we keep ra-ra'ing, the team will magically be competitive. Come back to the real world. And stop trying to twist and turn everything everyone is saying. Nobody is buying it.

[CajunRage]

I think there are a few things you need to understand about the people on this board.

1) Anyone taking the time to come on here and post their opinions obviously cared enough to come on here and discuss.

2) Most of the people on this board regularly attend Cajun athletics, or those out of town listen on the radio. I, for one, have season tickets to football and baseball and have been attending baseball, football, basketball, and softball games regularly for the past 20 years.

3) Most of the people on this board go to games and cheer. Very seldom do you hear people booing in the stands. I can personally vouch for the crew that i go to games with.

4) No one is trying to keep the university, academics or athletics, from progressing. We are tired of watching every tom, dick, and harry around us get better while we aren't.

We care. That is why we are on this board complaining. The world we live in will not give you anything. You have to go and take it. It's time for the university to n_t up and go take it.

[rhineaux]

_ So let me see if I understand you guys.

So apparently, I have been in the wrong. I have worked under the concept that support for others, encouragement, and optimism motivate people to try their hardest. I have mistakenly believed that people work harder for their friends, family and community that they do for their critics.

But you have corrected me on that. People will work much harder when they are surrounded by negativity and criticism.

1. Remember, we are talking about sports. You have a bad habit of starting off talking about one thing, then bringing up all kinds of other crap, spinning people's words. If you want to talk about education or community, then do so. If you want to talk about sports, then do so. Don't mix the two because you are comparing to totally different things. Haven't you said before that there are more important things than sports, like Community, Education, Humanity? If so, then why do you try to include both in the same topic.

2. If Bustle would have been successful by now, then we woudln't be having this conversation. There are very few 'positives' that you can point to over the last 7 years.

3. If you're all about support and harping on all of the positives, and as you say, there are still problems with our education, etc., then maybe you should take another angle. Perhaps holding someone accountable and kicking their ass to the curb when they don't do the job should be your new MO.

People have been positive and encouraging long enough and nothing has changed. The football team still sucks. Attendance at the games suck. The coach gets skull drug up and down the field in the first week of Season 7. NOTHING HAS CHANGED with positive encouragement. Tell him to pack his crap and get out. And when you hire the next guy, you tell him that you're tired of losing and if he doesn't turn it around, he'll be shown the same door.

Hope and optimism might be enough to win a presidential election, but it surely won't win any football games.