Bowl or Bust?

[Hammer58]

_ Sorry you feel that my statement was not true.This coaching staff has been required to adhere to selective admission standards, regardless of the NCAA sliding scale.So they can take a chance on a few athletes that are close to minimum requirements. Also, the props don't count against your APR unless they become eligible. And for the record, McNeese State is doing exactly what Baldwin did in recruiting at risk student athletes. I didn't say McNeese State signed 10 to 12 props, but Baldwin.The year Jim signed, he was one of 10 athletes sitting out not eligible. My point is very simple, your staff is recruiting the same type of student athletes as Baldwin. I counted 6 props in this years class, including one that scored below a 14 on the ACT. Now nothing I have stated is a knee jerk statement.

And let me remind you that is was Cowboy fans like Keith Zem that criticized Baldwin for recruiting good athletes, but poor students. The bottomline is that if you hit one several of theses athletes, even 50% is enough to make major impacts in your program. Landry,Edmondson and Butler are three examples of exactly that my friend. They are BCS conference type athletes that are not going to McNeese State if they are eligible. _

So clear something up for me if you can, T. All of the kids that were the subject of Foote's articles about local kids wh were athletically talented enough to play D1A ball but had to settle for signing with d1aa programs were not eligble for either? And furthermore they weren't even offered by D1A programs as props because their grades were so bad? But they are going as props to d1aa programs. Is that correct?

[CajunT]

_ So clear something up for me if you can, T. All of the kids that were the subject of Foote's articles about local kids who were athletically talented enough to play D1A ball but had to settle for signing with d1aa programs were not eligble for either? And furthermore they weren't even offered by D1A programs as props because their grades were so bad? But they are going as props to d1aa programs. Is that correct? _

I would not say that they were not offered by any program. I would say that they do not meet eligiblity standards at any state university. If you don't have your core, it doesn't matter if you have a 2.8 GPA. Industrial Arts Classes, typing,etc; are not core class requirements.

[MissingMandy]

_ I would not say that they were not offered by any program. I would say that they do not meet eligiblity standards at any state university. If you don't have your core, it doesn't matter if you have a 2.8 GPA. Industrial Arts Classes, typing,etc; are not core class requirements. _

[Cowboy Up]

And let me remind you that is was Cowboy fans like Keith Zem that criticized Baldwin for recruiting good athletes, but poor students. The bottomline is that if you hit one several of theses athletes, even 50% is enough to make major impacts in your program. Landry,Edmondson and Butler are three examples of exactly that my friend. They are BCS conference type athletes that are not going to McNeese State if they are eligible.

All I know T is if we are recruiting the same type of athletes as Baldwin recruited, "Why are we winning with good support and great records and Baldwin could not?"

Also, if the higher standards that the coaching staff at UL are held sacred, "Why was Bustle visiting Alonzo Landry's mother at work the week before signing day begging for an 'in house' visit?" (to go to a JC and get qualified maybe return to UL) hmmn?

"Why did Fouquier beg Kentrelle Butler (who was offered by every state college including UL) to consider UL after Butler took an official visit?" Eligible or not, UL wanted these guys.

Perhaps there is a new day in UL football. It's long overdue. And, with 22 scholarships to offer more than McNeese you guys should NEVER lose to 1AA schools . . . . and certainly not by 21 points. That is just plain obscene.

[gridiron]

with 22 scholarships to offer more than McNeese you guys should NEVER lose to 1AA schools . . . . and certainly not by 21 points. That is just plain obscene.[/FONT]
_

Oh quit whining you only need about fourty players to field a good team. When Bustle got here McNeese had a bigger squad than UL but it doesn't matter if you have fourty or four-hundred, you can only play eleven at a time.

[RaginFan2]

All I know T is if we are recruiting the same type of athletes as Baldwin recruited, "Why are we winning with good support and great records and Baldwin could not?"

Also, if the higher standards that the coaching staff at UL are held sacred, "Why was Bustle visiting Alonzo Landry's mother at work the week before signing day begging for an 'in house' visit?" (to go to a JC and get qualified maybe return to UL) hmmn?

"Why did Fouquier beg Kentrelle Butler (who was offered by every state college including UL) to consider UL after Butler took an official visit?" Eligible or not, UL wanted these guys.

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Perhaps there is a new day in UL football. It's long overdue. And, with 22 scholarships to offer more than McNeese you guys should NEVER lose to 1AA schools . . . . and certainly not by 21 points. That is just plain obscene.[/FONT]

You are correct, sir! Of course Michigan should NEVER lose to Appalachian State either (look out LSU!) ... I guess that's why they play the games on the field, not on paper.

[CajunT]

_ All I know T is if we are recruiting the same type of athletes as Baldwin recruited, "Why are we winning with good support and great records and Baldwin could not?"

Also, if the higher standards that the coaching staff at UL are held sacred, "Why was Bustle visiting Alonzo Landry's mother at work the week before signing day begging for an 'in house' visit?" (to go to a JC and get qualified maybe return to UL) hmmn?

"Why did Fouquier beg Kentrelle Butler (who was offered by every state college including UL) to consider UL after Butler took an official visit?" Eligible or not, UL wanted these guys.

Perhaps there is a new day in UL football. It's long overdue. And, with 22 scholarships to offer more than McNeese you guys should NEVER lose to 1AA schools . . . . and certainly not by 21 points. That is just plain obscene.
_

To answer your first question, Baldwin couldn't coach. To answer your second question, I never stated that Bustle didn't talk to Landry, the difference being he offered to sign him after junior college, as did more then a few programs. A 14 ACT shouldn't get you in any state school, and public comment from the signee proclaiming McNeese State offered the best opportuntity to become eligible is not a glowing promotion of your academics. And for the record, LSU offered him to place in junior college as well. As for Kentrelle Butler, he was a heck of a lot closer then Landry and his brother played at UL, why wouldn't he be offered?

Pure numbers wise, the offers are not even close. Again, you have six props at this time from the 2008 class and had as many as 10 in the Garen Jim class. How is that any different then what Baldwin did? You staff has proven it can coach and has signed some other solid athletes as well, but I have never used it as an excuse for losing to McNeese State my friend. The bottomline is that you are getting athletes that would have never considered your program because of academics. The thought process is the same as Baldwin, the difference is the staff.

I've also been critical of several Sun Belt programs that are doing the same, including one located in Louisiana. You don't sign 10 Junior College athletes unless you are rebuilding a program or missed on a few props. Finally, this exact same conversation came up on the Rivals board Pelican Prep after the signing period and more then a few posters were critical of McNeese State. That is why Zem was on that board pleading his case. So, I'm not the first one to make this point and I won't be the last. If it works out well for you guys, then great. But let's not have a conversation about academic standards at our Universities.

[Gbbaseball7]

_ in closing i wish to leave encouragement.... it's all in front of the cajun program. time to look ahead, pick itself up, dust it's pants off, forgetting the past and God willing follow a new buck that is for us (athletics) 150% and not against us, whatever that reason (good or bad) may have been[/SIZE][/B]

good night and happy father day to you daddy's out there... _

Nicely stated.........Encouragement and SUPPORT..............Geaux Cajuns!!

[snote]

whoaa.. am i the only one waking up this morning with a gigantic smile on my face.. i think not..

i, along with many, who have seriously waited and hoped for a day like this morning..

give big time...congrats

to my buddy mr rickey bustle.. to the team he has .. to his coaches.. and to you fans of the cajuns.. i am so happy for all of you.. bil(ly) ryckman

ps. although, as i tell my young punk when he thinks he has done something good.. "do it again" .. it's alot of fun.. (smiling big and my coffee .. hardly ever after a cajun game has tasted so good )

[Crawfish]

Even though I am in Africa trying to make a living and missed the game, I am seriously proud of this team.

This seems to be the year we have been waiting for, I hope.

I will be home the day before homecoming and I will be there jet lag and all. I can't wait.

Congratulations to the team and coaching staff. This is a great day to be a Cajuns fan. Now just keep it up!