2008 Bowl Season Louisiana Snubbed by Indi Bowl

[Clutch0364]

I am as frustrated as everyone else about this whole situation but it is time to move on.

Were we as deserving or even more deserving than a few teams that got in? No doubt about it. This is not a knock on North Ill. or FAU because all they did was get invited. If they played the politics better than we did, more power to them. We should have done the same thing.

Did LA Tech have something to do with keeping us out? Maybe but if we would have handle our business and got to 7 wins it would not have mattered.

Did Wright Waters screw the conference? BIG TIME! His head should be on a platter for the mess he created but once again if we had handled our business it would not have mattered.

Should we have scheduled an FCS opponent to get to that 7 win mark? Maybe but our schedule was not that difficult. We played well against Illinois and Kansas State and I believe those games gave us some momentum the rest of the way through. We played a very weak schedule and still couldn't get to 7 wins so once again we have no one to blame but ourselves.

We can place blame on numerous people/groups but it will not do us any good because we still won't be in a bowl game. Truth be told we have no one to blame but ourselves for not winning that 7th game. It is very easy to place the blame on Tech, the Indy Bowl, Wright Waters, or whoever else you want to blame but we didn't handle our business and that is why we are sitting at home this bowl season. I feel bad for these seniors but time heals all wounds and I am sure this set back will make them stronger.

I do believe the conference needs to create rules on bowls within the conference. No reason the 4th place team goes bowling over the 2nd and 3rd place team. BUT there is not a rule so congrats FAU, I hope you pull it off against Central Michigan.

[Bankruptcyman]

At least the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post got it right:

"Although the Sun Belt learned last week that the agreement with the Independence and PapaJohns.com bowls only applies to Sun Belt teams with at least seven wins, the Shreveport-base Independence insulted the conference by taking a 6-6 MAC team over a team in its own state."

It nice to see some other conference members understand the Independence Bowl decision was not only a slap in the face to the Cajuns but to the entire Sun Belt conference.

[Big Nasty]

bankruptcyman,

I don't think the State provides any financial assistance to the Independence Bowl Foundation (IBF). The City Of Shreveport had to loan the IBF $594,410 just so they could make the bowl team payouts to Colorado and Alabama before 3-31-08.

The IBF has lost over $300K in 2007 and $450K in 2008. PetroSun backed out as the title sponsor as the IBF has no sponsorship right now that I'm aware of. With no title sponsor, the Indy Bowl is not receiving the $1,000,000 + which was agreed upon by PetroSun through 2012.

I have the Independence Bowl Foundation financial statements and Legislative audit which was done on 2-29-08. If anyone wants to review the Audit, just send me a PM.

In my opinion, unless the IBF reaches an agreement with a title sponsor REAL SOON, like within the next 2-3 months, then I see them losing close to $1M after this years Bowl game and the Independence Bowl will be no more.

Sad to see all the politics affecting the Indy Bowls decision to offer bids to LA Tech and NIU. They need $$$$ in a bad way and ticket sales will be abysmal .

FWIW, I will never forget the 2000 Independence between Miss ST and Texas A&M played in blizzard like conditions. Jackie Sherill's Bulldogs ended up beating RC Slocum's Aggies 43-41 in OT.

[CajunZ1]

_ I feel bad for these seniors but time heals all wounds and I am sure this set back will make them stronger.

Much like the crowd in basketball must stand until the cajuns make a shot...

I will remain upset until basketball wins 2 games in a row.

THESE ARE MY TERMS!!!!

[Bankruptcyman]

I have barely slept in 2 days. I would like to move on, but I just can't.

[Clutch0364]

_ Much like the crowd in basketball must stand until the cajuns make a shot...

I will remain upset until basketball wins 2 games in a row.

THESE ARE MY TERMS!!!! _

Ouch! Your terms are pretty tough considering what we have seen so for this year lol After my last final on Friday i will drink a cold Bud-Light and I promise I will not think about not being in a bowl game

[Clutch0364]

_ I have barely slept in 2 days. I would like to move on, but I just can't. _

I haven't slept much either but it has nothing to do with a bowl game lol Finals are a -----!

[Turbine]

Funny how standings affect everything in college football.

Everthing from the BCS Championship, to bowl representation.

Standings have a hand in everthing. UNTIL you get to the bottom rung on the totem pole ???


igeaux.mobi

[DestinCajun]

_ I don't think NIU sends any more than 1000 to the game. We used to play them when we were in the Big West and they did not draw very well then. It is simply too far away and Shreveport not enough of a destination city for their fans to travel. _

If there was a MAIN reason for the Independence Bowl to pick UL this is it - simple dollars and cents economics.

We would have bought far more tickets than No Ill. will and we would have used far more hotel and motel rooms in the area not to mention far more visits to (what they call) restaurants and their casinos up there. As an example, I'da taken a party of 7 for 2 days.

I also believe a UL LATEX match up would have been of more interest to the local sports fans as well - an old fashion North La. vs. South La. skatfest.

LATEX could play Northwestern St. or Evangel in Shreveport and draw more than LATEX vs. NIU will.

[Clutch0364]

_ Funny how standings affect everything in college football.

Everthing from the BCS Championship, to bowl representation.

Standings have a hand in everthing. UNTIL you get to the bottom rung on the totem pole ???


igeaux.mobi _

I guess there are exceptions to everything right Turbine?