Scheduling . .

[Cajunsmike]

_ Scheduling. LIke it or not at least being in the Sun Belt or any conference gives you some stability in scheduling. At least we have our schedule completed or almost completed by this time of the year and have some sense of what the following year's schedule will look like. As an independent I can remember going late into the summer sometimes still not knowing what the completed schedule for football was going to look like for that season. _

How about the non football sports? Scheduling would be a nightmare for these sports as everyone else is in a conference. Also, there would be a financialy penalty for leaving the conference. Additionally, how would you recruit anyone for these sports without an opportunity to get in the NCAA tournament. Regarding football, Without a bowl game to shoot for, recruiting would be a nightmare. Teams we would field would be similar to what we had in Stokley's last two years. Even worse, as we would not have a Brandon Stokley. Let me assure you, independence would be a nightmare scenario. Brainstorming is fine, but this is one of those ideas that would be immediately eliminated in a meeting type setting.

[Parrott]

When a team is in a conference, it gets a guaranteed share of television and bowl revenues. Scheduling is also much easier and helps establish rivalries.

The only way to survive as a I-A football program is to have a large alumni base and an automatic bowl-in.

Notre Dame has it. So does Army and Navy with agreements with the EagleBank Bowl.

All three schools have no money or scheduling issues. (Navy and Army are fully funded by the federal government.) So there's no incentive to join a conference.

UL is not as fortunate.

[wgwillis]

_ Would someone remind me just what Wrong Waters or the SBC have done to benefit UL? This godforsaken wannabe conference is our only apparent lifeline, but sometimes I wish we were just an independent (with understanding of all the pitfalls that brings). I sometimes wonder if we might have a better chance of getting in a new conference (when reallignment comes about) with standalone success as an independent. We aren't having much success as a conference member. And when we do, like being co-confernence champions in football, we still don't get to a bowl game. And, softball certainly didn't need the SBC to earn its success. The SBC has no revenue generation for its members that I am aware of, unlike other 1A conferences. Is scheduling the major obstacle? Can that be easily overcome? Would freedom in football scheduling allow for a much more attractive schedule with greater attendance and more revenue generation? Can we generate more credibility as a 1A program than we currently have as a SunBelt member? Is this pie in the sky thinking or can anyone see any value in independent status? _

I agree. I do not think Waters is good for UL. He obviously wants to take advantage of us. Perhaps we should lobby for a Commissioner with more perspective and when the time is right I think we should bolt.

[Just1More]

_ Would someone remind me just what Wrong Waters or the SBC have done to benefit UL? _

We can't blame the SBC for our issues. The SBC isn't exactly launching us, but like Josh says, we need a conference affiliation... and right now, no choice but the SBC for UL. We have no excuse other than ourselves (the university) for not being better in the Belt. We have to win the Belt in football before we have any legitimate claim to complaining about what they haven't done FOR us. JMO

[Zeebart21]

_ We can't blame the SBC for our issues. The SBC isn't exactly launching us, but like Josh says, we need a conference affiliation... and right now, no choice but the SBC for UL. We have no excuse other than ourselves (the university) for not being better in the Belt. We have to win the Belt in football before we have any legitimate claim to complaining about what they haven't done FOR us. JMO _

Oh, I think we can narrow it down a bit more, J1M.....

[BrudaCajun]

_ Oh, I think we can narrow it down a bit more, J1M..... _

You can blame me. My gf always does and it seems to work out!

[RaginFan2]

_ You can blame me. My gf always does and it seems to work out! _

Done! Thanks for that Bruda! Now we can go on enjoying Cajun sports without pointing any fingers.

[RaginCajun2010]

according to jay, there isnt even 250 people there....wow.

[DestinCajun]

_ When a team is in a conference, it gets a guaranteed share of television and bowl revenues. Scheduling is also much easier and helps establish rivalries.

The only way to survive as a I-A football program is to have a large alumni base and an automatic bowl-in.

Notre Dame has it. So does Army and Navy with agreements with the EagleBank Bowl.

All three schools have no money or scheduling issues. (Navy and Army are fully funded by the federal government.) So there's no incentive to join a conference.

UL is not as fortunate. _

Aren't you utterly amazed at these "fifth column" posts questioning and criticizing our conference membership?

I mean does one need even the IQ of a pecan to realize that if not for the SBC, UL would be a "football independent" and we would all be fans of a certifiably dead D1a program.

What a complete, utter waste of time.

[RCAJUN90]

_ Aren't you utterly amazed at these "fifth column" posts questioning and criticizing our conference membership?

I mean does one need even the IQ of a pecan to realize that if not for the SBC, UL would be a "football independent" and we would all be fans of a certifiably dead D1a program.

What a complete, utter waste of time. _

I think they are still upset with Wrong Waters which we all should be. We need to get out of the Belt asap and yes that includes jumping to the WAC. Right now however I think we are lucky to be in the Belch. Our programs are all pretty terrible. We haven't moved up at all in the Belch. Being an Independent would be mean death to Ragin Cajun sports.