Louisiana vs Jacksonville State in 2023 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

[CrazyCajun]

Comment wasn't to demean Mike. I have been one of the few defenders of him.

The point is, even with all the "reasons" people are throwing around for lack of success, other coaches are winning in spite of them. At peer institutions. With stronger SOS. Now, Sumrall has had an experienced veteran core of players his entire time there and that certainly matters. But it's ridiculous to keep laying out all the reasons we can't win. We can win, despite the challenges, because others are figuring out a way to do it.

I think the majority of people seemingly "hammering" Des are people pushing back nonsensical takes. It should be pretty obvious to everyone that this team underachieved and things need to be shaken up.

We absolutely can win and I think Mike will, figuring out a way to do it doesn’t look the same for everyone.

[Louisiana84]

I can remember in early 2000 before Cajun Baseball made it to Omaha, I had a discussion with Coach Robichaux about sustaining growth and adding to the program. I pointed out to him the number of Cajun Baseball stickers on the back windows of vehicles at times in the parking area with TAF stickers or LSU Football stickers on the opposite side, and he said that mentality will eventually bring the rest of the athletic program down.

Regardless of the errors and lack of concern for athletics in Martin Hall for decades, the tribal mentality between UL sports programs existed even back then and it continues today. Each department was always told to go out and raise your own money, but don't contact those that are giving or have given to academics.

Fast forward to today, you have softball season ticket holders that aren't members of RCAF and don't buy football tickets. The same remains true for baseball and men's basketball. While I see a number of people that belong in support clubs for multiple sports, that number simply remains too small for sustained growth for an overall athletic program.

If every season ticket holder in softball, baseball and men's basketball purchased season tickets we would have more than enough season ticket holders in football including corporate. That's not the case and it wasn't the case when Billy Napier was here either after two seasons in the Top 25 and three consecutive seasons of 9 wins or more. Even then 43% of season tickets were corporate tickets. So, the tribalism still exists today as it did in 2000 even after Hudspeth's run and the greatest two football seasons in program history.

People have the right to spend their money on which sports you want, but don't tell me how bad things are now when you have supported one sport here at UL for most of your adult life. JMO

TRUTH

[Duckster]

We should agree its better going to a bowl game than not. There's a bunch of national exposure in advance, much like making the MBB NCAA tourney. Suppressing fan enthusiasm is going 6-6, clearly underachieving with a weak SOS. Seems like a long shot to beat a good team at this stage but you never know. Agree with others a bowl game win is still a big deal, just like it was in the Waterboy movie.

[JMV JustMyView]

It also could have worked opposite, things are clearer in hindsight. Mike isn’t very far from 22-4 either. Sumrall could be the one struggling, if we look there are samples of both sides all over the country. A guy with very similar experience as Mike is 38-14 at UTSA and is getting mention for P5 jobs, everyone thought they were crazy for hiring a high school coach too.

Mike is far from being in the area of 22-4.

[JMV JustMyView]

We absolutely can win and I think Mike will, figuring out a way to do it doesn’t look the same for everyone.

What's your time frame for Mike to win?

[Louisiana84]

What's your time frame for Mike to win?

2027... might win 8 games

[UL_Cajuns]

We are going to win this Bowl game with Bill running the ball. You can take that to the bank!

[CrazyCajun]

What's your time frame for Mike to win?

I think we will be back in the championship game within 2 years

[ULGrad@HOU]

We are going to win this Bowl game with Bill running the ball. You can take that to the bank!

Bill better be running the ball, he's our best RB, and it's clear as day. Why he wasn't starting that game is what people should be asking. Des is not playing the best players, He's too emotionally tied to his people to make the right decisions (same reason he won't make any changes on his staff). Maybe he will prove me wrong. I hope so.

[JMV JustMyView]

I think we will be back in the championship game within 2 years

So you had a time frame of four years for him to field competitive teams.