Louisiana softball searching for consistency as Sun Belt play continues

[Mark Hemphill]

Mark. I always appreciate your comments and I agree with you on recruiting strategy going forward.

Here's what I'm thinking. For 25 years, coach Aly attended the major tournaments across the country. She was very successful recruiting and signing top players.

What allowed her to be successful on the recruiting trail, was the fact that she had an "A" enblazoned across her chest and players wanted to play for Alabama.

I'm afraid, if she is attending those same tournaments as head coach of the Cajuns, that may be a mistake. The coaches sitting next to her from, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Tennessee and on and on are simply fishing for the big fish with much more desirable lures. Lures that dangle money for the big fish to take a gulp of. Because of that, coach Aly is fishing in the wrong pond and is not going to get a bite.

So, maybe she should go to lesser tournaments in which she will be competing with similar anglers using the same bait. That way she might snag a relatively unknown player, and turn her into something special.

Rory, most of these big time tournaments have 100 teams attending them. Most travel rosters have 14 players on them. That's 1400 girls playing in the same general area at the same time. When Aly is attending these big tournaments, she really isn't there to recruit any of the top 100 players. She'll say hello to them and stay in touch with their travel ball coaches (that's who most coaches really recruit from). She is there to look at the other 1,000 or so girls to see if she can't identify a hidden gem that was passed on by the P4 coaches. The only problem with finding a hidden gem and developing them these days is that the P4 schools look at the G5 schools and see what players are tearing it up. They then swoop in with an offer that many find hard to turn down. There is currently a freshman on the UL roster that has been a hidden gem so far this year. I wouldn't be surprised if a P4 swoops in and makes her an offer at the end of the season. It definitely sucks to be a G5 school that develops talent.

[CajunSID]

I wouldn't be surprised if a P4 swoops in and makes her an offer at the end of the season. It definitely sucks to be a G5 school that develops talent.

That is what cripples this program. Nothing a coach can do to prevent until the rules change or the P4s finally outspend themselves to bankruptcy.

This current model cannot go on forever, but it will destroy many programs before it is done.

[JMV JustMyView]

Call it what you want, but, I don't think you can deny that there's a difference between recruiting a player to play at Texas Tech and recruiting a player to play at UL.

Aly may be able to offer a player a partial scholarship and $10,000. And, that's a big maybe. Texas Tech can offer a player a full scholarship and $150,000 or more. Much more.

If you are that player, where are you going? It's just what softball and all other college sports have become. And, it's sad.

I believe all of the softball team is on full scholarship at UL. I do agree with you on the money, UL just doesn't have it.

[JMV JustMyView]

Rory, most of these big time tournaments have 100 teams attending them. Most travel rosters have 14 players on them. That's 1400 girls playing in the same general area at the same time. When Aly is attending these big tournaments, she really isn't there to recruit any of the top 100 players. She'll say hello to them and stay in touch with their travel ball coaches (that's who most coaches really recruit from). She is there to look at the other 1,000 or so girls to see if she can't identify a hidden gem that was passed on by the P4 coaches. The only problem with finding a hidden gem and developing them these days is that the P4 schools look at the G5 schools and see what players are tearing it up. They then swoop in with an offer that many find hard to turn down. There is currently a freshman on the UL roster that has been a hidden gem so far this year. I wouldn't be surprised if a P4 swoops in and makes her an offer at the end of the season. It definitely sucks to be a G5 school that develops talent.

I agree. That's why I said retaining will be even more of a challenge than getting them on campus.

[JMV JustMyView]

That is what cripples this program. Nothing a coach can do to prevent until the rules change or the P4s finally outspend themselves to bankruptcy.

This current model cannot go on forever, but it will destroy many programs before it is done.

The big dogs will not out spend themselves.

[JMV JustMyView]

Rory, most of these big time tournaments have 100 teams attending them. Most travel rosters have 14 players on them. That's 1400 girls playing in the same general area at the same time. When Aly is attending these big tournaments, she really isn't there to recruit any of the top 100 players. She'll say hello to them and stay in touch with their travel ball coaches (that's who most coaches really recruit from). She is there to look at the other 1,000 or so girls to see if she can't identify a hidden gem that was passed on by the P4 coaches. The only problem with finding a hidden gem and developing them these days is that the P4 schools look at the G5 schools and see what players are tearing it up. They then swoop in with an offer that many find hard to turn down. There is currently a freshman on the UL roster that has been a hidden gem so far this year. I wouldn't be surprised if a P4 swoops in and makes her an offer at the end of the season. It definitely sucks to be a G5 school that develops talent.

I wouldn't be surprised if an offer came, but I would be surprised if she leaves.

[ridinsuicide]

With the proposal of the new rule change to the portal window you could see some changes. If adopted, effective immediately the portal window will shorten to 15 days instead of 30 (June 8th - 22nd). Theoretically giving less time for Athletes and Coaches to tinker in the portal. However, my assumption is that will just encourage more tampering and talks will begin well before the portal window to circumvent the system. While it happens now to an extent, I can tell you being in that world it is pretty rare. At least in my experiences (although I follow the rules and never try to put a Coach in a bad spot by going outside the lines).


On the recruiting talks, these D1 Coaches travel to the major events not only to find kids (actually very rare that they attend a tournament to "find kids" although it does happen at times by being there) but instead, it's to evaluate a PSA that they have already identified play against National high level kids that they will ultimately be facing in College. They want to see them compete against the best for a true evaluation. In fact, most build their recruiting schedules around travel ball programs they deal with and where those teams will be playing.

Many in this thread have been spot on with several things mentioned. Development, development, oh and did I mention development? LOL Here is what I believe the keys to success in today's world for G5 teams are and will be (outside of a portal transfer gem cause that has to always be in play). Many Louisiana kids want to be close to home. I have seen it for some time (and even more so with the introduction of the portal), many that go off and play at out of state programs end up back at home so I would always keep my eyes on those kids.

Find the best in-state kids you can possibly recruit that have the tools to compete at the highest level, bring them in and develop. Yes, you run the risk of a P4 coming in to swoop them up however, a local kid playing for the Coach and University will be a little harder to steal. (This is not absolute but the best shot at retention) I am also not saying to only recruit local kids as you have to find the best kids regardless of where they are from, just giving my opinion.


Also with being in Louisiana specifically, outside of the best Louisiana kids you can get I think you live in Texas. Texas softball, due the population is one of the hottest softball areas in the Country in today's world. You can recruit 2nd and 3rd tier kids there that are as good as anyone else in the Country. There's a reason my team's play our entire schedules in Houston, Dallas and College Station and it's to face some of the best teams in the Country right next door. In addition, we also play and have played in the National events (Colorado, Indiana, California, Georgia, etc.) to face the best kids we can possibly face.

[JMV JustMyView]

With the proposal of the new rule change to the portal window you could see some changes. If adopted, effective immediately the portal window will shorten to 15 days instead of 30 (June 8th - 22nd). Theoretically giving less time for Athletes and Coaches to tinker in the portal. However, my assumption is that will just encourage more tampering and talks will begin well before the portal window to circumvent the system. While it happens now to an extent, I can tell you being in that world it is pretty rare. At least in my experiences (although I follow the rules and never try to put a Coach in a bad spot by going outside the lines).


On the recruiting talks, these D1 Coaches travel to the major events not only to find kids (actually very rare that they attend a tournament to "find kids" although it does happen at times by being there) but instead, it's to evaluate a PSA that they have already identified play against National high level kids that they will ultimately be facing in College. They want to see them compete against the best for a true evaluation. In fact, most build their recruiting schedules around travel ball programs they deal with and where those teams will be playing.

Many in this thread have been spot on with several things mentioned. Development, development, oh and did I mention development? LOL Here is what I believe the keys to success in today's world for G5 teams are and will be (outside of a portal transfer gem cause that has to always be in play). Many Louisiana kids want to be close to home. I have seen it for some time (and even more so with the introduction of the portal), many that go off and play at out of state programs end up back at home so I would always keep my eyes on those kids.

Find the best in-state kids you can possibly recruit that have the tools to compete at the highest level, bring them in and develop. Yes, you run the risk of a P4 coming in to swoop them up however, a local kid playing for the Coach and University will be a little harder to steal. (This is not absolute but the best shot at retention) I am also not saying to only recruit local kids as you have to find the best kids regardless of where they are from, just giving my opinion.


Also with being in Louisiana specifically, outside of the best Louisiana kids you can get I think you live in Texas. Texas softball, due the population is one of the hottest softball areas in the Country in today's world. You can recruit 2nd and 3rd tier kids there that are as good as anyone else in the Country. There's a reason my team's play our entire schedules in Houston, Dallas and College Station and it's to face some of the best teams in the Country right next door. In addition, we also play and have played in the National events (Colorado, Indiana, California, Georgia, etc.) to face the best kids we can possibly face.

Just keep pushing UL to your kids and I am good. They have a kid at one of the local high schools that is really good and probably needs to get linked up with your program to get more exposure. I think this kid can play at UL.

[raginrevival]

Just keep pushing UL to your kids and I am good. They have a kid at one of the local high schools that is really good and probably needs to get linked up with your program to get more exposure. I think this kid can play at UL.

Why would anyone want to come to UL with such a positive outlook spewed on here repeatedly (hopefully you get sarcasm)? If you do not think parents, coaches, players do not read comments here then you are on crack. Your CONSTANT negativity does nothing to help the program. Questioning a decision is one thing but everyday some on here is just miserable to read and makes it sound like we are O-fer. In 1 and a half year this team went from being decimated by Glasclown to being competitive and building a strong young foundation for the future. All in this new era of NIL! Again this is 2026 not 2006 and no coach has had to face what the new coaches has had to and are facing!!!

[JMV JustMyView]

Why would anyone want to come to UL with such a positive outlook spewed on here repeatedly (hopefully you get sarcasm)? If you do not think parents, coaches, players do not read comments here then you are on crack. Your CONSTANT negativity does nothing to help the program. Questioning a decision is one thing but everyday some on here is just miserable to read and makes it sound like we are O-fer. In 1 and a half year this team went from being decimated by Glasclown to being competitive and building a strong young foundation for the future. All in this new era of NIL! Again this is 2026 not 2006 and no coach has had to face what the new coaches has had to and are facing!!!

For reference the kid that I am talking about wants to play at UL, reads this site as do her parents, and she doesn't worry about outside noise as you shouldn't either. You need to learn the difference between negativity and honesty. It's apparent that you haven't visited the message boards for other schools. This site is mild compared to most. No player will ever not sign to play with UL because of this site. It comes with the territory of being a D1 athlete. These coaches and some players are making more money than me and you, so yes they are open to criticism. I will leave you with this. Parents, Coaches and Players not only read this site, they also post on this site. I have been a season ticket holder for 30 years, please don't tell me what I can and can't say on a message board. I have always said it's best that only fans get on this site but the reality is others view it.