Should a coach be held responsible for losing a money game?

[CajunCharlie]

_ Since neither Hudson, Fouquier or Wingerter scheduled the money games you are right they don't accept it.

I may be wrong but I think what raginWaldo is saying is that "someone" by just scheduling these games is willing to accept a loss/losing.

P$ I understand the rationale _

Turbine, I have never disagreed with any of your posts. This one I do, when you state that you understand the rationale.
I don't buy that. Granted we get a large payout, but to say that accepting these enticements means that we are willing to accept a loss is, I hate to say this, ludicrous.
You are still welcome to visit the us at the Krewe de Chew tailgating site.

[Just1More]

_ The flipside of that argument. I think you will find that the coaches DO recruit based on those games. These guys actually like the idea that they get to play in some of the top venues in the country. I don't think these kids come into our program to follow in the footsteps of others. They come in to be the difference makers and they believe that they are in fact the ones that will make the difference and that not only will they have the oppurtunity to play in Memorial stadium in Nebraska but they will change the program by coming out with a win.

Winning 2-3 games a year I believe can damage our recruiting. An even 6-6 or 7-6 record is tremendously easier to recruit with. You can walk into a kids home and tell him that he is the one to make a difference and bring this team to the next level and he can do that now instead of hoping to play his Jr. year at BCS Uni.

It is an up hill battle but it isn't impossible. Boise State did it and so can the Cajuns. It isn't about losing a couple of money games a year. Recruits understand that. They don't understand feeding at the bottom of your non-BCS conference. They want to know they come into a program that has a legitimate shot at a bowl game and the opportunity to play in some of the top venues in the country. Obviously I'm over simplifying this from the standpoint of academics, accomodations etc.

JMHO _

That is absolutely correct. These "big time game atmospheres" are attractive to many recruits. It is also our mission to improve, play competitively, and ultimately upset teams in these "money games". The point isn't that we should not play them - it is still quite necessary monetarily regardless - we need to do all that it takes within grasp of the program to improve ourselves. If we are going to play in the FBS, we have to be able to dominate teams in the over 50 ranking... and that will get us into bowls... get competitive in the 30-50 ranking... and that will get us where we could only hope to get... and play and upset top 25 teams when the opportunity arises.

To be so girlish as to want to avoid the schools that hand us our ass... BS. The only thing an ass kicking should do is make you suck it up and work harder... all of us. You want some pride??? And your idea of how to do it is to lighten up the schedule... BS!

Some of you are fairy fans. I'm sure glad you have absolutely nothing to do with deciding who we schedule and not. We don't run from a fight... we run to it. Take your ass whipping like a MAN! Men don't go find smaller men to beat up. Men get tougher and get back in the fight.

Someone has to get on here and lick your wounds for you by telling you what other teams (with fans that have big fat hairy balls) do to get better and play competitively from top to bottom!!! BS!!! Be a man... take the loss like a man! Come out fighting.

[Turbine]

_ The flipside of that argument. I think you will find that the coaches DO recruit based on those games. These guys actually like the idea that they get to play in some of the top venues in the country. I don't think these kids come into our program to follow in the footsteps of others. They come in to be the difference makers and they believe that they are in fact the ones that will make the difference and that not only will they have the oppurtunity to play in Memorial stadium in Nebraska but they will change the program by coming out with a win.

JMHO _

Jerry Babb said such when he signed.

I don't think most HS kids know what a money game is they do like the potential for competition though.

Personally I would prefer not to know the finances of a game it takes a litle of the love of football out of it for me.

[ULtimateCajun]

We need to just worry about what we can control. Can we improve? yes. Has the program as a whole under performed? IMO yes. Change is happening. If you can't see it, you are either blind or can't be satisfied. Give it time gents. We just got the RCAF going, we've got renovations in the works, our football team beat a BCS school and is getting a little bit of respect from LSU fans which has never happened in my lifetime. Is Rickey the guy for the future? I don't think so but he has gotten us to where we are now and I'm happy for now. JMO. Evaluate after the season.

[CajunProud]

_ We need to just worry about what we can control. Can we improve? yes. Has the program as a whole under performed? IMO yes. Change is happening. If you can't see it, you are either blind or can't be satisfied. Give it time gents. We just got the RCAF going, we've got renovations in the works, our football team beat a BCS school and is getting a little bit of respect from LSU fans which has never happened in my lifetime. Is Rickey the guy for the future? I don't think so but he has gotten us to where we are now and I'm happy for now. JMO. Evaluate after the season. _

Great post and I agree 100%. While I don't think Bustle is the guy to get us to the "next level", he has done a very good job considering the mess he inherited. I'll wait for final judgment until after the last play of the season.

[rhineaux]

_ Turbine, I have never disagreed with any of your posts. This one I do, when you state that you understand the rationale.
I don't buy that. Granted we get a large payout, but to say that accepting these enticements means that we are willing to accept a loss is, I hate to say this, ludicrous.
You are still welcome to visit the us at the Krewe de Chew tailgating site. _

I have to disagree with you, CC...although I think there is a little grey area somewhere in this argument.

There is a reason why one team stays home and writes a big check, and another takes a trip and cashes a big check. While teams on UL's side of the equation sometimes upset (key word) the bigger program, it doesn't happen often. They have millions of dollars, they have top notch facilities, they can afford more in the way of support staff, they make money on these games even with the check they write to their opponent, etc. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that just their take from annual bowl payouts and other payments for just being in a BCS conference is enough to cover their annual money games.

So, while the AD might think there's potential for upset when he/she schedules the game, and while the coaches and players prepare and work as though it is any other game, when the game has been played and it goes like it has the last two weeks, I'm sure that they walk away with some amount of acceptance. They may not be proud of the result, they may replay missed opportunities in their heads for a little while, but at the end of the day, they are likely aware of the nearly impossible task that was before them. And perhaps "accept" isn't the most accurate term to use, but I think that there is a vastly different feeling amongst the players, the coaches, the administration, etc when they walk out of a stadium after losing 31-3 or 55-0 to a Top 25 opponent, as compared to walking out of a stadium after losing 31-3 or 55-0 to a SBC opponent.

[zephyr]

_ Great post and I agree 100%. While I don't think Bustle is the guy to get us to the "next level", he has done a very good job considering the mess he inherited. I'll wait for final judgment until after the last play of the season. _

The question is.....What is your measuring stick? What do you use to evaluate his performance for this season? Personally, I believe that if people "expected" this team to get 7-8 wins this season, they are being only moderately delusional. I'm not saying it can't be done but to expect it with the youth on this team is just not reasonable IMO. We can all say that we will wait until the end of the season to judge, and that is the most logical process but how will many of us judge him? That is the question.

Many, if not most here believe that Bustle is probably not the guy to take us to a much higher level but do acknowledge what he's done for the program in his time here and I'm thankful for that. However, to me, this is NOT a year to judge him as he's having to mentor young QB's, RB's and WR's while having to manage another triage of injuries on defense which is to the point of humor quite honestly. I understand this and accept it and for those who simply reply that we must be able to plug new players in and expect the same production that we got from previous players is ludicrous.

It sounds like the same old quote that many people hate but......I will wait until after next season to judge. The defense will be the best we've had here with their blend of speed and experience along with lots of depth and the skill positions on offense will have had a year to gel and improve and I think the offense will be worlds better next year. While I won't expect 8 wins unfortunately due to OOC games against Ole Miss, OK state and Georgia, I will expect us to win conference and 7 wins for sure.

[zephyr]

_ I have to disagree with you, CC...although I think there is a little grey area somewhere in this argument.

There is a reason why one team stays home and writes a big check, and another takes a trip and cashes a big check. While teams on UL's side of the equation sometimes upset (key word) the bigger program, it doesn't happen often. They have millions of dollars, they have top notch facilities, they can afford more in the way of support staff, they make money on these games even with the check they write to their opponent, etc. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that just their take from annual bowl payouts and other payments for just being in a BCS conference is enough to cover their annual money games.

So, while the AD might think there's potential for upset when he/she schedules the game, and while the coaches and players prepare and work as though it is any other game, when the game has been played and it goes like it has the last two weeks, I'm sure that they walk away with some amount of acceptance. They may not be proud of the result, they may replay missed opportunities in their heads for a little while, but at the end of the day, they are likely aware of the nearly impossible task that was before them. And perhaps "accept" isn't the most accurate term to use, but I think that there is a vastly different feeling amongst the players, the coaches, the administration, etc when they walk out of a stadium after losing 31-3 or 55-0 to a Top 25 opponent, as compared to walking out of a stadium after losing 31-3 or 55-0 to a SBC opponent. _

I think it is pretty obvious that this is accurate by comments made by Bustle after the LSU game. He was proud of the team and especially "happy" that our team was upset they lost. I think that says something if the head coach is pleased to see his team was upset with a loss. I'm not bashing it, I'm just making an observation so i think there is some level of understanding from coaches and administrators with games like this. Also, if we were to win, they would note how monumental the win would be for the program and their excitment with the outcome which doesn't come with a game that you "expect" to win.

[Frenchie35]

_ Well, unless you have an extra $50-$100,000,000.00 to drop into our Athletic Department then your statement is useless. _

We need about 50 rich bastards in this community to fork over that amount each and every year......And that's only $5mil if they give the larger amount. I remember reading about three or four years back that the team east of us needed funds to improve on a couple of athletic complexes. They sent the word out that they needed three to hand over $1mill each and several others to fork over $500K each. No peace meal of what you can give to help. They needed the big donors......I think they got it.....Now if we can convince the locals here with the big bucks to keep it in our (their) community instead of sending it east...

[Turbine]

_ We need about 50 rich bastards in this community to fork over that amount each and every year......And that's only $5mil if they give the larger amount. I remember reading about three or four years back that the team east of us needed funds to improve on a couple of athletic complexes. They sent the word out that they needed three to hand over $1mill each and several others to fork over $500K each. No peace meal of what you can give to help. They needed the big donors......I think they got it.....Now if we can convince the locals here with the big bucks to keep it in our (their) community instead of sending it east... _

That (donations) can and will happen when UL strings together a few back-to-back winning seasons.

Money games cost you money in the long run. They are like borrowing from a loan shark.

jmo