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

[CajunProud]

_ 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 _

Spot on.

Our out of conference games should be against teams from CUSA and the MAC. These are teams that we have a legitimate chance of beating year in and year out.

[CajunProud]

_ 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. _

Excellent points.

My measuring stick is not necessarily the amount of wins this year, but how we play and execute on the field as well as the types of recruits we bring in. While I have been impressed with the way we have played thus far, I still have some major concerns with the coaching staff. For example, in the LSU game when we had the ball on the goal line and we chose to run up the middle on 4 straight attempts, this was pure idiocy. I don't know who did the play calling, but it didn't make any sense. This is the type of thing that concerns me and is really what I will base a majority of my opinion on as to whether Bustle should stay or go. I am not convinced that Bustle has the "coaching" ability to get us to the next level. I do feel that his fate should be decided at the end of this year though.

[4LSU]

Perhaps a better question would be, should fans be held responsible for a coach being required to play two money games a year?

[NOCajun]

Perhaps a better question would be, should fans be held responsible for a coach being required to play two money games a year?

While I may not like your affiliation, I have to agree with you. As long as we conrtinue to NOT sell out a 31,000-seat stadium, even when the team is GOOD, we will conrtinue to have to play "money-games". Also, as long as the head coach at this University (no matter WHO IT IS!) draws a salary that's lower than dirt and gets only minimal support from the U and it's fans... (A caveman could draw the appropriate conclusion here.)
igeaux.mobi

[Turbine]

_ 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. _

Charlie you can disagree with me all day and I will still love you and think you are the best.

When I said "P$ I understand the rationale" the "$" in ps was for I understand the rationale of scheduling money games.

However I also feel this scheduling model (business model) very much "accepts a loss" to say otherwise is akin to the claiming you saw and liked the "Emperor's new clothes."

I understand the business model in that "you need the money to get by" but let's face it this business model will force you to live paycheck to paycheck. It accepts a loss.

jmo

[DrumRoll]

_ Perhaps a better question would be, should fans be held responsible for a coach being required to play two money games a year? _

That's a resounding YES...

Provide the support, attendance, and peer pressure on the administration...but be a fan and do your part to help, prior to exercising your right to complain.

Money games become part of an "impressive schedule" at a more advanced level of football program development, but for now they are a "necessary evil" for UL.

[anhil8tor]

I sometimes wonder about our fans. I've been there home game after home game for a few years now. I drag two kids out there along with my wife regardless of weather and see the same fans out there week after week. I have seen the student section close to empty on many occasions. I have seen the upper deck and other side of the stadium almost empty as well. I wonder... will UL ever get the support? Does anyone really care anymore? Is going to a cajun game something that people get excited about?

[Just1More]

_ I sometimes wonder about our fans. I've been there home game after home game for a few years now. I drag two kids out there along with my wife regardless of weather and see the same fans out there week after week. I have seen the student section close to empty on many occasions. I have seen the upper deck and other side of the stadium almost empty as well. I wonder... will UL ever get the support? Does anyone really care anymore? Is going to a cajun game something that people get excited about? _

I'll tell you a little secret. It isn't the fans. It's the management. You have passionate fans... and even they are individuals with individual thoughts. The rest of anyone's fanbase is make up of ever growing concentric circles of fans. The farther out in the circle, the more the system has to offer them excitement and winning for their continued involvement.

We have a very respectable core of passionate fans. We are missing the many circles of fans that a terrible management system cost us. You cannot blame those people in my book. And more than I find them blameless... I know without a doubt you do not attract them back with all of our ranting about how ashamed we are of them.

We are on a slow move upward IMO. That does not attract those additional circles of fans. When the move up final surpasses an achievement worth their notice... they will show up. Again... you can get as frustrated as you choose to make yourself... but we had many years of really poor vision at the helm... and we paid a big price in football.

I absolutely hold no one in the "future fanbase" to blame for being unmotivated. You apparently do not know their history. We have had huge supporters that the university let down. You are fortunate to EVER get back off the ground when you've done that. EVER.

[DrumRoll]

I have seen the student section close to empty on many occasions.

I have no idea what typical student participation levels are, but it does seem that fewer students attend football games at UL. I have seen this anomally and discussions around it at schools that are drive thru campuses with a large percentage of commuter students. Is this part of UL's problem? Maybe it's an optical illusion because the student section is so large in comparision to other schools?

When activities that heavily feature students are going on, it seems to be the place to be, what role do activities play?

Maybe our marketing research on what fans want, needs to begin with the students? After all, they will become the future generation of UL supporters and fans, let's get it right...

[CajunProud]

_ I'll tell you a little secret. It isn't the fans. It's the management. You have passionate fans... and even they are individuals with individual thoughts. The rest of anyone's fanbase is make up of ever growing concentric circles of fans. The farther out in the circle, the more the system has to offer them excitement and winning for their continued involvement.

We have a very respectable core of passionate fans. We are missing the many circles of fans that a terrible management system cost us. You cannot blame those people in my book. And more than I find them blameless... I know without a doubt you do not attract them back with all of our ranting about how ashamed we are of them.

We are on a slow move upward IMO. That does not attract those additional circles of fans. When the move up final surpasses an achievement worth their notice... they will show up. Again... you can get as frustrated as you choose to make yourself... but we had many years of really poor vision at the helm... and we paid a big price in football.

I absolutely hold no one in the "future fanbase" to blame for being unmotivated. You apparently do not know their history. We have had huge supporters that the university let down. You are fortunate to EVER get back off the ground when you've done that. EVER. _

Ding, Ding, Ding. We have a winner.

Perfect example. I sent an e-mail to Julie Dronet over a week ago regarding the marketing survey asking if they would include me. As of today's date I have not received a response. Not a, "Thanks for inquiring.", or even a "Kiss our _____."