Track & Field

[cajun4life]

_ You guys say you know alot and brag about what you have done...... Where have you been lately? Not at the track.

I give to the United Way every year...and to UL.

U? _

Active Duty Army, deployed to Iraq in 04-06 now I am at Fort Rucker, AL so I am sorry if my priorities are on a little larger scope than just track.

[VObserver]

There are rumors, but no definite word. There is a search going on, I can assure you of that. To win conference championships consistently we have to do the same things Lancon and Cole did: get back to dominating strength and technique events, essentially the throws, jumps and hurdles. All these events are pretty strong locally, but we have to quit losing throwers to Northwestern and SLU. If we hire who I think we will we will never lose another jumper to anyone, not even SEC schools.
As far as competing Nationally, C4L is right. Use 5 or 6 full scholarships on studs in our coach's area of expertise... and fill in with kids you can get for quarter scholarships, tops and pell grants. Takes lots of help from admissions//financial aid, but it can be done.

VOB what do you think needs to happen to get back to winning conference championships? Any word on the coaching search?

igeaux.mobi

[Cajunrunner]

_ Active Duty Army, deployed to Iraq in 04-06 now I am at Fort Rucker, AL so I am sorry if my priorities are on a little larger scope than just track. _

But you see, C4L, in order to voice on opposing opinion on this matter, you MUST be at the track! What? Spending time with family when not in Iraq? What kind of excuse is that?

If you're going to question the "wisdom" displayed so often about the UL track team here, your time home from the Middle East must be spent at the track stadium.

[Cajunrunner]

_ VOB what do you think needs to happen to get back to winning conference championships? Any word on the coaching search? _

Coaching search? You mean we went into the Indoor track season and now Outdoor without a head coach? Who is acting as temporary HC?

[CajunDawgPound]

CR, UL hasn't had a head coach since Lancon. A head coach recruits, teaches, manages, empowers, handles PR, manages the budget, motivates, mentors, is a problem solver, continues to educate ones' self in the sport and keeps the program out of trouble with the NCAA. Since Lancon, UL has had a couple of care-takers making a stab at two or three of the criteria above, with the program sputtering along in "get by" mode. The latest coach resigned, and a wise admin seems to want to wait until better candidates are available.

[Sonsissymia]

_ Active Duty Army, deployed to Iraq in 04-06 now I am at Fort Rucker, AL so I am sorry if my priorities are on a little larger scope than just track. _

that, fellow boardies, is called an answer.

thanks much for your service, 4.

[VObserver]

_ Coaching search? You mean we went into the Indoor track season and now Outdoor without a head coach? Who is acting as temporary HC? _

We have an Interim Head Coach, as I am certain you are aware. She seems reasonably competent as a Head Coach so far, and has been a pretty good assistant [she coaches jumps; one of our better areas right now]. She is very cognizant that a head coaching search continues, and is aware that she is very unlikely to get the permanent gig.

[Cajunrunner]

_ We have an Interim Head Coach, as I am certain you are aware. She seems reasonably competent as a Head Coach so far, and has been a pretty good assistant [she coaches jumps; one of our better areas right now]. She is very cognizant that a head coaching search continues, and is aware that she is very unlikely to get the permanent gig. _

Thanks, VOB. I actually was not aware of the current situation and who was currently in the interm position. I do know who you are talking about, though, as I used to run into her quite often just a year ago early mornings at the track (5:30-6am). Very dedicated.

[CalcasieuCajun]

FYI:
I caught the Cajuns this past weekend at the McNeese Relays as I have a son on the team. Glaring evident was the lack of contestants in most events????? We need people in every event in order to compete and maybe score points!

Somebody with the "Powers to be" should step up and take a look at this thing soon.... It's not fair to the kids that are working hard to make a team.... JMHO!

[VObserver]

_ FYI:
I caught the Cajuns this past weekend at the McNeese Relays as I have a son on the team. Glaring evident was the lack of contestants in most events????? We need people in every event in order to compete and maybe score points!

Somebody with the "Powers to be" should step up and take a look at this thing soon.... It's not fair to the kids that are working hard to make a team.... JMHO! _

I was pretty pleased with the McNeese meet. We did well in the events that are our traditional strengths; something we have not done much in the last few years. If you are new to college track, it is not uncommon for schools to be heavy in some events and very short in others, generally being deeper in events the coaches are strong in coaching. Part of this is because there is no limit on the number of entries you can make in an event. Well there is a limit, but it is 9 in the Sunbelt Conference. So the 5 or 6 who placed in the men's javelin throw will all be able to compete [ande probably score] in the SBC meet. If we end up 1-2-4-6-8 in the javelin that is 27 points, probably a fifth of what is needed to win the Conference. That was common several years ago, as were 3 or 4 scoring in the shot 2-3 in discus and 3-4 in all three jumps, along with 3 vaulters and 2-3 decathletes. We don't need many points on the track if we can get back to that, and we are making progress.