Predict UL's 2012 FB Record

[zephyr]

This is a very fair assessment of the unknowns. The unknowns will however become known very early this season though. I am very confident you will understand very soon, why those who have had the opportunity to see this thing close up, are so excited & blowing on the trumpet so hard. This season is going to be the greatest in the history of UL football. I promise, no one on this board will ever forget this football team.

So, you are saying that there are a select few here that truly know the unknown? Interesting. I'm so glad that there are those like yourself with intimate knowledge of the future because I truly will sleep better knowing that. I'm as optimistic as any fan in regards to our chances this season. I think we have a team that will be a force to be reckoned with in the conference but I also try to keep things in perspective. It is more the norm rather than the exception that teams on the mid-major level who have a tremendous year often take a step or two back the next year for various reasons. All signs point to continued success but for unknown variables, they can't build upon that success. This does concern me as well as some questions on defense. Our conference is very balanced and it will be a grind week in and out to put W's in the record books. My question to you is this. Since you are predicting 12-1 if I'm not mistaken, what will your response be if the Cajuns went 8-4 and a bowl win or loss. This is obviously a solid year and one to be proud of but one that falls short of your expectations. What will your response be after making such outlandish remarks?

[Bandwagon King]

So, you are saying that there are a select few here that truly know the unknown? Interesting. I'm so glad that there are those like yourself with intimate knowledge of the future because I truly will sleep better knowing that. I'm as optimistic as any fan in regards to our chances this season. I think we have a team that will be a force to be reckoned with in the conference but I also try to keep things in perspective. It is more the norm rather than the exception that teams on the mid-major level who have a tremendous year often take a step or two back the next year for various reasons. All signs point to continued success but for unknown variables, they can't build upon that success. This does concern me as well as some questions on defense. Our conference is very balanced and it will be a grind week in and out to put W's in the record books. My question to you is this. Since you are predicting 12-1 if I'm not mistaken, what will your response be if the Cajuns went 8-4 and a bowl win or loss. This is obviously a solid year and one to be proud of but one that falls short of your expectations. What will your response be after making such outlandish remarks?

First of all I predicted 11-1 & didn't make a bowl outcome prediction because I don't know who they'll play or which bowl they'll be in (although I took a guess) . Secondly, my remarks are only outlandish if you truly don't believe this football team can accomplish great things. What you are suggesting is a nice tidy little season for a nice little group of slightly immature college players with quite a bit of talent & a we're here for the girls mentality. This suggests to me that you DON'T know near as much about this group of young men & haven't used your time very well, either paying attention to those who do, or listening to them directly either one. Now I don't like calling you out, but you just didn't seem to have any problem doing the same to me. So I'm telling you right now, straight up. It's the difference between MEN & boys. This is a group of men who have come together for the purpose of challenging themsleves & each other in a way that no other UL team has EVER, do you read me? EVER has come together to challenge themselves & each other.

This team is young. They're young all right, but that isn't an excuse this time around. It's a reason. It's a reason they will do this again, & again, & again. The excuses of injuries, youth, & other vagueries for non achievement is gone with this group of young men. I expect them to come every bit as close to perfection as I have predicted, not because I am such a great soothsayer, but because I see the will in them that WILL make them the champions of this conference this season & for at least the foreseeable future. Balance be damned & balance can play a part in who will take 2nd prize. If you can't see that, then you need to get a new set of glasses Mr.

[zephyr]

First of all I predicted 11-1 & didn't make a bowl outcome prediction because I don't know who they'll play or which bowl they'll be in (although I took a guess) . Secondly, my remarks are only outlandish if you truly don't believe this football team can accomplish great things. What you are suggesting is a nice tidy little season for a nice little group of slightly immature college players with quite a bit of talent & a we're here for the girls mentality. This suggests to me that you DON'T know near as much about this group of young men & haven't used your time very well, either paying attention to those who do, or listening to them directly either one. Now I don't like calling you out, but you just didn't seem to have any problem doing the same to me. So I'm telling you right now, straight up. It's the difference between MEN & boys. This is a group of men who have come together for the purpose of challenging themsleves & each other in a way that no other UL team has EVER, do you read me? EVER has come together to challenge themselves & each other.

This team is young. They're young all right, but that isn't an excuse this time around. It's a reason. It's a reason they will do this again, & again, & again. The excuses of injuries, youth, & other vagueries for non achievement is gone with this group of young men. I expect them to come every bit as close to perfection as I have predicted, not because I am such a great soothsayer, but because I see the will in them that WILL make them the champions of this conference this season & for at least the foreseeable future. Balance be damned & balance can play a part in who will take 2nd prize. If you can't see that, then you need to get a new set of glasses Mr.

This again is where you take things well out of proportion. I NEVER said that we can't have a great season. Hell, I predicted 9-3 which in my mind is a great season. However, to assume we will beat the likes of either a Florida or OSU is premature. My main point on defense did not necessarily point to youth but rather inexperience and a lack of game exposure for many guys who will be called to action.

[Bandwagon King]

This again is where you take things well out of proportion. I NEVER said that we can't have a great season. Hell, I predicted 9-3 which in my mind is a great season. However, to assume we will beat the likes of either a Florida or OSU is premature. My main point on defense did not necessarily point to youth but rather inexperience and a lack of game exposure for many guys who will be called to action.

I aint just assuming we're gonna beat Florida if that's how you want to label it. But if we must, then it's a little premature to assume we're gonna beat Lamar or USA for that matter. I have very carefully weighed & balanced the talent, leadership, experience, focus, & desire of this Cajun squad against that of the Florida Gators & IMO even with Florida having a large home audience which can be quite intimidating for an average football team, this UL squad will go to Florida & embarrass them in front of their fan base. I just hope Florida has a good enough mark at that time for it to matter to pollsters. I guess the difference between me & thee is I actually believe that UL s better than their #34 preseason ranking given to them by the CBS pollster. Of course, then again, I have seen where this team started off the Spring & into the fall as compared to last season & realize that this schedule is actually way more condusive to a great season than last season's was.

[Just1More]

So didn't you just confirm my logic by acknowledging that all schools start slow? If this is the norm for all teams, I'm not sure why you expect such a high level from the get go. I expect a win but I also expect a slow start in the first half while we get it going in the second and pull away.

By me saying the majority of teams aren't in mid to late season form at the first of the season in no way acknowledges that "the Cajuns typically start slow". Your comment implies that "starting slow" is endemic of UL. There is no "history" for this current program. We have no idea how comparably fast or slow UL, under Hudspeth, are to start a season. And taking anything that happened under prior head coaches at UL, and applying it to this program, is simply not sound science.

[zephyr]

By me saying the majority of teams aren't in mid to late season form at the first of the season in no way acknowledges that "the Cajuns typically start slow". Your comment implies that "starting slow" is endemic of UL. There is no "history" for this current program. We have no idea how comparably fast or slow UL, under Hudspeth, are to start a season. And taking anything that happened under prior head coaches at UL, and applying it to this program, is simply not sound science.

Whatever man. I'm just telling you that regardless of the coaches or philosophies we have different from the past, these same players have proven to struggle at the beginning of the season, primarily with execution. Take that for whatever you plan to spin it form your own conclusion. I really could care less.

[zephyr]

I aint just assuming we're gonna beat Florida if that's how you want to label it. But if we must, then it's a little premature to assume we're gonna beat Lamar or USA for that matter. I have very carefully weighed & balanced the talent, leadership, experience, focus, & desire of this Cajun squad against that of the Florida Gators & IMO even with Florida having a large home audience which can be quite intimidating for an average football team, this UL squad will go to Florida & embarrass them in front of their fan base. I just hope Florida has a good enough mark at that time for it to matter to pollsters. I guess the difference between me & thee is I actually believe that UL s better than their #34 preseason ranking given to them by the CBS pollster. Of course, then again, I have seen where this team started off the Spring & into the fall as compared to last season & realize that this schedule is actually way more condusive to a great season than last season's was.

My whole argument with you is not about what I want to happen but what I expect to happen. I hope that we run the table and go to a major bowl. Would I put money on that? Not a chance. However, you speak so certainly about all of these intangible assets of our team and its players and coaches as if you can predict what will truly happen and that is what makes me just shake my head. You feel that the intangibles of our team, which you can't have any way of measuring are greater than that of a team like a Florida, OSU or any other team for that matter in our conference. I hope you are correct but it is impossible to make the predictions you've made by using explanations focusing on intangible characteristics of our program to those of other programs.

I also believe that Rome was not built in a day. I feel that we will be improved in many aspects of our program from last year but as stated earlier, we have some questions as well. I feel that a 9 win season is a great season. How about you? What will your feelings or response be to this season if we won 8-9 games which would fall short of your 12 win season?

[Just1More]

Whatever man. I'm just telling you that regardless of the coaches or philosophies we have different from the past, these same players have proven to struggle at the beginning of the season, primarily with execution. Take that for whatever you plan to spin it form your own conclusion. I really could care less.

You struck me as being bright enough to recognize the reality of it. No worries.

[Bandwagon King]

My whole argument with you is not about what I want to happen but what I expect to happen. I hope that we run the table and go to a major bowl. Would I put money on that? Not a chance. However, you speak so certainly about all of these intangible assets of our team and its players and coaches as if you can predict what will truly happen and that is what makes me just shake my head. You feel that the intangibles of our team, which you can't have any way of measuring are greater than that of a team like a Florida, OSU or any other team for that matter in our conference. I hope you are correct but it is impossible to make the predictions you've made by using explanations focusing on intangible characteristics of our program to those of other programs.

I also believe that Rome was not built in a day. I feel that we will be improved in many aspects of our program from last year but as stated earlier, we have some questions as well. I feel that a 9 win season is a great season. How about you? What will your feelings or response be to this season if we won 8-9 games which would fall short of your 12 win season?

I would be somewhat disappointed with an 8-9 win season. I would also like to let my reasons be known as to why even though most won't get past my first sentence without feigning some unbelieveable form of of exasperation. The reason I would be disappointed is because I know how high the bar is that this team has set for themselves. They don't hope to win ten games, they don't wish to win ten games, They EXPECT & BELIEVE that they WILL win EVERY SINGLE GAME they play this season. That is what has driven them in every extra step of every single run with back packs & every single extra rep in the weight room. This team has not only dedicated themselves, but committed themselves to being the very best individually & as a team they can possibly be.

This is the difference between them & everyone they play on their schedule with the exception of OSU. OSU has the same attitude, the same approach, & is about 6 years ahead of UL in this wise. That's why UL most likely won't beat OSU. But they have a very good chance of beating every one else they play. I would be surprised if they aren't favored in every other game they play this season & that includes Florida. I think the Vegas Odds makers are better than anyone at picking "intangibles" & capitalizing on them to make point spreads.

[sportsfanatic21]

I guarantee that we won't be favored in the games against Ok. State or Florida. The early future lines have us as 23 point dogs to Ok. State and 22 point dogs vs Florida. It would be a miracle if the lines were less than 20 when those games arrive.