UL/Louisiana Branding

[sportsfanatic21]

I didn't question our right to do anything. I offered explanations as to why people may use the "nonpreferred" nicknames that make it ridiculous to get infuriated with them. If that means I'm getting "manhandled" or I am a "faux fan", I really don't care. This whole thing reminds me of making a valid point about Obama and getting called a racist because of it. From the second I said anything about the name, which name usage is what this thread is about, people starting jumping down my throat. The whole point of these boards is discussion. If any of you think that berating someone who isn't necessarily a fan just for using the name of the university is a good thing for UL sports or prestige or whatever, then fine, agree to disagree. The only time I made "simple minded" responses was in response to the same. The part about everyone getting mad about respect of the university was me simply pointing out that there is a process for changing the name that would end the entire name debate forever, and if the university wants it done and can't get it done right now, then obviously it doesn't have the respect or clout or whatever you want to call it to get that done. It wasn't a shot at the university, it was simply saying that if the programs continue to improve, eventually nobody would be able to stop the university from actually changing the name to what it wants. If it wasn't true, the official name of the university wouldn't be University of Louisiana at Lafayette right now as we sit here.

You obviously just don't get it. It's been explained here very well, and apparently you either don't want to get it, or you just like to argue. Just remember that it's exactly your thinking that is holding this crusade back.

One more time, the official or legal name, however you want to put it, is one thing. Branding for athletics is another. And the politics of this state (most of which is tightly tied to LSU) are not going to let that change anytime soon. The prestige of your degree, and perception nationally, something that could be a big benefit to you in your lifetime, is highly affected by the recognizable "name" of your school. And athletics is THE most recognizable advertisement for it. Again, if you're too thick-headed to realize it, then there is no need for further discussion. And to your point of people jumping up and down to fight for it, they are doing so to aid graduates of the university. You think that makes "us" look petty and are embarrassed by it, then you probably don't deserve the benefits of it later on in life. Hopefully, some day you will realize those benefits and be thankful for those that "fought the good fight" for decades. Or maybe you won't.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Justafan83, you made your point, expressed yourself, we got it. You don't have to keep repeating the same thing over and over. You obviously don't agree, but you are not changing a single persons mind. We will continue the fight for UL, in any and all ways possible, and if that at times bothers you, so be it.

[Turbine]

I didn't question our right to do anything. I offered explanations as to why people may use the "nonpreferred" nicknames that make it ridiculous to get infuriated with them. If that means I'm getting "manhandled" or I am a "faux fan", I really don't care. This whole thing reminds me of making a valid point about Obama and getting called a racist because of it. From the second I said anything about the name, which name usage is what this thread is about, people starting jumping down my throat. The whole point of these boards is discussion. If any of you think that berating someone who isn't necessarily a fan just for using the name of the university is a good thing for UL sports or prestige or whatever, then fine, agree to disagree. The only time I made "simple minded" responses was in response to the same. The part about everyone getting mad about respect of the university was me simply pointing out that there is a process for changing the name that would end the entire name debate forever, and if the university wants it done and can't get it done right now, then obviously it doesn't have the respect or clout or whatever you want to call it to get that done. It wasn't a shot at the university, it was simply saying that if the programs continue to improve, eventually nobody would be able to stop the university from actually changing the name to what it wants. If it wasn't true, the official name of the university wouldn't be University of Louisiana at Lafayette right now as we sit here.

For the record I respect you, hope you noticed.

Think of the issue this way; When someone uses ULL or some other ambiguous small minded name ... fans are not berating their "simple minded" small name digs, it is a "response to the same in kind" with accuracy thrown in lagnaippe.

[Lexhead]

A few questions for our thick-headed, knuckle dragging, "I-wanna-be-popular" A&M sycophant: Why not let us compete fairly in an open market for ideas? What is so scary about that? How could it possibly be bad for a state to have two competing flagships going toe-to-toe for prominence academically and athletically? Wouldn't that scenario produce the absolute best from both institutions? Wouldn't that competition thereby serve the citizens of the state best? Wouldn't it promote efficiency and excellence? Doesn't that seem to work well elsewhere? Your beloved A&M has an enormous head start, which we are willing to concede. We have been doing far more with much less for decades and are prepared to continue that. We can kick Tiger tail on a dime. So why not let us compete?

If you can agree with any of that, then you are going to have trouble continuing with this "know your place" line of thinking. This is a juggernaut. If we can string together a few more academic and athletic successes, we will turn the corner on this thing, and you may feel pretty silly being on the wrong side of history.

[basinbear]

I didn't question our right to do anything. I offered explanations as to why people may use the "nonpreferred" nicknames that make it ridiculous to get infuriated with them. If that means I'm getting "manhandled" or I am a "faux fan", I really don't care. This whole thing reminds me of making a valid point about Obama and getting called a racist because of it. From the second I said anything about the name, which name usage is what this thread is about, people starting jumping down my throat. The whole point of these boards is discussion. If any of you think that berating someone who isn't necessarily a fan just for using the name of the university is a good thing for UL sports or prestige or whatever, then fine, agree to disagree. The only time I made "simple minded" responses was in response to the same. The part about everyone getting mad about respect of the university was me simply pointing out that there is a process for changing the name that would end the entire name debate forever, and if the university wants it done and can't get it done right now, then obviously it doesn't have the respect or clout or whatever you want to call it to get that done. It wasn't a shot at the university, it was simply saying that if the programs continue to improve, eventually nobody would be able to stop the university from actually changing the name to what it wants. If it wasn't true, the official name of the university wouldn't be University of Louisiana at Lafayette right now as we sit here.

What you fail to grasp, multiple times I might add, is the OFFICIAL name of the University will never change:

University of Texas at Austin.................UT, Texas
University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.............Bama, Alabama
University of Tennessee at Knoxville..................UT, Tennessee

I could go on and on but why? The column on the left are the official names of the University, the column on the right are athletic acronyms, not the official name of the University. We are OFFICIALLY the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Even if we were to be declared the Flagship or Premier University of our System the name would remain the same. Our use of Louisiana is Trademarked for use in athletics. The reason that LSU, Tech and ULM along with the rest of our System Universities attack us over this matter is it 's all that they have to hold on to. We are improving and growing every day and they aren't, they are shrinking. They see this as a way to hold us back but we are reaching our goals regardless........we are The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns....we are UL

[sportsfanatic21]

justafan83,

Go to Reinhardt Drive, stop by the football office, and ask Coach Hudspeth his opinion on your comments.

[RiverRanchMan]

What you fail to grasp, multiple times I might add, is the OFFICIAL name of the University will never change:

University of Texas at Austin.................UT, Texas
University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.............Bama, Alabama
University of Tennessee at Knoxville..................UT, Tennessee

All of the above are the flagship universities of their respective systems. They are the oldest, largest & original university in their respective systems & these factors are synonymous with other universities that refer to themselves as university of "state". Also, none of the above have legal restrictions with the use of their name. Regardless of how UL wants to "brand" themselves, the use of "Louisiana" is a violation of the spirit of the law in question.

The UL administration takes a lot of heat for not promoting the name & allowing the national media to use UL-Lafayette or ULL. The administration knows they are walking a fine line using "Louisiana" & is reluctant to promote said name. In addition, the administration fears ULM will change their name again or ask the state legislature to close all loopholes in the law, which is more likely.

This is a long shot, but UL should team up with LSU & LTU and attempt to convert most, if not all, of the other four year universities in the state into junior colleges. We are too small of a state to have this many four year universities. UL, LSU & LTU would all benefit as would higher education in the state. However, we know that politics would get into the way of progress & is unlikely to ever happen.

[jumboragncajun]

This is a long shot, but UL should team up with LSU & LTU and attempt to convert most, if not all, of the other four year universities in the state into junior colleges. We are too small of a state to have this many four year universities. UL, LSU & LTU would all benefit as would higher education in the state. However, we know that politics would get into the way of progress & is unlikely to ever happen.

Agreed. Based on population, does anyone have a breakdown of other states in the south? Schools in D1, (both FCS and BCS) we have got to have a lot of teams per capita.

[Turbine]

All of the above are the flagship universities of their respective systems. They are the oldest, largest & original university in their respective systems & these factors are synonymous with other universities that refer to themselves as university of “state”. Also, none of the above have legal restrictions with the use of their name. Regardless of how UL wants to “brand” themselves, the use of “Louisiana” is a violation of the spirit of the law in question.

There is no spirit to that law. Its whole intent was to kill spirit.

By getting overly specific it left no room for spirit. It only left options. "Louisiana" is the best option.

[ManAboutTown]

All of the above are the flagship universities of their respective systems. They are the oldest, largest & original university in their respective systems & these factors are synonymous with other universities that refer to themselves as university of “state”. Also, none of the above have legal restrictions with the use of their name. Regardless of how UL wants to “brand” themselves, the use of “Louisiana” is a violation of the spirit of the law in question.

The UL administration takes a lot of heat for not promoting the name & allowing the national media to use UL-Lafayette or ULL. The administration knows they are walking a fine line using “Louisiana” & is reluctant promote said name. In addition, the administration fears ULM will change their name again or ask the state legislature to close all loopholes in the law, which is more likely.

This is a long shot, but UL should team up with LSU & LTU and attempt to convert most, if not all, of the other four year universities in the state into junior colleges. We are too small of a state to have this many four year universities. UL, LSU & LTU would all benefit as would higher education in the state. However, we know that politics would get into the way of progress & is unlikely to ever happen.

Easily your most level-headed post. Agreed on most accounts. However, there is no such thing as "the spirit" of a law. Laws are made, by definition, to get rid of grey area. It's either legal or it isn't. Branding ourselves with whatever we chose is not illegal. End of sentence.