2016: Alden Report Released by University of Louisiana Athletics

[GeauxCajuns]

Student Fee: is it possible to present it in a way that it is implemented in stages and delayed for 2 years from the time of the vote.

Vote now. implementation to start for the 2018-19 school year at 25.00 a semester
2019-20 50.00 a semester
2020-21 75.00 a semester
2021-22 100.00 a semster
2022-23 125.00 a semester

is something like that possible?

[Cajunologist]

Notice the Suggested Timeline on his recommendations. Many are Immediate. Others are in 2016 and some are just a couple of months away. The ball is now in your court, Dr. S. No time to screw around with this if we want Alden to continue working with us. This is UL's moment of truth.

'Immediate' was just a suggestion. We have years to get at least 1 of the things listed done.

[Duggie35]

I hate to rain on anybody's parade, but the timing of this report couldn't be any worse. It has come out just in time to see the oilfield completely shut down while the entire world heads into recession. The Great State of Louisiana is also completely broke at this time. It also comes out just as the P5 conferences are imposing the cost of pay for play on all of us.

Not to beat a dead horse, but we needed to have acted on the information in this report 15-20 years ago. As usual, our timing is a day late, and a dollar short.

We'll be doing well if we can just maintain the status quo over the next few years.

I'm not saying you are wrong or right, but don't you ever get tired of always being so pessimistic?

I bet you never drink from a full glass!!!! LOL!!!

[Cajunrunner]

That is why I don't read the Advocate.

Well if I refused to read The Advocate because of the name issue, I'd be more dependent on very sub-par new reporting related to both Louisiana government issues and our own Ragin Cajun athletics.

[fanof71]

Well, that was an investment well spent. Comprehensive and complete in its review and suggestions/plan of action...

As we have long discussed, the "Branding" of athletics and all that encompasses that single descriptive word (adjective, noun, and verb) was broken down into all of its single components from marketing, digital, new media, traditional media, sponsorship's, ad sales, in game and out of game experiences for the fans etc, etc. This report is a total and conclusive road map to the future success (off the field) of UL Athletics. Some of what I liked...

Have a multimedia group like IMG, Learfield, or others handle all sponsorship marketing. It gives UL a national reach that nearly every school in the country enjoys. They also specialize in brand licensing and other internal marketing objectives.

Improve on all of the digital/new media opportunities. Develop more content for distribution, both through traditional and non-traditional means. Folks, the media landscape is going to changing in the near future in Lafayette. KADN/KLAF etc will be put up for sale after Nexstar acquires Media General. KLFY will ride that train while KADN/KLAF will be sold to (in all likelihood) to Meredith Corp. or some other large broadcast group. Most of those don't sell, produce, and air local originated sports. The outlets you enjoy now will be gone.

The biggest advantage to a more multi media approach is in selling the brand/product to anyone in the world who has an interest. Yes, the oilfield sucks right now, but there are alumni and friends and interested parties far beyond the boundary that of Louisiana and Acadiana that would love to be a part of the Cajun Nation with donations if they were only enticed to do so....

Love all the suggestions as far as in-game experiences. "Stomp at the Swamp"...love it. Have always thought that a cajun fiddler or accordion playing the national anthem (have seen it done at softball) would be a great way to kick off any athletic event.

Finally logos and the intellectual property of the university. Personally, I like the "one and only" Ragin Cajuns campaign. My problem is that the brand of "Ragin Cajuns" while owned by UL is continually used and seen without any payment to the University. I just saw a commercial for (I think) TGI Fridays or some other QSR for a Ragin Cajun steak....How much money is the university loosing on this sort of stuff. The University of California (Cal) has a great program that sniffs out and punishes business who use all things Cal that don't pay for the use of or misuse of their intellectual property, logos, etc. This problem goes straight to the University Marketing Office...those buffoons should be fired with the release of this report.....

[CajunAmos]

Well, that was an investment well spent. Comprehensive and complete in its review and suggestions/plan of action...

As we have long discussed, the "Branding" of athletics and all that encompasses that single descriptive word (adjective, noun, and verb) was broken down into all of its single components from marketing, digital, new media, traditional media, sponsorship's, ad sales, in game and out of game experiences for the fans etc, etc. This report is a total and conclusive road map to the future success (off the field) of UL Athletics. Some of what I liked...

Have a multimedia group like IMG, Learfield, or others handle all sponsorship marketing. It gives UL a national reach that nearly every school in the country enjoys. They also specialize in brand licensing and other internal marketing objectives.

Improve on all of the digital/new media opportunities. Develop more content for distribution, both through traditional and non-traditional means. Folks, the media landscape is going to changing in the near future in Lafayette. KADN/KLAF etc will be put up for sale after Nexstar acquires Media General. KLFY will ride that train while KADN/KLAF will be sold to (in all likelihood) to Meredith Corp. or some other large broadcast group. Most of those don't sell, produce, and air local originated sports. The outlets you enjoy now will be gone.

The biggest advantage to a more multi media approach is in selling the brand/product to anyone in the world who has an interest. Yes, the oilfield sucks right now, but there are alumni and friends and interested parties far beyond the boundary that of Louisiana and Acadiana that would love to be a part of the Cajun Nation with donations if they were only enticed to do so....

Love all the suggestions as far as in-game experiences. "Stomp at the Swamp"...love it. Have always thought that a cajun fiddler or accordion playing the national anthem (have seen it done at softball) would be a great way to kick off any athletic event.

Finally logos and the intellectual property of the university. Personally, I like the "one and only" Ragin Cajuns campaign. My problem is that the brand of "Ragin Cajuns" while owned by UL is continually used and seen without any payment to the University. I just saw a commercial for (I think) TGI Fridays or some other QSR for a Ragin Cajun steak....How much money is the university loosing on this sort of stuff. The University of California (Cal) has a great program that sniffs out and punishes business who use all things Cal that don't pay for the use of or misuse of their intellectual property, logos, etc. This problem goes straight to the University Marketing Office...those buffoons should be fired with the release of this report.....

Pretty sure when we trademarked Ragin' Cajuns we only did it for athletics leaving others to do what they want with the name.

[CajunT]

Didn't we bring student fees to a vote some years back but it was shot down by the students vote?

I don't remember a student athletic fee, according to several UL System Board members it would have to go before them before it was allowed to proceed to a vote.

[CajunT]

Hell, if I'm wrong I'll admit it but I'm almost positive there is a ticket fee. Do you happen to have a list of the student fees?

Not saying you are wrong, but I did present the idea of a ticket fee and was told by a UL System Board member that it would have to be approved by them. Now there has been a facility fee that has helped build Moncla Indoor and then another for the Student Union. There may be another somewhere in there, but I haven't seen it described as a ticket fee.

[CajunT]

Serious question.. Does anyone think that the current leadership in the athletic department can successfully implement this plan? I'm guessing the part that wasn't released had a review of organizational structures as well as its capabilities.

That part of the report will never be released to the public. But there is nothing in that report that tells me we have the right person in place today to get it done. There are a number of simple matters when it comes to marketing, branding and scheduling that should have been done since day one by an athletic director and was not accomplished.

[fanof71]

Pretty sure when we trademarked Ragin' Cajuns we only did it for athletics leaving others to do what they want with the name.

Then that should change....