How Recruiting and Results Work ( jmo )

[CajunShocker]

_ You can take a team of the best five star prospects from high school and they can't compete with a normal college team with experienced players, just like you can take the best college team and compete with a poor professional team.

I disagree, if you field a team of the best 5 star prospects in the country and give them a good coach, I think they would end up being one of the top 40 or 50 teams in the country. That's better than any team in the SBC right now, except for Troy. JMO

Although I don't agree with some on this board that think we have unbelievable talent waiting in the wings, I do think we have enough to compete in our conference. I think I know what is holding us back, and his name rhymes with "Hustle". Since this season is pretty much lost, I would like to see a lot of young guys get a chance to play in these last few games.

[Clutch0364]

_ I disagree, if you field a team of the best 5 star prospects in the country and give them a good coach, I think they would end up being one of the top 40 or 50 teams in the country. That's better than any team in the SBC right now, except for Troy. JMO

Although I don't agree with some on this board that think we have unbelievable talent waiting in the wings, I do think we have enough to compete in our conference. I think I know what is holding us back, and his name rhymes with "Hustle". Since this season is pretty much lost, I would like to see a lot of young guys get a chance to play in these last few games. _

I couldn'y agree more...I dont see us getting anywhere under Bustle. What happened last year, we had talent we were 4-2 and had just beat Houston who i believe ended up winning conference usa. Why did we only end up 6-6? It's all about coaching and i will argue that point with anybody. I don't see us ever being any better than a 6-6 team under Buslte and if that the best we can hope for go get a new coach who will not settle for 6-6.

[blackjack]

Well i really would like to know who the bust players are from florida. Better yet lets compare the talent recruited from florida and from louisiana. Derrick smith big time player, jason cherry big time player, johnathan decoaster solid player, chris mason said to be the best qb on the team, fred davis solid player. Ok lets talk about louisana guys. Brent burkhalter avg., mark risher avg., john huntley gave it up, mike d big time player, grant flemming solid player. as you can see on an average the florida kids are producing a little better for this program. The cajuns need to keep recruiting fla, but they also have do a much better job in state on picking the right talent from what i can see.n look bottom line cajuns are having a bad year. They are young and will be better next year. its amazing Bustle was the same coach that took this program to a conferance championship a year or two ago. Now he is not the guy. Wow its amazing how we change collors so fast. Last thing does the players in state have the grades to survive at ULL. Something to think about

[Just1More]

FYI-the top 50 D1's can afford to put all their recruits on Rivals. It makes then look even more powerful. _

Correct. And it lends to the relatively accurate comparisons at the 50 and up level. However, I will never use rivals.com as a guide to whether UL had a successful recruiting class (unless, until we get in and maintain ourselves inside the top 50). There have been some supporting studies done of rivals top 20 recruiting classes, on a running 4 year average, and the comparison to top 20 teams rankings. There are some correlations that are undeniable. Outside the top 50, the correlation to rival recruit rankings and program success starts to unravel.

I look and see if we picked up anyone that did make a national splash out of pure curiosity... but beyond that... not a gauge IMO.

_ I disagree, if you field a team of the best 5 star prospects in the country and give them a good coach, I think they would end up being one of the top 40 or 50 teams in the country. That's better than any team in the SBC right now, except for Troy. JMO

Although I don't agree with some on this board that think we have unbelievable talent waiting in the wings, I do think we have enough to compete in our conference. I think I know what is holding us back, and his name rhymes with "Hustle". Since this season is pretty much lost, I would like to see a lot of young guys get a chance to play in these last few games. _

I understand you didn't bring it up, but discussing 5 star prospects and their impact right out of school, etc... is a moot point at UL. The talk of young talent being a potential excuse is a legitimately "potential" excuse. However, have we seen enough evidence that this is the single reason for our problems this year? I have come to the conclusion, personally, that coaching has played just as big a factor in our lack of success this year.

I do buy into the concept that UL perhaps recruited significantly better in the past couple of years, and those individuals experience curve could be the cause of some existing issues. And, that next year, we could see that start to turn around in our favor.

I just have a problem with having to accept that as the entire excuse, and "wait til next year... again". If the school buys into the "youth theory" due to improved recruiting... then we will see Bustle some more. He better start figuring out how to make that young talent excel quickly and supply evidence of the "talented youth theory".

[Clutch0364]

_ I understand you didn't bring it up, but discussing 5 star prospects and their impact right out of school, etc... is a moot point at UL. The talk of young talent being a potential excuse is a legitimately "potential" excuse. However, have we seen enough evidence that this is the single reason for our problems this year? I have come to the conclusion, personally, that coaching has played just as big a factor in our lack of success this year.

I do buy into the concept that UL perhaps recruited significantly better in the past couple of years, and those individuals experience curve could be the cause of some existing issues. And, that next year, we could see that start to turn around in our favor.

I just have a problem with having to accept that as the entire excuse, and "wait til next year... again". If the school buys into the "youth theory" due to improved recruiting... then we will see Bustle some more. He better start figuring out how to make that young talent excel quickly and supply evidence of the "talented youth theory". _

Youth can be a valid excuse but whats the excuse for falling apart after a 4-2 start last year? I think like many I am just tired of hearing the same thing

[MissingMandy]

CajunShocker...you don't even have a tiny concept of what I am talking about. If you are still in the diaper phase of your life then you are way to young to understand where I'm coming from. Have a nice Thanksgiving and fun shopping at Circuit City. I am sure you are a very nice guy.

[CajunShocker]

[I put some stock in their ratings because they work hard to provide a service that can be useful to both fans and coaches].............


I'll say this once again, THEY CANNOT RATE YOU IF YOU DO NOT SIGN UP WITH THEM. That being said AGAIN, you cannot rate every member from the last recruiting class by how Rivals or Scout rated them, because not all of them signed up.

MM, I don't think next year can get here fast enough for either or us or our sons!!!

I believe we covered this. I would not bet my life savings on rivals ratings, but the ratings do have SOME validity.

I hope as much as you that next years team is loaded. But I will have to see it first.

[CajunShocker]

CajunShocker...you don't even have a tiny concept of what I am talking about. If you are still in the diaper phase of your life then you are way to young to understand where I'm coming from. Have a nice Thanksgiving and fun shopping at Circuit City. I am sure you are a very nice guy.

May I ask why you are taking this so personally?

Apparently, since I have no experience in the recruiting process and that my kid is too young, I have no business speaking on this subject. Sorry to anyone I offended. In the future I will try to keep my opinions to myself.

I guess we will just have to wait until next year ....... again! Is anyone else tired of hearing that? Oh sorry, that was dangerously close to an opinion.

My love and respect to all cajun athletes and all they go through for us fans. Remember, it is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. As long as everyone has fun.

That felt good.

[Cowboy Up]

I find this thread rather interesting, because every year a discussion arises about "are UL, La Tech, ULM recruiting the same players as McNeese or NWST?" That will always be open for vigorous debate ( we really wanted Kory Raymond to be a Cowboy). However, I can say this with some degree of certainty that McNeese coaches had a great deal of respect for your "recruits." We felt coming into the game that UL's front six on defense (4 down lineman & 2 corners) were as good as any mid-major program we had previously faced. For McNeese to be successful in its offensive scheme, it was believed that we had to exploit the linebackers and the safeties. It was reasonably successful; however, UL took away our "lateral" game do to the pursuit of the corners.

On defense, we felt that if we could take away the zone read running game with Fenroy/Desormeaux we would stop the passing lanes and force UL to stay "one-dimensional". It worked for us. However, if UL had used more "mis-direction" it waould have greatly comprised our scheme and our speed. UL did it once with the touchdown scored by #18 ( I think).

This excercise is not meant as an insult to the UL team or the fans, but a view from a competitor of our fears when playing you guys. We could not compete with your depth, your home field, and your lateral speed. We had to take away what you did best, protect the football, and hope we could survive. We got lucky on one night and that one game changed the fortunes of two football programs.

So, I guess my point is that I do not feel that firing Ricky Bustle will solve the current problems in the program. Any new coach will have to build with what is left in players. Sometimes that is good; sometimes that is bad. I think UL has good recruits but poor execution. There does not seem to be redundancy in the offense and defense. . . in a word depth. When you can build that depth during reps in practice and in games, you build confidence into the young talent that is already there. Losing Hundley was big because his talent (pro style passer) causes an opposing team to change defensive schemes that they had not practiced for. Depth requires good position coaches that know what their specialty can bring to a game. Versatilty and the ability to adapt to game changes are the real key to good coaching. Does Bustle and his staff have it? I don't know. But, losing 4 key coaches from the previous year has probably changed the dynamic with game preparation. Remember, coaches have to have the proverbial "chemistry" before the team can.

UL has 30% of its players from out-of-state. it takes strong coaches to get these kids from various backgrounds to play as a team. I think that is all that is lacking. The "we" is greater than the "I". Can UL build the depth for next year? Maybe. Its going to take good chemistry and for coaches to challenge the players to get to the next level. Can it by done? Yes. Appalachian St. did it to Michigan. Bustle needs to start now . . .I think he has the kids to do it; he just needs to tap in to all who are there in the program.

To all UL fans, please forgive my long-winded dissertation. McNeese fans have more respect for your program than you will ever know.

[CajunGuru]

I find this thread rather interesting, because every year a discussion arises about "are UL, La Tech, ULM recruiting the same players as McNeese or NWST?" That will always be open for vigorous debate ( we really wanted Kory Raymond to be a Cowboy). However, I can say this with some degree of certainty that McNeese coaches had a great deal of respect for your "recruits." We felt coming into the game that UL's front six on defense (4 down lineman & 2 corners) were as good as any mid-major program we had previously faced. For McNeese to be successful in its offensive scheme, it was believed that we had to exploit the linebackers and the safeties. It was reasonably successful; however, UL took away our "lateral" game do to the pursuit of the corners.

On defense, we felt that if we could take away the zone read running game with Fenroy/Desormeaux we would stop the passing lanes and force UL to stay "one-dimensional". It worked for us. However, if UL had used more "mis-direction" it waould have greatly comprised our scheme and our speed. UL did it once with the touchdown scored by #18 ( I think).

This excercise is not meant as an insult to the UL team or the fans, but a view from a competitor of our fears when playing you guys. We could not compete with your depth, your home field, and your lateral speed. We had to take away what you did best, protect the football, and hope we could survive. We got lucky on one night and that one game changed the fortunes of two football programs. _

I think this discussion comes up every year in concerns of UL and McNeese recruiting the same prospects. In Louisiana, they do cross each other in recruiting. In the area of skilled positions, the Cowboys have recruited athletes that can play in the Sun Belt. Louisiana has too many athletes that are not qualified and the top athletes are going to high mid-majors and BCS programs. In the Lafayette area alone we have kids like Figaro, Broussard, Porter, Ausberry and others that are not eligible, but have the athletic ability to play in the Sun Belt. These kids are going to end up at state schools, just like Lawrence and Jim did at McNeese St. In Texas, both programs have crossed each other as well. In Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, the Cajuns are recruiting against Sun Belt, CUSA and MAC programs. Until the Cajuns start winning, we are not in the top four choices for kids in this state.