(09-14-2017 11:13 AM)eager eagle Wrote: (09-14-2017 09:39 AM)DETLTU Wrote: (09-14-2017 12:14 AM)BeagleUSM Wrote: (09-13-2017 08:50 PM)deb025 Wrote: Whoever made this Tech / ULM thread was trolling and I'm not mad because it's fun to do that every now and then.
Not trolling. I'm just curious. You guys played every year from 1953-1991 and some in the late 90s and then the series abruptly ended. We as a conference talk about P5 teams ducking us scheduling, but you guys won't play a G5 team that's like 30 minutes down the road. Feel like it'd be a great game for North Louisiana. Just looked it up and the largest crowd ever at Joe Aillet was for a Tech/ULM game. To me, it seems like a natural rivalry.
What's the latest on the Tech/ULL series? That going to get started up again soon?
There are actually some rumblings that we may make a deal with ULM soon. I suspect that will happen before another deal with ULL.
The problem with ULM and ULL is it holds us back and elevates them. The last ULL series worked out really well for us because ULL had done enough to elevate themselves that the games didn't bring us down or lift them up. There is a feeling in Monroe that "if Tech can do it, we can do it". We often refer to them as "Me too U". Tech replaces their field turf, ULM replaces theirs. Tech gets a videoboard, ULM gets a videoboard, Tech builds an endzone complex, ULM builds an endzone complex. We build a new pressbox, .... well ULM hasn't gotten there yet. They have put quite a strain on their resources to "keep up with Tech". For a long time, Tech would face political opposition to any improvements unless the folks at ULM could find a way to do whatever Tech wanted to do at a half step behind.
For years Tech has wanted to make their own destiny without being tied to ULM and ULL. It's the reason we joined the WAC and the reason we are where we are today.
I don't think ULM/L will ever completely accept separation but I think we have done enough to isolate ourselves from any major negative effects of playing them. I suspect a 2 game series with ULM will happen within the next 4-5 years. We still need to make the deal work out for us. The first game should be in Ruston as it will be the best attended.
A word of caution to USM. You will get their best effort. Like it or not, you are a proxy for us this year and if they can beat you it will feel almost as good to them as beating us would.
The first sentence in your second paragraph answers the original question best of all. La Tech, according to one of their recent athletic directors, is an elite team and elite program, and my words now will do nothing they think will enhance the ULL program.
The reason for this is that Tech is located in the wasteland between Monroe and Shreveport. They have no tv stations, only 6-7 legitimate motels, only a rag for a local newspaper, no airport, small town, etc. They are mostly a commuter school and pulling in fans has been a historical problem. If ULM should, in any possible way, become able to field a representative team then the Monroe market would belong to them putting Tech in a bad spot. Shreveport is an LSU, Texas, and Arkansas hotbed and if Monroe became fully ULM then lights out.
In summary, ULL is Techs greatest nightmare.
That's funny. He who bets on ULL will likely end up broke.
Since 1996, ULL has only had 3 winning seasons. More recently, the Cajuns sport a whopping
.436 winning percentage record during Mark Hudspeth's 7 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana%...s_football
For the record, LA Tech has more bowl games, more bowl wins, more conference championships, and 11 winning seasons over that same period since 1996.
That's 11 vs 3. Anywho.........
Ruston is actually in the absolute best location in the entire state of Louisiana. Situated perfectly between Shreveport/Bossier city to the west and Monroe to the east, Ruston has one of the state's
most educated populations, lowest crime rates, and one of the highest standards of living in Louisiana. As discussed (and proven) before on this same board, Ruston is widely recognized as the wealthiest city/town in the state of Louisiana.
Ruston is so far north in the state that it's never threatened by hurricanes or flooding. In fact, many coastal residents flee
to Ruston and surrounding areas when seeking protection from hurricanes and flooding. And we are happy to accommodate, just as we did for Tulane students and athletes during the Hurricane Katrina fiasco.
The Ruston economy is booming, and there are tons of construction projects going on all up and down BOTH SIDES of the I-20 Ruston corridor. Just like the university, the town is growing too.
All that said, we don't want Ruston to become another Lafayette, and/or Monroe. Ruston is much cleaner, nicer and has a
very good thing going. And the locals know it. From a world class PGA Golf Course (Squire Creek Country Club, clearly the state's best) to all of the other activities going on at LA Tech and the nearby lakes, there's always something good happening in the area.
LA Tech speaks for itself. Academically, Tech is clearly head and shoulders above the two ULX's. That's one reason why the ULX's always want to play LA Tech so badly. Just yesterday I saw that --for the 7th year in a row-- LA Tech earned
National University Tier 1 status from U.S. New and World Report magazine. Neither of the other universities have ever earned such academic praise, and everyone in Louisiana knows it.
