(04-14-2012 01:57 PM)Beagleagle23 Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 09:41 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  ECU should come on over to the Belt and Bring USM with you. Then we would have a team in every state that the SEC does. I can see it now.

East

ECU
FAU
MTSU
GSU
WKU
LATech

WEST

ASU
ULL
ULM
USM
TROY
USA

USM will NEVER play in the Sun Belt.

If for some reason USM did wind up in the Sunbelt, we'd wind up in FCS not too long afterwards. It's hard enough to get the casual fan to come see ECU and Tulsa, even less people care to watch ULM or FAU.

At least in the Southland we'd get to take part in a real play off.

(04-12-2012 08:55 AM)statefanatic Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 08:48 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  From an outsiders perspective, you sound jealous.

Just calling it like I see it.

Not jealous. Just pisses me off that the Belt is just starting to gain ground and FIU and UNT are gonna jump ship to a depleted conference. They think they are the big boys now, but in reality they are still the same teams ASU, ULL, Troy and WKU can kick the crap out of on the football field. The Belt will still be strong as long as these four teams stick together. I also still see the Belt continuing its winning record against CUSA.

Its what college football has become. You don't like it, nor do I, but it is what it is. Every time CUSA has become strong, the BE picks us apart.

Bad news for the Belt is nothing left of the WAC for us to reload on this time.

(04-14-2012 12:12 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(04-14-2012 12:39 AM)exflash Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 03:59 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  My thoughts.

Call off this silly merger, add UNT and FIU as a market play. Add La Tech and MTSU for decent football teams within the footprint. I could honestly interchange any of La Tech, MTSU, WKU, Troy, or Arky State.

But not the UL Cajuns-----They have better attendance---some better markets----and travel better---Not to mention a nice win over a BEast future!!!

One year of success in the last 20 does not impress me.

I'd much rather have Louisiana than Tech.

Louisiana pulled as many as we did this year, Tech can't even fill up its stadium with a SEC team on the field. The food is as good as it gets in Louisiana. Not to mention Cajun fans are great.

(04-14-2012 10:09 PM)GoGold Wrote:  I'd much rather have Louisiana than Tech.

Louisiana pulled as many as we did this year, Tech can't even fill up its stadium with a SEC team on the field. The food is as good as it gets in Louisiana. Not to mention Cajun fans are great.

I agree with all of your points here. If the choice came down to yall taking Louisiana or Tech I'd want yall to take the Bulldogs for every reason you just stated.

(04-14-2012 12:12 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  One year of success in the last 20 does not impress me.

Nor, should it, and you're obviously talking football. What has impressed us Cajun fans, however, is the recent tectonic paradigm shift at the administrative level toward a real commitment to athletics for arguably the first time at this level. For thirty-three years, our then president did a remarkable job to bolster academics to a respectable level, but apparently viewed athletics as something between a necessary evil and, "Hey, we might get lucky." Call it a "quaint" appreciation for Cajun athletics.

That mentality has changed significantly in the last three years. The new guard seems to understand what athletics can, and should, do for a university. Fundraising and crowds initially saw huge increases due to expectations alone, and those expectations were realized on the field. Not to mention that winning is fun as hell! Did you see the New Orleans bowl? If so, you saw a preview of our direction. Trust me on this.

Coach Hudspeth and staff managed to do what no other UL (USL) coach could do in modern times, and do it with mostly the previous coach's talent. Will see a big improvement there next season. 2012 will be a fun year for Cajun fans.

(04-14-2012 11:36 PM)LFTCajun Wrote:  

(04-14-2012 12:12 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  One year of success in the last 20 does not impress me.

Nor, should it, and you're obviously talking football. What has impressed us Cajun fans, however, is the recent tectonic paradigm shift at the administrative level toward a real commitment to athletics for arguably the first time at this level. For thirty-three years, our then president did a remarkable job to bolster academics to a respectable level, but apparently viewed athletics as something between a necessary evil and, "Hey, we might get lucky." Call it a "quaint" appreciation for Cajun athletics.

That mentality has changed significantly in the last three years. The new guard seems to understand what athletics can, and should, do for a university. Fundraising and crowds initially saw huge increases due to expectations alone, and those expectations were realized on the field. Not to mention that winning is fun as hell! Did you see the New Orleans bowl? If so, you saw a preview of our direction. Trust me on this.

Coach Hudspeth and staff managed to do what no other UL (USL) coach could do in modern times, and do it with mostly the previous coach's talent. Will see a big improvement there next season. 2012 will be a fun year for Cajun fans.

---Louisiana softball is a perennial top 20 team in the country and is now #6-8----5 years ago the ladies basketball was an NCAA at large team----Baseball has been to regionals and also to the CWS-----mens basketball has pulled itself back together and had a post season game----and Football well it is on fire and we should average 35K per game----With the exception of ladies b-ball we have great (some nationally ranked) crowds at our games----Finally the sleeping Giant has awaken!!!!!

(04-15-2012 12:34 AM)exflash Wrote:  ---Louisiana softball is a perennial top 20 team in the country and is now #6-8----5 years ago the ladies basketball was an NCAA at large team----Baseball has been to regionals and also to the CWS-----mens basketball has pulled itself back together and had a post season game----and Football well it is on fire and we should average 35K per game----With the exception of ladies b-ball we have great (some nationally ranked) crowds at our games----Finally the sleeping Giant has awaken!!!!!

What's nice Boomer is that both baseball and softball attendance both have traditionally ranked in the top twenty. Hopefully, we can someday say the same for the money sports. Football saw the largest increase at the FBS level by 11,000 to average over 29K, but I agree that we will do better next year. 35K might be dreaming, but not out of the realm of possibility.....