(08-29-2015 12:04 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  Like i stated earlier, I don't know the man. Many of you assume I want him/defend him because of being a former eagle. His connection to southern is the only reason I've paid any attention to comments from cajun fans. Just like i pay attention to former coaches. Doesn't mean i want them back. From an outsiders perspective, it would seem he is doing a good job based on the quality of the athletic dept at ULL. However, many of you have successfully convinced me otherwise. You have to admit, if you don't know the whole story, his job at ULL appears to be a success. I would make the same initial comments to anyone whose program is a success but is complaining. I still say it goes back to the pres.

As with most things in life, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

I suspect Farmer is good at some things and not so good at others. I would say the more vocal Cajun supporters believe he's too much of a status-quo kinda guy, in other words, one not willing to take risks and push the envelope.

Most Cajuns fans (myself included) believe we're no where near reaching our true potential, that we're literally decades behind the time and would rather see a much more dynamic, inspiring individual as our AD.

(08-29-2015 12:41 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-29-2015 12:04 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  Like i stated earlier, I don't know the man. Many of you assume I want him/defend him because of being a former eagle. His connection to southern is the only reason I've paid any attention to comments from cajun fans. Just like i pay attention to former coaches. Doesn't mean i want them back. From an outsiders perspective, it would seem he is doing a good job based on the quality of the athletic dept at ULL. However, many of you have successfully convinced me otherwise. You have to admit, if you don't know the whole story, his job at ULL appears to be a success. I would make the same initial comments to anyone whose program is a success but is complaining. I still say it goes back to the pres.

As with most things in life, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

I suspect Farmer is good at some things and not so good at others. I would say the more vocal Cajun supporters believe he's too much of a status-quo kinda guy, in other words, one not willing to take risks and push the envelope.

Most Cajuns fans (myself included) believe we're no where near reaching our true potential, that we're literally decades behind the time and would rather see a much more dynamic, inspiring individual as our AD.

Yes, pretty much spot on. Some of the missteps of the athletic department does fall on the Pres as he has hamstrung the program by withholding $6.5 million from our athletic budget.

It has been a systemic problem for 35 years. The biggest difference from then to now is our president isn't trying to kill athletics like Dr Authement did. Instead he has just limited what we can and can't do. He has allowed us to build facilities though.

I think CF hit it just right. We have been so far behind for so long, now that we have some momentum we should take advantage of it. Our admin seems too "comfortable" with where we are instead of taking some chances and aggressively moving us forward.

(08-29-2015 07:59 PM)ragin4u Wrote:  I think CF hit it just right. We have been so far behind for so long, now that we have some momentum we should take advantage of it. Our admin seems too "comfortable" with where we are instead of taking some chances and aggressively moving us forward.

Serious question, what realistic chances and aggressive moves are you looking for? Don't tell me joining SEC, I mean realistic chances and moves.

(08-29-2015 09:04 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  

(08-29-2015 07:59 PM)ragin4u Wrote:  I think CF hit it just right. We have been so far behind for so long, now that we have some momentum we should take advantage of it. Our admin seems too "comfortable" with where we are instead of taking some chances and aggressively moving us forward.

Serious question, what realistic chances and aggressive moves are you looking for? Don't tell me joining SEC, I mean realistic chances and moves.

There's an ongoing debate on our fan site about what we're doing today versus what some believe we should be doing.

For instance, all UL System schools receive significant funding from the state of Louisiana and of that total, up to 3% can be earmarked for athletics. Both LaTech and ULM steer their entire 3% into their athletics programs while the Cajun program steers about half of its allotted dollars into athletics. Those extra funds, if moved to the athletic department would represent about $6MM in extra funding for a budget that's currently at about $21MM. That extra cash would lift our athletic department spending to near the top of the SunBelt versus being middle of the pack where we are today.

Instead, our president uses those extra funds elsewhere in the university budget. Many Cajun fans feel that a more aggressive AD would lobby for those funds for his department instead of being what many consider Farmer to be, a yes-man of the president. Another recent complaint was Farmer's first reaction to the new expense of COA for student athletes. His first reaction was, "what will we cut", versus, "let's go out and find the funds elsewhere", to cover this new expense.

There are also many examples commented upon on our site about past dereliction-of-duty when it came to positioning the program for conference realignment.

That subject's a complex one, and is coupled with a long and well-known history of a former president who it seems at best tolerated athletics, versus embracing it.

To an outsider's point of view, everything's moving in the right direction, and I certainly agree with that viewpoint. We're light years ahead of where we were just a few years ago. To some die-hard Cajun fans though, we're not doing enough and spending enough, fast enough, to position our programs for maximum growth potential.

This won't be resolved any time soon.

$6mm that could be used but not is a tough pill to swallow as a fan. I'm sure if that was the case at southern, many would be in an uproar. I'm guessing the pres has his reasons, might be to please some academics that dislike athletics. Don't know but that is alot of cash.

(08-29-2015 10:21 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  $6mm that could be used but not is a tough pill to swallow as a fan. I'm sure if that was the case at southern, many would be in an uproar. I'm guessing the pres has his reasons, might be to please some academics that dislike athletics. Don't know but that is alot of cash.

We generate close to $6.7 million in direct contributions per year. Whatever the total of the direct contributions are our president withholds that amount out of the allowable 3% transfer.

(08-27-2015 08:24 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  If happy with Tom Kleinkein for now, but if he takes another job and you can convince Farmer to come to GS, that'd be okay with me.

So to be clear, YOU are COMFORTABLE in the SBC. Most Cajun fans and almost all Cajun fans under fifty are not. FarmerBROWN is very comfortable in the SBC, and he has repeatedly lied about he, and t-jo's efforts in the past conference alignment.

Don't worry if a job opens up at GaSouthern while he is at UL he will have his name at the front of the list.

(08-29-2015 10:21 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  $6mm that could be used but not is a tough pill to swallow as a fan. I'm sure if that was the case at southern, many would be in an uproar. I'm guessing the pres has his reasons, might be to please some academics that dislike athletics. Don't know but that is alot of cash.

Just think six plus million year after year. That is a lot of facility improvements.

The president has in the past found a way to cut athletics by a much larger proportion than those in academics. Amazingly those cuts mirror the growth of the RCAF, net result no net change in athletic funding.

All of the above is true. We are in a vastly superior place than we were 6 years ago but I feel we are 10-15 years behind where we should be. And its not solely about being somewhere other than the Belt. CUSA I think is more of a lateral move, except in perception. Our facility improvements should have been started 10 years ago. Our marketing and promotion of the athletic program is hit or miss. I think some of the things tjoe and Farmer get credit for would have happened anyway. We almost ran off one of the better SB coaches in the country. Baseball does great things with very little university support. Imagine what Tony could do with resources.
Again my issue is that instead of taking advantage of our momentum, our leaders seem to just be along for the ride instead of steering the ship. I am certainly grateful to be where we are, but I want better for Louisiana.

Well as long as this is a ***** session about what we fail to do, let's not forget UL has for decades been by law unable to raise tuition and fees as needed. The result being UL being at the bottom of the ULS (University of Louisiana System) in cost of attendance. ULM, LTUR both much more. The state in an effort to allow the students to carry the states burden has now relented and our tuition and fees are more in line with LTU R, but still several hundred less over the academic year.

Anyway, UL has enemies within the state and within the university towards growth of both academics and athletics. It's amazing we get anything done. I guess it is that Texas Can Do attitude with the Cajun persistence that melded in Acadiana Oil Boom from the thirties to now that won't give up or quit.

Yes, Lafayette is has a heavy Texas influence.