I don't do twitter and they won't let me see tweets anymore, unless I join.

(07-03-2023 08:39 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  It’s been interesting to see the 180 Cajun fans have done on the Belt since we joined in 2013.

So true! And I’m not ashamed to say I’m one of them.

But to fully understand where we are coming from you need to know that most of the disgust from us was due to our (thankfully) previous AD, who was as worthless an AD as there ever was. But not to be confused with being a total dickhead like that guy from ruston, lol.

(07-03-2023 08:39 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  It’s been interesting to see the 180 Cajun fans have done on the Belt since we joined in 2013.

I am also one of those fans.

But for some context, in 2013 the SBC lost 50% of its members (Arkansas State, FAU, FIU, Louisiana, ULM, MTSU, North Texas, South Alabama, WKU, Troy).

Added Idaho/NMSU (worlds away), App State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Texas State.

Some additional context at the time was that Cajun fans weren't satisfied with the original SBC membership and wanted desperately to join CUSA well before the alignment of 2013. I emphasized fans because it was revealed that our President was trying to hold the line in the SBC and had defecting school leadership lying about their commitment to the SBC (MTSU/WKU).

Then 50% of your conference-mates leave you, and feelings of being left behind and the world imploding creep in. Our commissioner (Karl Benson) had previously failed at keeping the WAC afloat. There was a lot of pessimism. Also, the 00s and early 2010s was a time of fierce identity battling, especially on this forum, and the reason many Cajun posters still remain off of this board.

In hindsight, the defections of old members and invites of new members was absolutely the best thing that could happen with this conference. But at the time it certainly did not feel so. Karl Benson and the SBC presidents should be lauded for the current state of the conference, as well as Keith Gill for strengthening membership with the newest additions.

(07-03-2023 08:39 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  It’s been interesting to see the 180 Cajun fans have done on the Belt since we joined in 2013.

Well those Cajuns fans who thought adding ya'll and App State was somehow beneath us hadn't been paying attention all along. The most important sport in college athletics, football, was instantly upgraded for the SBC with yall's addition, especially the future.

But I do understand those who were pissed from the standpoint they felt that like got left out, and especially due to flat out laziness by our university leadership. Hindsight 20/20, it worked out. However, they didn't even try. Sort of like somehow succeeding by tripping on your own two feet. Our program is very fortunately we were eventually able to be aligned with GA Southern and App State in replacing those who left.

(07-09-2023 08:50 PM)PetroCajun Wrote:  

(07-03-2023 08:39 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  It’s been interesting to see the 180 Cajun fans have done on the Belt since we joined in 2013.

Well those Cajuns fans who thought adding ya'll and App State was somehow beneath us hadn't been paying attention all along. The most important sport in college athletics, football, was instantly upgraded for the SBC with yall's addition, especially the future.

But I do understand those who were pissed from the standpoint they felt that like got left out, and especially due to flat out laziness by our university leadership. Hindsight 20/20, it worked out. However, they didn't even try. Sort of like somehow succeeding by tripping on your own two feet. Our program is very fortunately we were eventually able to be aligned with GA Southern and App State in replacing those who left.

I’ll touch on this and it will be my only comment on it. We, UL fans, wanted away from ULM and back with LaTech and USM. Throw in Rice, who is located in our largest out of state alumni center, our fans weren’t happy. Say what you will, two of those programs are huge rivals for us.

None of our fans had ever heard of the two Georgia schools. Our administration was complacent and couldn’t fathom any SBC programs leaving. We had a friendly rivalry with MTSU and a vey heated rivalry with WKU.

Our fans felt like we were left behind because of an inept administration. If you haven’t noticed our attendance started to drop soon after than round of conference moves.

In the end complacency turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately, we don’t get to play App St more often.