(01-02-2013 11:46 AM)Saint Greg Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 11:14 AM)CajunJuice Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 11:09 AM)USM@FTL Wrote:  I have always had a positive opinion of ULaLa. Much better football program than Tulane. Almost the equal of La Tech. Terry Bradshaw trumps Brian Mitchell.

Ahh yes but does he trump Jake Delhomme??

Charles Tillman is a Ragin' Cajun, and he is a stud for the Bears. I believe he's starting again in the ProBowl this year.

Tech has three NFL Hall of Famers (Terry Bradshaw, Fred Dean, and Willie Roaf). I don't think you wanna get into that discussion.

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/colleges.aspx

No argument from me.

Really enjoy Bradshaw on Fox.

Roaf? Greatest player in Saints history.

And even tho Dean ended with the 49ers, you got to respect him.

Heard Bradshaw speak at the Independence Bowl luncheon two years ago. He is a great speaker even though I call BS on his claim that he grew a Saints fan since he was 19 when the Saints played their first game.

I've never met Roaf but his mother was brilliant and a very kind woman who served on the Arkansas Court of Appeals and the Arkansas Supreme Court. She was a great lady.

(01-02-2013 03:47 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 03:32 PM)KirkT Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 01:41 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 12:15 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 10:19 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  "My tushy hurts" Yikes you can do better than that! This is a message board relax just having some fun. In all honesty, I do not think that LA Tech would want anyone else from your state in Conf USA. Also, it looks like Conf USA has been searching for teams with markets. Does ULL have a tv market. Finally, does your school have a chance to keep winning after your coach leaves?

Arkansas State.

We've won the last two SBC Championships under two different coaches. We bring a new state into the mix and are only one of two FBS programs in that state...so none of that constant "that's not your name drama" and constant in-state bickering at the annual meetings.

We are located in a convenient midpoint as a bridge between east and west and we fill in a hole in the conference map that will make it look better.

We also have a cool mascot and a successful modern rebranding.

Also we usually don't start new pimp our school threads and if we do decide to pimp will usually do it sparingly on another school's pimp thread.

We are also humble and don't pop our gum.

Sorry ULL, I like these guys better now.

You can just go away now, Shirley. The adults are talking.

Besides, what's your legacy? Losing to ULL in what may very well be your last chance to represent CUSA. Way to step up, Eastern.

You're irrelevant dude.

I would be more than happy to compare the legacy of ULL to the legacy of ECU. I am now an official Arkansas State Fan.

All-Time Record: Louisiana leads the all-time series 6-4
Current Streak: ULL has won four of the past five meetings

Oops...make that 5 of the last 6.

Probably a good idea for you to change allegiance. ASU has a good team that competes. And cool unis.

(01-02-2013 04:10 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Heard Bradshaw speak at the Independence Bowl luncheon two years ago. He is a great speaker even though I call BS on his claim that he grew a Saints fan since he was 19 when the Saints played their first game.

I've never met Roaf but his mother was brilliant and a very kind woman who served on the Arkansas Court of Appeals and the Arkansas Supreme Court. She was a great lady.

I'll give him slack on being a Saints fan.

The year Katrina hit and Benson was talking about moving the team to San Antonio, allegedly Bradshaw was putting together a group of investors to buy the team and keep them in NOLA.

(01-02-2013 03:38 PM)JDTulane Wrote:  ULL over Tulane? 2 bowl games and a 9-2 season in 1976. Great. Enjoy that. Oh and enjoy the Ragin Cajun fans. Met a couple near Bourbon, one throwing up on her daughter. Lovely.

Ok you can stop it. This is a thread about ULL. Sorry somebody said they'd prefer ULL over Tulane. Not our fault. Take it up with your past and future conference mates.

That said, the two biggest stories in the history of Tulane athletics is the decision to leave the SEC (how's that working for you?) and the Hot Rod Williams gambing scandal. Now THAT'S a legacy.

Hey Eastern, it could be worse...you could be Tulane.

(01-02-2013 04:10 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Heard Bradshaw speak at the Independence Bowl luncheon two years ago. He is a great speaker even though I call BS on his claim that he grew a Saints fan since he was 19 when the Saints played their first game.

I've never met Roaf but his mother was brilliant and a very kind woman who served on the Arkansas Court of Appeals and the Arkansas Supreme Court. She was a great lady.

When speaking in Texas he always said how much a Cowboy's fan he was. Of course his teams beat them enough in those Super Bowls to say such! LOL!

U of L is a much admired program among our fans and alums. Enjoy the ride while you're there, Rajun Cajuns! Our "W" seasons cycle is over-due, but we will appreciate them when they come back home to roost.

(01-02-2013 02:16 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I have a high perception of ULL. They are a pioneer in my own field, computer science. They led the creation of the U of L system. They are the academic center of an entire culture and ethnic group. Even their location is better than a lot of other schools we talk about here. Lafayette is not great... but it's at least as good as Ruston or Murfreesboro. (I'll be diplomatic and leave out Hattiesburg.)

What has kept them out of CUSA? First, I would point to athletics. There's not much money or tradition there. Second, I think ULL is perceived as a commuter school.

Thanks for the compliments. However, a couple of points need to be addressed.

"There's not much money or tradition there."
Lafayette is one of the, if not the, wealthiest cities in Louisiana. The entire city is now embracing the university. The money and support are there. Even Ark State fan confirmed that. Our athletic budget was underfunded for years and athletics took a back seat under our former dinosaur president. We have a new president now who understands the value of athletics and what it means to the university. We now have an Athletic Fund that is growing by leaps and bounds. Our budget this coming year should approach the currrent level of LA Tech and several newly added members of CUSA. We are about to announce a Master Plan for athletics that will enlarge and greatly enhance the football stadium to over 50,000 seats, with suites, new video screen, weight room, meeting rooms, coaches offices, recruiting area, etc. and renovate and enlarge the baseball stadium and T&F complex. We just built a new softball complex that is a top 20 facility and we have a wonderful Indoor Practice Facility, one of the few in the South. There is a complete committment to football and all of athletics now. CUSA budgets need to be at $20M and greater. Some schools were admitted with an agreement to get to that level within 3-5 years. Be assured that Louisiana will be as well. Football tradition is lacking, but CUSA is building for the future, not the past. Otherwise, you would not have invited start-up programs and FCS move-ups. Louisiana has now had back to back 9 win seasons and beat two teams moving to nBE, SDSU and ECU. We will be a beast next year and for years to come. We do have more tradition in the spring sports, i.e. basketball - been to the final 4 of NIT, won the Great Alaska Shootout and numerous trips to NCAA. Was down lately and is rebuilding and on upswing and plays in a 12,500 seat Cajundome that is as nice or nicer than any in CUSA. Baseball has been to the CWS, is in the top 20 year in and year out in attendance and top 10 in atmosphere. Will be even better and larger when renovations are complete. Softball has been to the WCWS 6 times and plays in one of the nicest facilities in the country. With understanding that football drives the bus, these are still important because this is an All Sports conference and we want competitive teams in all areas.

"Second, I think ULL is perceived as a commuter school."
Louisiana is not a commuter school, although a number of students do commute as with any university. But its growth has been inhibited by a lack of dormitory space on campus. That is being rectified now. Louisiana has just spent $300M in new and renovated dorms, renovated classrooms and student union. Although it is the largest university in the UL System at over 17,000, it now expects to grow to over 20,000 within the next 5 years.

I apologize if this sounds like we're pimping for admittance in CUSA. Well, I guess a lot of are, actually. Just wanted to clarify any misconceptions about who Louisiana is.

(01-02-2013 04:35 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 02:16 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I have a high perception of ULL. They are a pioneer in my own field, computer science. They led the creation of the U of L system. They are the academic center of an entire culture and ethnic group. Even their location is better than a lot of other schools we talk about here. Lafayette is not great... but it's at least as good as Ruston or Murfreesboro. (I'll be diplomatic and leave out Hattiesburg.)

What has kept them out of CUSA? First, I would point to athletics. There's not much money or tradition there. Second, I think ULL is perceived as a commuter school.

Was down lately and is rebuilding and on upswing and plays in a 12,500 seat Cajundome that is as nice or nicer than any in CUSA.

See, our basketball facility is not nicer than any in CUSA....ours is JUST AS NICE as any voting member of CUSA. We also keep it very clean...and have balloons.

(01-02-2013 03:38 PM)JDTulane Wrote:  ULL over Tulane? 2 bowl games and a 9-2 season in 1976. Great. Enjoy that. Oh and enjoy the Ragin Cajun fans. Met a couple near Bourbon, one throwing up on her daughter. Lovely.

Last ten years (2003 - 2012):

ULL: 56-64 (.467) #72 in FBS - 2-0 in bowls
Tulane: 33-86 (.277) #112 in FBS - no bowl games

Just because the Big Least invited you to get access to the NOLA market (where no one cares about you), doesn't suddenly make you suck less.

P.S. We are Rugby 7's National Champs and Rugby 11's National Runners-Up and that's like football with no helmets or pads...just balls. So we have that going for us.

One Tulane fan said, "Oh and enjoy the Ragin Cajun fans. Met a couple near Bourbon, one throwing up on her daughter. Lovely." Now that wasn't a very classy statement and as much as I like Tulane, I have to say this, I have been on Bourbon Street often in my nearly 60 years of life, and I can honestly say I have NEVER met a Tulane or at least one that said they were a Tulane fan. I once collected caps and while in New Orleans I decided to get a Tulane cap, I finally got one and I had to send off for it. I certainly wouldn't say such if I were a Tulane fan that shows so little class.

(01-02-2013 12:53 AM)RonBurgundy Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 03:14 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(12-31-2012 07:56 PM)KirkT Wrote:  New to the whole college message board thing, so I'm just trying to get a feel of perceptions out in the world.

Just what is the perception of UL in CUSA? Obviously, the rank and file UL fan would love membership in CUSA, but there is a certain amount of frustration in the whole conference realignment thing and how UL fits in.

Would we be a decent addition?

I think everyone would be glad for UL to rejoin cusa but they just hooked up with the ACC and doubt they would be intersted.

I can't believe I enjoyed a EE post. I would be OK with ULL but this calling themselves Louisiana or UL bull has got to stop.

FYI, that is abbreviated "ULaLa" and pronounced, "Ooooo - Laaa - Laaa". Seriously though, ULaLa has the facilities and other requirements to compete immediately in CUSA or any of the other non-BCS leagues. Not sure where they are beyond the money sports, but they should be able to compete well there given their locale, which lets them recruit all of Louisiana and well into Texas pretty easily. In other words, you could do a lot worse and would be hard pressed to find much better unless you are betting on one of the new to DI schools (and thus are accepting more risk for the potential upside).
JMHO.

(01-02-2013 04:45 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 03:38 PM)JDTulane Wrote:  ULL over Tulane? 2 bowl games and a 9-2 season in 1976. Great. Enjoy that. Oh and enjoy the Ragin Cajun fans. Met a couple near Bourbon, one throwing up on her daughter. Lovely.

Last ten years (2003 - 2012):

ULL: 56-64 (.467) #72 in FBS - 2-0 in bowls
Tulane: 33-86 (.277) #112 in FBS - no bowl games

Just because the Big Least invited you to get access to the NOLA market (where no one cares about you), doesn't suddenly make you suck less.

This article says it all about Tulane football. The truth hurts. Note who authored this.

http://www.thehullabaloo.com/news/articl...DV14.gmail

(01-02-2013 05:01 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 12:53 AM)RonBurgundy Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 03:14 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(12-31-2012 07:56 PM)KirkT Wrote:  New to the whole college message board thing, so I'm just trying to get a feel of perceptions out in the world.

Just what is the perception of UL in CUSA? Obviously, the rank and file UL fan would love membership in CUSA, but there is a certain amount of frustration in the whole conference realignment thing and how UL fits in.

Would we be a decent addition?

I think everyone would be glad for UL to rejoin cusa but they just hooked up with the ACC and doubt they would be intersted.

I can't believe I enjoyed a EE post. I would be OK with ULL but this calling themselves Louisiana or UL bull has got to stop.

FYI, that is abbreviated "ULaLa" and pronounced, "Ooooo - Laaa - Laaa". Seriously though, ULaLa has the facilities and other requirements to compete immediately in CUSA or any of the other non-BCS leagues. Not sure where they are beyond the money sports, but they should be able to compete well there given their locale, which lets them recruit all of Louisiana and well into Texas pretty easily. In other words, you could do a lot worse and would be hard pressed to find much better unless you are betting on one of the new to DI schools (and thus are accepting more risk for the potential upside).
JMHO.

Thanks, RiceDoc. Something else to consider regarding location is travel budgets. Like Rice, Louisiana is right along I 10. Rice, Louisiana and USM are all within driving distance with helps with travel expenses, attendance at all functions, not just football, and build-up of rivalries. Not to mention other schools like LA Tech and UTSA. We also have a large alumni base in Houston, over 6,000.

(01-02-2013 05:40 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 05:01 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 12:53 AM)RonBurgundy Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 03:14 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(12-31-2012 07:56 PM)KirkT Wrote:  New to the whole college message board thing, so I'm just trying to get a feel of perceptions out in the world.

Just what is the perception of UL in CUSA? Obviously, the rank and file UL fan would love membership in CUSA, but there is a certain amount of frustration in the whole conference realignment thing and how UL fits in.

Would we be a decent addition?

I think everyone would be glad for UL to rejoin cusa but they just hooked up with the ACC and doubt they would be intersted.

I can't believe I enjoyed a EE post. I would be OK with ULL but this calling themselves Louisiana or UL bull has got to stop.

FYI, that is abbreviated "ULaLa" and pronounced, "Ooooo - Laaa - Laaa". Seriously though, ULaLa has the facilities and other requirements to compete immediately in CUSA or any of the other non-BCS leagues. Not sure where they are beyond the money sports, but they should be able to compete well there given their locale, which lets them recruit all of Louisiana and well into Texas pretty easily. In other words, you could do a lot worse and would be hard pressed to find much better unless you are betting on one of the new to DI schools (and thus are accepting more risk for the potential upside).
JMHO.

Thanks, RiceDoc. Something else to consider regarding location is travel budgets. Like Rice, Louisiana is right along I 10. Rice, Louisiana and USM are all within driving distance with helps with travel expenses, attendance at all functions, not just football, and build-up of rivalries. Not to mention other schools like LA Tech and UTSA. We also have a large alumni base in Houston, over 6,000.

We are pretty close to USM as well and Tulsa! We are also closer to MTSU and Marshall. So that'll save them some travel costs!

Also, we discovered a new Caribbean crustacean and named it after Bob Marley which made People magazine's most intriguing things of 2012. So we have a Marley vibe going too.

(01-02-2013 04:10 PM)KirkT Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 03:47 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 03:32 PM)KirkT Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 01:41 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 12:15 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  Arkansas State.

We've won the last two SBC Championships under two different coaches. We bring a new state into the mix and are only one of two FBS programs in that state...so none of that constant "that's not your name drama" and constant in-state bickering at the annual meetings.

We are located in a convenient midpoint as a bridge between east and west and we fill in a hole in the conference map that will make it look better.

We also have a cool mascot and a successful modern rebranding.

Also we usually don't start new pimp our school threads and if we do decide to pimp will usually do it sparingly on another school's pimp thread.

We are also humble and don't pop our gum.

Sorry ULL, I like these guys better now.

You can just go away now, Shirley. The adults are talking.

Besides, what's your legacy? Losing to ULL in what may very well be your last chance to represent CUSA. Way to step up, Eastern.

You're irrelevant dude.

I would be more than happy to compare the legacy of ULL to the legacy of ECU. I am now an official Arkansas State Fan.

All-Time Record: Louisiana leads the all-time series 6-4
Current Streak: ULL has won four of the past five meetings

Oops...make that 5 of the last 6.

Probably a good idea for you to change allegiance. ASU has a good team that competes. And cool unis.

LOL, I will cut you some slack and not bring up the history of ULL football.

Varuna, in honesty, Jeff Blake spent a year with the Saints. Unbelievable deep ball. Just for that, y'all are family. So I'll always have a soft spot for ECU.

And y'all have cool unis, too.

(01-02-2013 04:35 PM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 02:16 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I have a high perception of ULL. They are a pioneer in my own field, computer science. They led the creation of the U of L system. They are the academic center of an entire culture and ethnic group. Even their location is better than a lot of other schools we talk about here. Lafayette is not great... but it's at least as good as Ruston or Murfreesboro. (I'll be diplomatic and leave out Hattiesburg.)

What has kept them out of CUSA? First, I would point to athletics. There's not much money or tradition there. Second, I think ULL is perceived as a commuter school.

Thanks for the compliments. However, a couple of points need to be addressed.

"There's not much money or tradition there."
Lafayette is one of the, if not the, wealthiest cities in Louisiana. The entire city is now embracing the university. The money and support are there. Even Ark State fan confirmed that. Our athletic budget was underfunded for years and athletics took a back seat under our former dinosaur president. We have a new president now who understands the value of athletics and what it means to the university. We now have an Athletic Fund that is growing by leaps and bounds. Our budget this coming year should approach the currrent level of LA Tech and several newly added members of CUSA. We are about to announce a Master Plan for athletics that will enlarge and greatly enhance the football stadium to over 50,000 seats, with suites, new video screen, weight room, meeting rooms, coaches offices, recruiting area, etc. and renovate and enlarge the baseball stadium and T&F complex. We just built a new softball complex that is a top 20 facility and we have a wonderful Indoor Practice Facility, one of the few in the South. There is a complete committment to football and all of athletics now. CUSA budgets need to be at $20M and greater. Some schools were admitted with an agreement to get to that level within 3-5 years. Be assured that Louisiana will be as well. Football tradition is lacking, but CUSA is building for the future, not the past. Otherwise, you would not have invited start-up programs and FCS move-ups. Louisiana has now had back to back 9 win seasons and beat two teams moving to nBE, SDSU and ECU. We will be a beast next year and for years to come. We do have more tradition in the spring sports, i.e. basketball - been to the final 4 of NIT, won the Great Alaska Shootout and numerous trips to NCAA. Was down lately and is rebuilding and on upswing and plays in a 12,500 seat Cajundome that is as nice or nicer than any in CUSA. Baseball has been to the CWS, is in the top 20 year in and year out in attendance and top 10 in atmosphere. Will be even better and larger when renovations are complete. Softball has been to the WCWS 6 times and plays in one of the nicest facilities in the country. With understanding that football drives the bus, these are still important because this is an All Sports conference and we want competitive teams in all areas.

"Second, I think ULL is perceived as a commuter school."
Louisiana is not a commuter school, although a number of students do commute as with any university. But its growth has been inhibited by a lack of dormitory space on campus. That is being rectified now. Louisiana has just spent $300M in new and renovated dorms, renovated classrooms and student union. Although it is the largest university in the UL System at over 17,000, it now expects to grow to over 20,000 within the next 5 years.

I apologize if this sounds like we're pimping for admittance in CUSA. Well, I guess a lot of are, actually. Just wanted to clarify any misconceptions about who Louisiana is.

I agree that ULL seems to be addressing the concerns I raised. The question to ask is whether your football momentum will endure. USM has caught fire and then later cooled off several times in terms of fan support. Each time, you just have to hope that some of the bandwagon fans stick around through the lean years. At USM, they have... but it's been slow. Die-hards have a hard time admitting it, but it takes a lot before it becomes socially acceptable to root for a rising mid-major instead of just picking an SEC school like everyone else. I'm optimistic about ULL in that regard, because Lafayette has a community identity.

ASU would get my vote.

Reading through this thread reminds me again of why we hold the Cajun fans in such high reguard and it would only get worse if they were added.

(01-02-2013 07:45 PM)winston70 Wrote:  ASU would get my vote.

Reading through this thread reminds me again of why we hold the Cajun fans in such high reguard and it would only get worse if they were added.

I think ULL has more hope of building a real fanbase (the kind of people who'll turn down LSU tickets) than any of the teams we just added. Lafayette is more of a tightly knit community than Ruston, Denton, or Murfreesboro. They have an identity that goes beyond just being a part of LA or of the USA. Delhomme stayed home for college. Bert Jones did not. I suspect there's a cultural reason for that.