(01-17-2022 04:32 PM)SlickRick12 Wrote:  

(01-16-2022 08:59 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(01-16-2022 12:15 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 10:50 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 10:37 AM)Big Buds Wrote:  I’m told we have a larger staff than roughly 90% of all FBS programs. Not sure if that is gossip or gospel but we definitely have a massive football/administrative staff!

We have a larger staff than miss state, ole miss, South Carolina, Baylor and TCU were even willing to commit to hiring. Florida agreed to.

So how long is this sustainable for Louisiana? You all pull cash from a general fund to cover your negative spending which many schools and states have regulations for, I believe. So how can other programs compete with that? And how long can Louisiana rationalize pulling funds for football alone?

We saw what happened with ECU beginning in 2016. If you all begin to lose while still spending the same amount of cash, that honey pot may dry up and then you're left with unfunded debt, fan apathy, and a losing coach.

Hope it doesn't happen, but your model is very contingent upon success, which can be fleeting in this era.

The state law in Louisiana allows a 3% transfer from the general fund for athletics. For the majority of the last decade we have used self generated funds from within the university. We have not used the fully allowed 3% transfer.

If the university used the full allotment allowed by the state then our athletic budget would be around $45M.

Only 2 schools in Louisiana DO NOT use the full 3% transfer. UL and LSU. I don't think LSU uses any their general fund for athletics. Easier to do if you are in SEC.

That’s correct, on both points.

When you invest as much money as Louisiana does into coaching and support staffs, two things are absolute.

You're going to lose players because you have better players than the rest of the G5.
You're going to lose support staff because your support staff dwarfs most of the G5.

So, yeah, Louisiana lost a LOT of support staff, because they had a lot of staff to lose.
Louisiana lost good players to the portal because they have more P5 level players, thanks to the commitment made to this program.

This isn't brain surgery guys.

There's a bit of hubris there BOP.

No SBC school loses two players to LSU, one to TCU, and three to Florida and thinks yeah we'll just reload. That would be a hit to any program (G5 or not).

(01-16-2022 12:15 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 10:50 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 10:37 AM)Big Buds Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 10:34 AM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(01-15-2022 10:22 AM)balanced_view Wrote:  I guess its all about context to the individual saying it and those receiving the statement. Both could be correct depending on perceived context.

Napier proved he was in fact a different cat as it relates to taking any/first P5 job just because they backed up the brinks truck. Like most Louisiana fans said.

He not different from others that if put in a desperate position, he looks out for his self. If you believe some Louisiana fans were saying he is overall a different man above other men. Turns out he is not that different.

however, Im positive the large majority of those comments were about money and leaving Louisiana to go to a P5.

He also didn’t take all of the off field staff, he took about half, people just didn’t realize how many people we had working for the program.

I’m told we have a larger staff than roughly 90% of all FBS programs. Not sure if that is gossip or gospel but we definitely have a massive football/administrative staff!

We have a larger staff than miss state, ole miss, South Carolina, Baylor and TCU were even willing to commit to hiring. Florida agreed to.

So how long is this sustainable for Louisiana? You all pull cash from a general fund to cover your negative spending which many schools and states have regulations for, I believe. So how can other programs compete with that? And how long can Louna rationalize pulling funds for football alone?

We saw what happened with ECU beginning in 2016. If you all begin to lose while still spending the same amount of cash, that honey pot may dry up and then you're left with unfunded debt, fan apathy, and a losing coach.

Hope it doesn't happen, but your model is very contingent upon success, which can be fleeting in this era.

LOL! General fund? You have been talking to La Tech fans haven't you. 3% is allowed by the state. We don't even scratch the surface of that 3 %.

I feel the hope in every ones key stroke. I can feel the giddiness. Some of you actually need to change your undies and clean off your computer screen. Until it happens, you can only dream of reaching the heights we have with UL football. Good luck, cause we need a strong conference

Z

(01-18-2022 04:58 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  There's a bit of hubris there BOP.

No SBC school loses two players to LSU, one to TCU, and three to Florida and thinks yeah we'll just reload. That would be a hit to any program (G5 or not).

Some tough losses for sure but we did play a lot of people and had above average depth for a G5 and even if Napier stayed would probably still lost probably all of them. They are chasing the money and improve draft stock. Lacey while very talented isn’t much of a loss and sounds like was a bigger pain to deal with than his production warranted. Torrence is a huge loss but we did get a guy from Michigan state in the portal that is 6’5 345lbs do that helps. Garner was part of a 4 man rotation at CB SBC we return the other 3. Bailey probably would have went to TCU regardless bc he is from Denton and has a brother at TCU I believe. We are still pretty good at RB and have had good RB’s here even when we sucked. Our first 3 games are vs SLU vs Easter Michigan and @Rice which should give us a couple weeks to figure some things out. Our starting LT was lost for the year early last year and returns, the freshen tackle that replaced him returns, and we have 2 guards that player a lot returning. Will need to replace our center Valot. Te’s return and WR is loaded. I think we will be ok

Louisiana wins the West next year. Not a doubt in my mind.

(01-18-2022 07:51 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  Louisiana wins the West next year. Not a doubt in my mind.

Not a particularly bold prediction given the gap between UL and the rest of the West. I think the Cajuns likely repeat as well. I think you guys made the right move with an internal hire because he isn't going to try to put in a different system. 2022 will probably look good just by virtue of momentum. Desormeaux might turn out to be the next great thing and keep it going. It's good for the SBC if that happens, but even then other programs will close the gap.

Napier was an excellent coach. I have tons of respect for what he accomplished at UL. It will be interesting to watch the next two or three years. I'm sure most of the conference has felt the same way about App's coaching transitions.

(01-19-2022 12:42 PM)Yosef84 Wrote:  

(01-18-2022 07:51 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  Louisiana wins the West next year. Not a doubt in my mind.

Not a particularly bold prediction given the gap between UL and the rest of the West. I think the Cajuns likely repeat as well. I think you guys made the right move with an internal hire because he isn't going to try to put in a different system. 2022 will probably look good just by virtue of momentum. Desormeaux might turn out to be the next great thing and keep it going. It's good for the SBC if that happens, but even then other programs will close the gap.

Napier was an excellent coach. I have tons of respect for what he accomplished at UL. It will be interesting to watch the next two or three years. I'm sure most of the conference has felt the same way about App's coaching transitions.

Other programs really need to close the gap to keep the upward trojectory the SBC has shown recently. It's good for the whole conference and when the bowls are reassigned. COMA is DOA and AAC will no doubt drop off when the top schools leave. Getting USM, ODU, and Marshall to join a year early is another lost year for COMA.

App has done well with changing coaches and not receding in performance. stAte did the same until Anderson. I do think Jones will get them back up soon. Southern Miss is the wild card this year. They seem to be transferring in a lot of talent.

(01-18-2022 04:58 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  There's a bit of hubris there BOP.

No SBC school loses two players to LSU, one to TCU, and three to Florida and thinks yeah we'll just reload. That would be a hit to any program (G5 or not).

Losing players to P5 schools says more about them than the school they left.

When a G5 school sends 2 OL to the league and has two more on the roster that are projected as 2nd day picks in the draft, it is going to attract attention. I fully expected to lose both Max Mitchell and O'Cyrus Torrence to the draft this year. I was surprised that Torrence chose to go to Florida instead of the NFL. Either way, we were losing both of them this year.

Losing Kam Waites will hurt more than losing Torrence. Waites was likely a three or four year starter here, and Torrence was gone after next year, regardless. No doubt we are hurt in the OL, but it is a position of strength on our roster. By midyear 2022, I expect us to be fine there.

I am not worried about losing Johnson and Bailey. We have Smith returning and several freshmen who will be more than adequate replacements for those two. I am also not worried about losing Lacy. We have plenty of depth at WR, both in quality and quantity. Defensively, our losses up the middle and at CB are concerning, but we played a LOT of guys on that side of the ball. We had the best defense in the conference last year, and few played enough to be all-conference. Lots of young depth of quality players at all three levels on defense.

I am much more concerned about coaching losses than player losses. I think our replacements are good, but no one knows how well they mesh with the players on hand, or how well players will adapt to changes made by incoming coaches. Only time will tell.