westendfirst

[quote name="LE SARGE REY (Oui-Oui)" post="1093125" timestamp="1319488804"]
[quote author=beechnut link=topic=90282.msg1091984#msg1091984 date=1319390840]
Bottome line is Bevil is a head case and Johnson cannot pass the ball. Coach has to go find a qb this spring bc he does not have one. I hope we can beat SFA and Nichols to save face on a good season.
[/quote]
Sorry, but the BS that happened last Spring....DOTY, GONZALES, (the little guy from Hardin).....None getting an offer and u have 7 or 8 on the roster...2/3 can compete at QB, they should have pulled back the scholarships from the guys not being able to make an impact at other positions....

You red shirt Doty, Gonzales, OR the Hardin QB(whom ever)...ALL 3 are athletic enough to Play QB/WR and are play makers!!

Defensively... There are enough West Brook players???  WHO's MAKING ALL THE PLAYS?  Maybe there ISN'T enough West Brook players...Should they go to KELLY to find them???  Legacy???  OOPS...they came from the area High Schools, WB included!!

and I still say, as I have stated before...JJ as a WR can be NFL material!!!.....
I stated this after watching the Spring game, it seemed like his balls were floating...then everyone wanted to chop my comments up....I don't have to put together any numbers to compare to the QB's that are on scholarship at Lamar vs the Class of 2010 QB's from SETX high schools....I can do that in my head...NO COMPARISON...

As for the future...my money is on a JUCO transfer, Prewitt, or Louis(if he can stay healthy) to be the QB next year.

Sorry, I just feel it will take JJ a couple of more years to develop the arm strength needed to start...
[/quote]
Oh, one last thing...I am still shocked with the Doty deal.  What happened with that?  Was he offered scholarships and just turned them down or what?  No idea who Gonzalez is.  But, we have numerous QB's on the roster at LU.  So, that might be why LU didn't offer them anything.  I think we had 5 or 6 at one point.

[quote name="bigred360" post="1093320" timestamp="1319499035"]
There are a few kids at local HS's that are possible recruits but PA Memorial QB has committed to Baylor.

The Tezeno kid at WO-S is a junior and Lamar should be recruiting him now.

I like the WR at Kelly but I heard he likes UNT.

Lamar has commitments from a kids at HJ and Silsbee. There are a couple of lineman at West Brook I like but their best player in a UT commit.

There are other kids a PA Memorial that are talented but Lamar has never has much success recruiting Port Arthur.

There is a WR from PN-G Lamar is recruiting and the RB is talented but I'm not sure he is a college RB. He may need to change positions at the next level.

I'm sure there a more locals but I haven't seen a lot of HS football this year.
[/quote]

I've seen the PNG receiver on the Friday night experience games a couple of times.  If he plays like that all the time, he is a VERY talented receiver.  The two games I watched, he seemed to always be open and to never drop a pass.  I have no idea how fast or big he is as it is hard to tell on tv but if getting open and catching are any indication, he defintely will be playing at the next level.  I think there are definitely a few kids at PNG, Nederland, WB, and Memorial that would be great recruits.  I'm sure there are others at all of the local schools.  I haven't seen Vidor play, but judging by how well they are doing, the should have someone playing at the next level.  Also, I'm wondering about a couple of those kids at Bridge City.  Their QB and Dishon (any others?).  I'm not sure if their QB is college QB material but he seems to be heck of an athlete.

[quote name="LE SARGE REY (Oui-Oui)" post="1093234" timestamp="1319492452"]
[quote author=puddin tane link=topic=90282.msg1093215#msg1093215 date=1319491993]
and I'm not bashing West Brook...but the leading tacklers are from New Jersey and Lumberton
[/quote]
Good, I'm glad WB players are getting help  ;D
[/quote]
Man, you need to stay away from that West Brook Koolaid.  They aren't that good.  This year, they probably are only the 4th or 5th best team in the Golden Triangle, and they constantly get stomped once they go to Houston.

I would love to know which talented WB kids wanted to go to LU but LU didn't recruit?  I am talking kids that have the ability to play 1-AA football (I know it isn't 1 AA anymore but I can't ever remember who is FBS and who is FCS).  For some reason, I doubt that LU would not recruit WB or ANY other local school regardless of their level/size if they have someone worth recruiting.

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="1092784" timestamp="1319468925"]
One minute yall hollering for Johnson to start and dogg'n Bevil. Make your minds up
[/quote]
I don't think Puddin has EVER hollered for Johnson to start.  Not one single time.  And I know I haven't.  The best QB they have sits on the bench the whole game...well, except to hold for a field goal.

[quote name="hipster" post="1092170" timestamp="1319404382"]
Unless your Bobby Bowden
[/quote]

Who cares if Bobby Bowden did it?  It was a dumb call, especially when you take everything into consideration.  So was benching Bevil.

[quote name="bruno994" post="1091258" timestamp="1319324395"]
Jeremy should start, he is your future.  And can someone please teach the DB's how to catch a football.  Geez..
[/quote]

Good lord.  This is like banging my head against the wall...but oh well.  Jeremy Johnson is not ready to be a college quarterback.  He CANNOT THROW THE FOOTBALL.  How hard is that to see/understand??!!!  UGGGGHHHH!!!

As for Bevil, I have consistently bashed him.  However, his first half play against UCA was spectacular.  Yes, I said it, spectacular.  He made good decisions, was very accurate, and THREW THE BALL ON TIME.  Unbelievable.  He wasn't scrambling around to make plays.  Oh and the play calling was very good as well.  Why we went to Johnson in the second half is beyond me.  I could have understood it if Bevil was Bevil but he wasn't.  He was fantastic.

So, for now, I am prepared to somewhat back off on my Prewitt backing BUT, knowing the history of Bevil, it won't take me long to get on his case.

Between Johnson and Bevil it appears to be a no brainer.  You have to go with Bevil.  Oh, and I see nothing wrong with putting Johnson at tailback for some plays.  Hopefully he can catch because his future is at wide receiver.  If not, he better put on a few lbs and play defense or become a running back.

[quote name="geezer" post="1091321" timestamp="1319328969"]
Jeremy Johnson looked typical for an extremely fast running qb.  He has only average passing skill.  Bevil is still Bevil good passer but poor descision maker.  Doubt that it will happen but I would like to see Prewitt just to see what he might bring.  Other than that I am ready for Johnson to start as Bevil is a senior and while he has played good at times it does not seem he can perform consistently against better competition and will be gone after four more games.
[/quote]

Be careful, you aren't allowed to promote Prewitt on this website.

I agree with most of your post except for Johnson starting.  We would have to go to a non-throwing offense for him to play.  He cannot throw the football.  Note:  one requirement of the quarterback should be that he can throw the football?  Isn't that the point of a quarterback?  What am I missing here?

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1095795" timestamp="1319730468"]
Jeremy is not a running back, he is a QB. Just not built or ready for running between the tackles every play, blocking, picking up blitzs.

It would be a mistake to change his position to RB. Now, if he doesn't progress over the next couple of years at the QB position (I am betting he will progress) then move him to receiver.

He is just a freshman, still learning the system. I believe he is the future for Lamar at QB. Time and experience is all that is needed.

I do agree though, for the time being it would be smart to get Jeremy on the field in some capacity. But don't throw out or jeopardize is QB career in doing so.
[/quote]

He played QB in high school.  He is not a college QB unless we run the veer or the triple option.  It helps if a QB can actually throw.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1094401" timestamp="1319594731"]
hmmm...2 1/2 yrs into a start-up program

[i]The same source said Santiago’s “management style” with his players and assistant coaches became an issue that boiled over at last Tuesday’s workout.[/i]

I was impressed with his offense......
[/quote]

I thought he and his coaches outcoached ours.

Does that show how truly ill-prepared we were to play Texas State?

Season ticket holder to football games.  Been to every home game since it was restarted.  Either watched or listened to every road game.

Used to be season ticket holder for men's basketball...from 1993 until I couldn't take it anymore sometime during the Mike Deane era.

Used to camp out in college for men's basketball tickets to get the best student seats where we could torment the opposing team.

Attended LU beating Baylor and many other games.  Remember the SHSU "rose bowl" game..but I can't recall the details of how that all came about.

I even remember when we used to have a band that wore real band uniforms and not swamp people overalls.

Usain Bolt or Tom Brady?

Now, who would you rather have as your quarterback?

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1087161" timestamp="1318971504"]
yes...but LU shoulda stopped em...........Fran had to cover the spread
[/quote]

give me a break.  wah wah wah.  If we are so pathetic that we are worried about SWTSU running up the score on us...good lord

[quote name="DJG24" post="1084680" timestamp="1318734245"]
[quote author=AggiesWeAreNot link=topic=89927.msg1084674#msg1084674 date=1318733935]
[quote author=DJG24 link=topic=89927.msg1084609#msg1084609 date=1318730475]
I believe he should be the starter but I might be wrong.
[/quote]
No, Prewitt should.
[/quote] Thats Where You Wrong!
[/quote]

Why I wrongs?

[quote name="bigred360" post="1086789" timestamp="1318944781"]
[quote author=puddin tane link=topic=89927.msg1086476#msg1086476 date=1318899135]
[quote author=bigred360 link=topic=89927.msg1086455#msg1086455 date=1318897783]
Naw, I'm good where I'm at and I think the coaching staff is doing okay for a second year program.

A couple of these others may have the credentials to do so.
[/quote]

2nd year program or not, our defense stinks...i didnt expect miracles this year, but i had hoped we would have made progress on defense...we havent..we have def players from UH, SMU,ARK ST,Tulane, Mizzou and AM...and they are getting kicked around, whether it be by Incarnate Word or TSU
[/quote]

Mizzou transfer Coleman is out with a ACL. Tulane transfer is out with a hamstring. Ark State transfer Blake Chavis is playing okay. ATM transfer Dorsey has had a pretty good year.

Also lost for the season is James Washington.

It also would help the defense if the offense converted a few 3rd downs. Especially in the 3rd downs in the first half.

I do think  they can play better.
[/quote]

Maybe if you'd play the best qb you'd convert first downs.

[quote name="bigred360" post="1084685" timestamp="1318734531"]
No, he is a Prewittsexual. LOL. There has to be some type of connection. Family member, friend, fan of Kelly HS or alumnus.
[/quote]

If that's not the pot calling te Kettle black I don't know what is.  I am so sick and tired of you hyping Jeremy I could puke.  At least I have stats and facts to back up my opinion.

I will admit, I do like the fact that he is a Kelly boy but that is about where it ends.  Don't know him know who is family is.  What I do know is that I am a big LU fan and I love LU football and I want to win and I want to sell out the home games.  If you want both of those things to happen then you play Prewitt until he proves that he's not deserving...which likely won't happen

[quote name="bigred360" post="1084579" timestamp="1318728672"]
Now, who stated Johnson wouldn't be able to make long runs because he played 3A football?
[/quote]

Johnson at the slot, tailback, whatever and prewitt at qb and we'd be in business. 

[quote name="DJG24" post="1084609" timestamp="1318730475"]
I believe he should be the starter but I might be wrong.
[/quote]
No, Prewitt should.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1084461" timestamp="1318721972"]
[quote author=adminbaberuth link=topic=89918.msg1084459#msg1084459 date=1318721743]
Obvious the defense is struggling.
[/quote]

offense has 3 total yards now..bevil 2-7
[/quote]  2-7 aint bad for Bevil.

[quote name="TBonesLU" post="1080552" timestamp="1318428891"]
[quote author=AggiesWeAreNot link=topic=88627.msg1079560#msg1079560 date=1318296472]
[quote author=TBonesLU link=topic=88627.msg1072826#msg1072826 date=1317676012]
[quote author=58SHW link=topic=88627.msg1068786#msg1068786 date=1317298818]
[quote author=coachacola link=topic=88627.msg1068681#msg1068681 date=1317262371]
Its simple, Lamar just needs to win and the fans will come.  In the the late 70's with Larry Keenan as head coach they started winning and they averaged over 16K a game.  In basketball, Tubbs and Foster kept winning year after year and attendance peaked to over 6K a game.  The problem with Lamar is they lose a lot more than they win so people lose interest and attendance dwindles.  [b]All the other factors are minor compared to winning.[/b][/quote]

To you. And maybe the stands will fill to 16K plus if they start winning, not argueing that. it's just hard to believe some of ya'll do not respect and understand that "the other reasons" are important to some of US. If winning puts 16K in the stands, why not fix the other and put 20K in the stands. Who knows it may only put 16K + 1, that would still be better.
[/quote]

Understood...and here's my take: if you don't like what is going on with the team/university, don't associate with it/them.  Don't go to games, don't watch highlights, don't wear LU apparel.  I hardly doubt that 4k people have a problem with Anthony Oden and the others.  Let's ask Bevil if he would rather play with the guys on the team now or trade them for some upstanding volunteers who played a down of football once who "deserve a second chance".  I'll admit that I was reticent to getting Oden at first.  His history spelled trouble.  However, we got him.  So what is easier to do?  Be upset and say how he will kill someone on the road in a car, blah blah blah...(the easier thing to do in every situation is be negative).  What is the more fun and fulfilling thing to do?  Enjoy his presence on the offensive line now.  I know Bevil and Johnson (when he's in) like having a guy like that "blocking" for them.  So he's here now...you may as well back the team.  Otherwise, like I said, don't go to the games.  There are people from out of town that I'm sure would love to have your ticket to watch their team at Provost-Umphrey Stadium.  Quite honestly, I'd rather see the people that are going to only have negative things to say stay home with their seats taken by the opponents.  At least then if the stadium were sold out, we'd have 16,000 FANS.  Lamar is not UT.  It never will be.  There are not too many fans of Lamar who are not students/alumni.  Texas has that by the truckload.  So if you plan on labeling yourself as a Cardinal fan, be just that.  Be a fan.  We can't all get what we want regarding this team.  We learn to live with what we get.  To be honest, if anyone isn't happy as a Lamar fan right now, then those people are S.O.L.  To be 8-7 in the first 15 games of the program restarting is simply amazing.  The Texans didn't work that quickly (I'm not comparing).

I'm done...and yes, I re-registered my account.  I can't sit back and watch all the negativity when we're 3-1 and have already surpassed what we were supposed to do this season (win one SLC game).

P.S. It's nice to see all the Bevil/Woodard haters shut up for at least one week.
[/quote]

Your screen name is wrong, it should be "Pollyanna".  Since when can't you be a fan and talk bad about your team?  Heck, that is almost the American way.  How many Romo haters are out there that are Cowboy fans?  What about UT fans that bash Mack Brown?  Or the Denver fans chanting "Tebow, Tebow, Tebow" when Kyle Orton is in the game?  Deal with it.  One of the "fun" things to do is analyze the game and the players and spout off about what you'd do differently.  I can see us now under your scenario, all singing kumbaya as we are losing 60-0 and talking about how wonderful everyone is.  All of us hugging and chuckling about what a wonderful game it is.

Oh, and as for the Bevil haters...we're back.  Or at least one of us is.

P.S.  You didn't even list the best qb we have in your post.  Prewitt.
[/quote]

I didn't say don't talk about the team.  My point is that there is no way it can be even a little fun supporting your team when all you can do is find negative things to say.  We lose a game, negative remarks come out, which is expected (I guess).  We win a game, and the same negativity is still projected onto the team. 

Regarding Nederland and PN-G, did you ever think that maybe some of the players they recruit don't want to go to Lamar based on thinking they can go elsewhere higher up?  Recruiting locally does not necessarily equate to success at the next level.  I don't doubt that there are good players in the area, but some of them won't stay here.  Your boy Prewitt had to walk on.  People need to understand that just because the Mid-County Madness game happens locally and kids stand out in that game, that doesn't necessarily spell Division-I talent.  Having a team full of Southeast Texans isn't the goal of Lamar.  That's not the goal of any real college.  If the team was undefeated right now, would you still have the same thing to say regarding local recruits?  I hate to say it, but local recruits do not help the university grow.  Now that shouldn't stop us from recruiting locally, but I'm proud of the fact that there are players from other states that have never heard of Lamar on the team. 

Polyanna?  Maybe you should get a username not based on someone else's.  How about "Cardswearenot".
[/quote] 

Polyanna-
I cannot help it if factual remarks and negative remarks are one in the same.  Should we say "man the punt returners did a great job against NWSU.  they didn't fumble any punt returns!"  Or, "man, that Bevil was fantastic the first 3 quarters.  He didn't get hurt!"  Just because I say something was bad when it WAS bad doesn't mean I'm not a fan.  That is plain ridiculous.

As far as Mid county recruits wanting to go elsewhere, it is all relative.  I'm sure there are WB recruits that want to go elsewhere and Central and Lumberton and Bridge City.  However, one would think that with those two programs so fanatical about football that we could muster up more than 3 players.  And, common sense would suggest that certainly we could find at least one starter?

As for recruiting locally, that absolutely should be our goal.  Have you seen UT's roster and ATM's roster?  They are heavily loaded with Texas recruits.  What about OU and OSU?  All Texas and Oklahoma.  And, yes, I'd be saying the same thing if we were undefeated.  Now, of course, if they don't have the talent then we shouldn't give them scholarships but there are a lot of talented kids at those schools...in addition to the schools where we seem to do a good job with recruiting (West Brook and I think we have two or three kids from Central, and the kids we got from Lumberton).  I don't know what you mean by a "real" college.  But most colleges, real or unreal, recruit there area first and then expand out from there.  Very few truly recruit on a national basis.  The goal of any real college should be to sign quality kids first and they should look in their own backyard first.  And "local recruits don't help the university grow".  Huh?  What kind of nonsense is that?

Oh, and I'm not sure why you call Prewitt "my boy".  I watched all three of them play and he played the best.  If that makes him my boy, ok.  As far as him walking on, so?  He wasn't recruited by anyone.  Maybe we shouldn't have allowed him to walk on so he's local and wouldn't help the university grow?

Anyway, good luck and maybe one day we will sign all the best players from Indonesia!

Oh, and one last suggestion about improving attendance.  Who are the two biggest/most fanatical high school football programs in southeast texas?  In case you are stumped, that would be Nederland and PNG.  Now, how many starters does LU have from those two high schools??  If I'm counting correctly I come up with zero, zilch, nada.  How about recruiting and playing some of those kids so that maybe we can get a little mid county madness wearing red?

[quote name="TBonesLU" post="1072826" timestamp="1317676012"]
[quote author=58SHW link=topic=88627.msg1068786#msg1068786 date=1317298818]
[quote author=coachacola link=topic=88627.msg1068681#msg1068681 date=1317262371]
Its simple, Lamar just needs to win and the fans will come.  In the the late 70's with Larry Keenan as head coach they started winning and they averaged over 16K a game.  In basketball, Tubbs and Foster kept winning year after year and attendance peaked to over 6K a game.  The problem with Lamar is they lose a lot more than they win so people lose interest and attendance dwindles.  [b]All the other factors are minor compared to winning.[/b][/quote]

To you. And maybe the stands will fill to 16K plus if they start winning, not argueing that. it's just hard to believe some of ya'll do not respect and understand that "the other reasons" are important to some of US. If winning puts 16K in the stands, why not fix the other and put 20K in the stands. Who knows it may only put 16K + 1, that would still be better.
[/quote]

Understood...and here's my take: if you don't like what is going on with the team/university, don't associate with it/them.  Don't go to games, don't watch highlights, don't wear LU apparel.  I hardly doubt that 4k people have a problem with Anthony Oden and the others.  Let's ask Bevil if he would rather play with the guys on the team now or trade them for some upstanding volunteers who played a down of football once who "deserve a second chance".  I'll admit that I was reticent to getting Oden at first.  His history spelled trouble.  However, we got him.  So what is easier to do?  Be upset and say how he will kill someone on the road in a car, blah blah blah...(the easier thing to do in every situation is be negative).  What is the more fun and fulfilling thing to do?  Enjoy his presence on the offensive line now.  I know Bevil and Johnson (when he's in) like having a guy like that "blocking" for them.  So he's here now...you may as well back the team.  Otherwise, like I said, don't go to the games.  There are people from out of town that I'm sure would love to have your ticket to watch their team at Provost-Umphrey Stadium.  Quite honestly, I'd rather see the people that are going to only have negative things to say stay home with their seats taken by the opponents.  At least then if the stadium were sold out, we'd have 16,000 FANS.  Lamar is not UT.  It never will be.  There are not too many fans of Lamar who are not students/alumni.  Texas has that by the truckload.  So if you plan on labeling yourself as a Cardinal fan, be just that.  Be a fan.  We can't all get what we want regarding this team.  We learn to live with what we get.  To be honest, if anyone isn't happy as a Lamar fan right now, then those people are S.O.L.  To be 8-7 in the first 15 games of the program restarting is simply amazing.  The Texans didn't work that quickly (I'm not comparing).

I'm done...and yes, I re-registered my account.  I can't sit back and watch all the negativity when we're 3-1 and have already surpassed what we were supposed to do this season (win one SLC game).

P.S. It's nice to see all the Bevil/Woodard haters shut up for at least one week.
[/quote]

Your screen name is wrong, it should be "Pollyanna".  Since when can't you be a fan and talk bad about your team?  Heck, that is almost the American way.  How many Romo haters are out there that are Cowboy fans?  What about UT fans that bash Mack Brown?  Or the Denver fans chanting "Tebow, Tebow, Tebow" when Kyle Orton is in the game?  Deal with it.  One of the "fun" things to do is analyze the game and the players and spout off about what you'd do differently.  I can see us now under your scenario, all singing kumbaya as we are losing 60-0 and talking about how wonderful everyone is.  All of us hugging and chuckling about what a wonderful game it is.

Oh, and as for the Bevil haters...we're back.  Or at least one of us is.

P.S.  You didn't even list the best qb we have in your post.  Prewitt.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1078305" timestamp="1318194440"]
ok..i've calmed down..and will attempt to revise my report card

coaching-F
Off Coord-F
Def coord (woodard?)-Z
QB-D
Oline-D
D-Line-F
Linebackers- C- (unless -in that whack def scheme, those underneath routes were theirs)
special teams (coverage)-FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
punt returners-FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
punter-A
JJ Hayes -AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--the NW db was a heck of a db, and JJ still came out on top

Cardinal "fans"----dont get or deserve a grade--[b]I[/b] for incomplete 



we are just not a very good SLC team right now...smite me all day long..i tell it like it is

so--we sucked, got manhandled..but it beats the heck outta not having a team!
[/quote]

I don't know what QB you were watching.  I've decided that Bevil would be great in a sandlot game.  Just don't confuse him with actual plays and real routes.  Just a)don't block for him and b) tell the receivers to all run deep.

[quote name="SmashMouth" post="1078978" timestamp="1318262761"]
[quote author=puddin tane link=topic=87670.msg1078963#msg1078963 date=1318262015]
[quote author=ForeverADog link=topic=87670.msg1078810#msg1078810 date=1318253302]
Hanna starts at a fullback type position. Used more as a blocker and tight end. Rarely gets to carry it but is still oh the field quite a bit.
[/quote]

huh?  Help me out..I dont remember seeing him lined up in the backfield and I dont think he has an official rushing attempt at all?  Played alot of TE when stone hands Chavis was hurt, didnt play much Sat.  ( Did have a score called back on a fake field goal earlier this yr)---he's a TE
[/quote]

YEP!  TE where I say him playing.
[/quote]

Ditto.  And for some reason he barely made it on the field at all (actually I don't know recall seeing him on any offensive plays) against the Demons.  Perhaps ForeverADog is one of those"fans" that's not really a fan.  In other words, hasn't actually been to a game.

[quote name="SmashMouth" post="1078920" timestamp="1318259511"]
Do you want to know what the REAL problem is?  We all need to look in our own backyard.  This area does not support local ANYTHING other than High School football. 

We had a semi-pro basketball team that couldn't be beaten...no fan support. 

We had the Padres minor league team, the Beaumont Golden Gators...no fan support. 

LU always has an awesome baseball team...no fan support. 

We had an Arena football team...no fan support. 

Anyone remember the Hockey team (now I realize hockey is a stretch in a SE Texas town) but still, no fan support. 

It is up to US!  Pouring money into it is not the only answer.  I would venture to say that quite a bit has been poured into LU football, but the Home Conference opener crowd was not even 70% capacity (and that's being generous).  Tradition and support start with US! Not fancy billboards and new facilities.  It's not just athletics either.  Look at Crockett Street.  All the businesses went "belly-up" and were taken over by another person.  Downtown Beaumont is still struggling for a resurgence...it may never happen.

WE ARE THE ANSWER AND "WE [b][u]SUCK[/u][/b] AT SUPPORTING ANYTHING LOCAL!"
[/quote]

I mostly agree with your post.  In many ways we are our own worst enemy.  How many local people actually WANT their kids to go to LU?  It is ridiculous.  We probably have more damn Aggie fans in southeast texas than LU fans.  One other thing is the University is having to overcome the McLaughlin/Franklin disaster years.  They almost completely destroyed the University.  They were anti 'college experience'.  I was in a fraternity at LU and it made my experience there a blast.  We lived on campus either in the fraternity house are nearby apartments.  Intramural sports, camping out for basketball, raising hell at football games, having parties on campus with sororities and other students.  Franklin and McLaughlin hated us.  They ran all the fraternities and sororities off campus.  They got rid of football.  It was like they were saying "ok, how can we make this total hell".  Thank God Simmons is there and undoing all of the crap they did.  He's got YEARS of damage to fix and is doing a fantastic job.  Oh, and while our crowd was disappointing, I thought it was better than 70%, probably closer to 80%.