Since nobody, including myself seems to be able to figure out the coaches recruiting philosophy I figured I would take a stab at what it might be. Now keep in mind I could be way out in right field with this. When Alyson was hired she mentioned at her introduction press conference that she wants players who played for the name on the front of the jersey, not for the name on the back. She also mentioned she didn't want kids who just wants money. Mike White, Tim Walton, Patty Gasso have basically won with high school recruits and portal players as needed. All three of those coaches own national championship rings, Glasco will never have one because he is trying to write checks only. I believe Alyson could be trying to follow those three coaches model. Only Williams has played for Glasco on the current roster. The first two classes that came in for Alyson were Glasco recruits. The few portal players she has acquired isn't the same as her recruiting high school recruits. Portal players were someone else's players first. 11 of the 22 current player roster is freshman, this could be by design. The 7 true freshman coming in are the only true recruits that are Alyson recruits. She has mentioned over and over on her weekly pressers about the standards, non-negotiable, and cULture, which we as fans know hasn't worked. I think she will use her first real class as the standard and, cULture bearers. In other words they could be the class to lay the expectations, standards, and foundation for what Alyson envisions the future of Ragin Cajun Softball. This would means she is basically starting over in year 3 of her era, but really it is year 1 in her mind. The goal might be to get high schools kids(only get portal kids if a hole exist and needs to be filled) coach the kids up, recruit those same kids to stay versus spending money, time and energy via the portal. This plan could work and could back fire. Cons: The team would probably be sub par four years running before getting on track, may lose more of the loyal fan base, the program perception would be lost, NIL and portal is still moving fast. Pros: Less money, time, and energy needed to retain players versus buying portal players. I am not saying I agree with this model, nor do I even know if this is the model she may be trying to achieve. I know if this is the model she wants to try then it will still take money to make it happen, they will have to hit on almost all players, and try to keep the core players intact, and hire good coaches/recruiters to develop players to another level. Thoughts?
-
-
Regardless of her recruiting philosophy, she is going to have to deal with the issues created by the portal, NIL and revenue sharing, and we have to win.
Money talks. We may be able to recruit a pitcher with elite potential, but if she achieves that potential we will need much more money than we currently have. The same problem exists with position players, but less money is needed.
No matter what she wants to do, there are some things she has to do.
1. Get creative in ways to attract younger fans, and to otherwise grow our fan base.
2. Engage more with existing fans.
3. Be much more aggressive in her approach to raising money whether for revenue sharing, operating expenses or capital outlay. [See recent e mail and social media driven efforts by Baseball and Soccer for examples].
4. Have a proactive approach to helping girls find NIL sources. This is not the same as revenue sharing.
5. Fix our issue of poor play on the road, especially in conference games.
Comment
-
Revenue Sharing could be achieved in this fashion. "For the record Revenue Sharing is equal sharing for all players regardless of talent or contributions to the team" A 25 player roster is allowed. Let's play devils advocate and say UL carries 23 players per season. Everyone get $7,500 per semester, which is $15,000 per player. That comes out to $345,000 needed to try to retain current roster players. Alyson and her staff would need to be fully behind raising the money but she could find five people who are retired, have time on their hands, and love Cajun softball to help her raise the money. I can name five guys in the stands that if she asked them they would help for free. She knows more people than me, so finding free help wouldn't be a problem. That means each guy would need to raise $69,000 each. The program has around 1000 season ticket holders in the grandstands and outfield. If they would communicate with fans and ask each fan for $50 to contribute that along would be $25,000 less to raise. They need to get creative and work with the professors in the marketing field. Get some students real work and have them do media work for your program as real work experience. Facebook, X and Instagram is free and they don't even take advantage of that. None of this has anything to do with NIL. This would be a $15,000 payout per player yearly. Deggs raised $150,000 in a month and found $150,000 that was matched. $300,000 in a month and he got 10 players from it and that's not counting what he needed to keep some of the current players. If Deggs and White can raise money quickly then the expectations for the softball staff should be the same.
Good development, recruiting, and raising money would help get the wins needed.Comment
-
I'm talking about a retired hard core fan. A casual fan doesn't love UL softball. Sometime all you have to do is ask. I know a business that told me last season he would give $10,000 a year donation to the program if they just asked him. Nobody ever has. I'm sure he has found others to give it too. Picture this, two fans from Lafayette that never followed softball, and only started attending games four years ago donated each $100K this offseason, so Lafayette has money. The only reason they even came to a UL softball game in the first place is because they saw two future Cajun softball players throwing a ball in the yard. At the time they had never attended a UL softball game and didn't even know the two kids would one day be on the team at UL.Comment
-
Paying every player who be a selling point in recruiting in my opinion. I like the idea of equal revenue sharing. Players could still generate NIL on their own with the help of coaches and business. The lower tier players wouldn't get NIL money, but at least they would have some pocket change. I gave the example of 23 players at $15,000 per player. Maybe the number is $10,000 per player. 15K at 23 players is $345k. 10K at 23 players is $230K. Five people would needed to raise 46K per person. This could happen, if an effort was made. People had the money to buy Marlin out, they had the money to try and keep Napier. People have the money to donate to UL softball but they need boots on the ground. The first step is informing the fan base with proper communication with what is needed, the second step is start asking NOW.Comment
-
I believe the lack of fan engagement via social media and/or organizing fan meetings is moving this program in the wrong direction.Comment
-
True
I believe this is a cumulative effect going back to 2008 when the administration started telling fans to stay away from social media and fan sites that promoted interest in the program.
Messages like "don't engage with players" and the like.
True the administration later endorsed social media but the cumulative effect is lasting.Comment
-
I am very sure that the university can utilize volunteers to assist in fundraising efforts. Volunteers may not be able to develop, direct or lead fundraising, but they most certainly can participate in those efforts by assisting in their implementation, even in very visible ways; though not to the extent of conducting an event for the university's benefit independent of the university's direction and control..
Comment
-
I know every October, Mr. Bobby puts on a golf tournament for the UL softball program. I have no idea what expenses are involved, what revenue is made from the tournament, or what manpower is needed to put on a tournament. Has anyone ever thought of putting on a tournament once a month, starting in July, in all six parishes that touch Lafayette Parish? Could it be possible to host a tournament once a month, starting in July, August, September, October, November, and December? Make each tournament in a different parish that touches Lafayette. Lafayette, Vermilion, Iberia, Acadia, St. Landry, and St Martin. Golfers are weird dudes who like to spend money, drink beer, and spend money.Comment
-
I know I have been critical of our approach to the portal, though not overly critical of the girls we got in the portal. I took a look at the portal results for the other teams in the SBC, and I honestly believe that it is not a stretch to say that no one in the Belt even came close to getting the same quality/quantity of portal players that have joined the Cajuns.
I agree that Conde and Spinogatti are unproven, and that Favors has very little D1 experience; but all have pretty good potential to produce for us. I am cautiously optimistic that they will all be able to help us to some degree this year.Comment
Comment