Across the nation.

The Raging Cajuns will.

Be a source of pride for this.

University, for the alumni, fans, and donors.

As we achieve success in the classroom, in the competitive arena, and in the community.

It's about to get really fun.

We're looking for dudes that will stand up.

Well, Coach, let me tell you, today I'm here, and I'm ready to stand up.

And I challenge you, Raging Cajun Nation, to stand up with us.

Stand up with us.

Let's lock hand in hand, and let's walk through the gates of Omaha.

Hey, I love y' all boys.

Let's grind every day starting today.

Let's do it.

Y' all ready?

Allah.

Allah.

Ready?

Who's your team?

Ready.

Who's your team?

Ready.

That's.

I got one thing to say right here.

Cages win.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome in to Raging Review.

Nick, in with the boys tonight.

We've got Cole, we've got Josh, Lane, Jerry joining us.

Well, welcome in.

We want to look.

I'd go around the horn, ask you guys, how you doing?

But you all look great.

I do want to start things off.

Josh.

Cajun Threads.

I know you talked about this last week, kind of an intro, but, man, that has really blown up in the last couple of weeks, and you really took the lead on that.

I want to just compliment you on.

On a really, really great job.

And the presentation is fantastic.

The feedback has been wonderful.

How many people have joined is absolutely crazy, but I wanted to.

To hear from you, you know, is it just me, or is it Cajun Threads?

Like, going crazy right now?

It's.

It's blowing up before our eyes, buddy.

Threads is pretty good, man.

Let's see.

Just over 50,000 hits in seven days is pretty cool, especially when you consider that it's not open to the public.

It has to be.

You have to create an account to even see the content.

So that's a little bit different from the traditional boards.

Over 350 users as of today.

I'm pretty stoked.

I think it's going great.

We're having great, lively conversations daily.

Got some chat features for you all to be in real time having conversations.

So come on over to Threads.

It's called Cajun Threads, but we all just kind of call it Threads.

A little play on words.

It's T H R E D S, not ea, you know, Cajun Threads.

Red, as in red and white.

You get it?

So it's been awesome.

The reception has been really great.

The Cajun treads, y'.

All.

Yeah, check it out.

It's th not tr, but it's really, really cool.

And, and like I said, great layout, awesome, awesome connectivity with the fans.

So that's been a lot of fun.

Also something we'll be doing very soon.

Andy Thomas is our first Pat supporter, so I want to give him a shout out.

We have got some, some really cool Patreon stuff coming out which will give you guys the opportunity to subscribe to some different things, including some VIP areas in.

In our Cajun threads, maybe even a discourse, excuse me, a discord group.

And potentially even getting to have lunch, dinner or something with, with us.

I don't know why anybody wouldn't want to pay for that, but if you would, we'll take your money.

So we do have the opportunity through Patreon now.

Looking really forward to that.

And one, of course, before we get into everything, thank our sponsors.

Eat Lafayette.

Brought to you by Lafayette Travel, Dr. Brett Venable and Recovery Chiro Med and Lafayette Roofing.

Darren Domang.

Always, always having our backs there.

And speaking of backs, as we said as we break our backs during our our tailgates this season, we're Gonna definitely need Dr. Brett and the folks at Recovery Chiromat.

Now, Josh, I know you have a couple other shout outs you want to.

Give, so last week, while I had to drive the show, which I hate.

I'm glad you're back.

I'm an opinion guy.

I don't like driving.

However, I did get a chance to shout my ladies out at yes, please.

They're a marketing firm for big and small.

They handle it all type thing.

They've been really instrumental in some great deals that we're gonna be announcing to the public very soon.

I just wanted to give them a little love.

Courtney and Danielle, awesome people to work with.

Very good at what they do.

They deserve all the praise that we could possibly heap upon them.

Yes, please.

Great, great brand that they've created.

Great brand that they've helped us created and helped us create.

And they've done a great job with just making those relationships that I mentioned.

So I wanted to give them a shout out.

You know, I could go in and spend another 30 seconds, but I get fussed at for my long winded promotions and endorsements.

So I'll leave it at that.

At that.

Well, on this one we're good because, you know, they're good people, so certainly don't mind.

Also, it got back to them that we made the shout out.

So within 12 hours I got a text message with a very.

They were very thankful for us saying that and I wanted to just keep that going because they deserve it, appreciate it.

And thanks to all of our sponsors and those who also help us out and folks like DAF who say Cajun Threads is awesome.

Another way to connect fans.

And you said it before, this is not a replacement of, of anything.

Right?

We're not coming in to replace anybody.

We're simply here to, to supplement and get more Cajun fans connected.

So that's really the the purpose of Cajun Threads.

Boys, it's time to have a little bit of fun.

And I'm sure I know I'm going to raise some eyebrows with a couple of of picks that I had, but we are going to go through game by game this season.

You know, instead of doing what do you think our overall record is going to be, I thought it'd be more interesting for us to really go through the list and pick, really pick who we think will win or lose each game.

How did you get to that, that end result?

So I'll go and of course I'll start with Rice and we'll talk about a little bit.

Maybe if we all agree, disagree, whatever, then we'll move on.

Guys, feel free to chime in because I can't.

You know, I'm not gonna.

I did mute everybody, but feel free to unmute yourself and comment if you'd like to.

And of course we'd love to hear from those watching as well across all of our platforms.

Let's start with week one against Rice.

I'm feeling confident about Rice and so are you guys.

Now I will say they did make a an announcement that their quarterback will be a red shirt freshman who apparently is kind of an option quarterback.

So that gives you a little pause.

Not saying that we're going to lose the game, but anytime you have one of those sneaky run run option type of of QBs, it always makes me a little bit nervous.

Gets my stomach grumbling a little bit.

But regardless, I think we take care of business against Rice the first week.

In fact, I texted one of my buddies who used to coach there.

I thought he was still coaching there and I kind of talked a little bit of trash in a text and it turns out he's now in the NFL coaching.

So he told me he agreed with me that we will eat some rice the first week and get the win.

Boys, I saw you nodding Josh, your thoughts on the quarterback situation.

Does that change your mind about Rice week one or we're still good to go?

When they recruited him he was a dual threat athlete type quarterback.

They Moved into the wide receiver room last year and when this new coach came in, Coach Abel came in and took over, they all changed the offense and everything to be an option type offense.

Then they moved him into that role because of his athletic prowess.

I think we're going to win the football game.

I'm not going to say that I think we're better overall.

They have a very flimsy defense.

They don't tackle well.

They're replacing.

I think it was like five of the top 10 graded PFF guys.

They lost to the either graduation, undrafted free agents, things like that.

But there's a lot of variables.

A lot of pressure to play well in an opening a new stadium, new season, a lot of guys that have reps, but not a lot of guys that started so, you know, new leadership, new.

New guys in key positions.

I think that there's some variables.

I think maybe it takes a little, a little while to get into a groove.

Offensively, I think our defense will be fine, but offensively maybe takes a minute.

I think Rice actually is one of those games that people just mark off as a win, but I think it's going to be a little bit more difficult than just a win.

There's a lot of things you don't typically see the option offense and then like I said, all the variables about being at home and opening up that big stadium.

I think we win the game, I think it's a little bit closer.

And I don't know if we're going to get into the spread, but I think the spread's pretty close.

Yeah, spreads like lane, was it 13 and a half?

I think the spread was.

Is that correct?

Yeah, I want to say last I saw it, it was 13 and a half.

All right, so 13 and a half.

And that'll move probably.

I would anticipate that moves down a little bit.

Somebody else said 13, so we'll see how that goes.

But I agree with you and I think, you know, for all the predictions that we're making today, that's as of today, because so much could happen throughout the season.

You could have injuries, you could have, you know, things happen that you don't expect that could change your vision of what the.

What it'll look like later on.

But for today, this is what we're thinking and predicting.

I agree with you, though.

I think it's going to be.

I think there's going to be a little bit of sloppiness.

I think there's going to be a little bit of cohesiveness.

We need to get through and you know, maybe a little bit of first game jitters for, for Walker, but we'll see how they all handle it.

Boys, anybody else want to come in on Rice before we move on the fighting?

Tommy McClellan's.

Yeah, we should definitely try to get him this week.

Wouldn't that be awesome?

We should try to get him in for our preview next week.

And, and do want to mention that we are going to do our full preview next week, try to get somebody on to speak with us from the right side.

So.

Rice side.

So stay tuned.

We're the right side.

They're the Rice side.

All right, week two, boys.

Let's talk about McNeese.

I would probably punch anybody who picked McNeese to win that game, but no, nobody is picking us to lose against McNiece Cole.

You know, you have to respect the opponent.

Regardless of how poorly they played last year.

Viatar is now their head coach once again.

So I, I mean, I think this is, this is the game that we get.

Kind of everything gels together after that first Rice game.

Your thoughts about, about McNeese coming up?

Yeah, so they're gonna be, they're gonna be better than they have in the past.

They're gonna play, they're gonna play hard for him.

I know that whole fan base is happy to have him back.

He's gonna get them back to being a competitive ball club.

I just, I don't think they're there yet.

To be, you know, to be, to come into our house and to beat us, I do expect from a fan standpoint, I think, I think we may have more fans, you know, against McNeese than we will against Rice.

So as long as we come out and, you know, you set the table against Rice, you, you get you guys reps, you know, you, you have a good turnout.

You win that game.

If you could turn around against McNeese and really put it together, kind of use it as that stepping stone to, to spring you into going to Missouri.

That's kind of what I'm looking towards.

You know, week two, as you know, you want to, you want to use it as a, as a really good tune up to prepare yourself for Missouri.

Because we know, I mean, every Cajun fan knows going to Missouri is going to be the big circle on the, on the schedule.

So.

But yeah, bottom line, right down the road, you know, in Lake Charles, I'm expecting it to be a well attended game, but overall, I think the Cajuns win.

I would be surprised if it wasn't, you know, a 14 point win.

Yeah, we're getting some prediction score predictions already against McNe.

Josh, 31, 10 versus McNe.

I expect that at a minimum, I.

Think we better score more than 31.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Look, dude, if you're losing to McNeese gets you fired, period.

You can't lose the game.

I would hope that I, like I said, I said this on a episode in the, in the, you know, recent past.

Rice and McNeese should be seen as one of those two week periods where the Cajuns are going to become a football team.

It's going to take a minute to get this team to play together.

Yes, we have a lot of seniority and yes, we have a lot of experience, but a lot of these guys are starting for the first time.

McNeese is a tune up game.

You got to win the game.

You may not, you know, 31 to 10 actually might not be a bad prediction, to be honest with you.

Because if we are kind of still sputtering a little bit on offense, 31, I mean, 31 is not a bad prediction.

But if this defense gives up around 10 against McNeese, I think we're going to be on track.

Last time we played them was 2016.

We won 30 to 22.

It was not a pretty game and I think we were all more pissed off than concerned because we felt we should have ran away with it.

But yeah, that was last time we played him.

Somebody was asking.

It was in 2016.

All right, boys, last call.

Anybody want to talk about McNeese or move on?

I'm still not over 2007.

Oh, I think a lot of people aren't.

And so I think, I think if there's any opportunity for us, and I know Travis gives a 31 to 10 prediction, I want that game to be like 41 to 10 or 51 to 10.

I think if there's any year to crush any type of perception that, you know, McNiece is and us were on the same, you know, page like we were years ago or McNiece fans think that this is 1985 all over again.

I think this should be the game where we make a statement and say, no, we're definitely separate and we're going to basically curb stomp you on in our new stadium by, you know, by four scores or five scores.

If there's any time to do that, it's this year.

Curb stomp them.

Like in 1983 where we beat him 48 to 16.

I would.

Something like that, yes.

I would be happy with that.

Yeah.

All right, boys, let's go on to the next game.

This one's going to be interesting.

Who thinks we will defeat the Missoura Tigers?

Josh, you and I are the only ones who have any faith in this team this year, brother.

And, and yeah, I, I, it's going to be a tough game, but I just have a feeling this is a game that we go on the road and not shock the world, because it wouldn't really.

I mean, it's Missouri, but I think you have the opportunity to go get a big road win early in the season and surprise a few people.

Coleman, you were a little bit pessimistic on this.

Tell me your thoughts.

Why'd you pick up Missouri?

I'm all about the stats, guys.

Cajuns are 0 and 46 versus the SEC all time.

Now.

Listen, it only takes one.

I get that, but you asked me a question.

You wanted to know if I projected win or loss.

I'm a historical guy.

I, I'm gonna go with trends.

That's why I see us losing here.

I mean, Owen 46 speaks for itself.

Do I?

Obviously, I'm a Cajun fan at heart.

I want us to get over that hump and I want us to beat an sec, you know, team I would love it to be this year, but I just think, I just think it's, it's a tall task and this might be one of those games where we drop early.

And good news is, is it would be early in the season and there's a lot of time to rebound and still have a phenomenal year.

But that's why I'm leaning, you know, I'm leaning towards a loss.

Jerry, let's talk about it, man.

I think even more reason for us to win this game is because we haven't beaten an SEC team.

Streaks are made to be broken, and it's damn past time that we break it.

We've come so close so many, many, many times.

We're talking about heartbreaks at Florida and South Carolina when we should have beat them back in the day.

Yeah, tell me about it.

Why are you picking Mizzou?

Look, if we were going to Stockfield to play Mississippi State after seeing what Toledo did to him last season, I'll feel a lot more confident winning this game.

I just think Mizzou, you know, they've gotten better each year.

If you look at what Eli Drinkowitz has done, he has built a respectable program.

At Missouri.

Last year know they had a really high powered offense.

They were very Impressive.

Now, they weren't obviously an 11.1sec powerhouse, but at the same time, you know, I believe there was something like somewhere like 8 and 4, which is actually pretty.

Pretty respectable in that conference.

And so, you know, unless proven otherwise right now, I will say this.

I think the first two games against Rice and mce, you know, I know they're not great teams, but I think if we can fundamentally play well, the first two weeks, maybe I might change my mind going into Missouri.

But like Cole said, unfortunately, you know, patterns are real.

And I just don't see us getting over that hump against just that deep of talent.

And don't get me wrong, they have a lot of new faces, but they're still an SEC team, and they're a very good, respectable SEC team, and we have to go to their house in play.

So I'm not.

It's.

I don't.

Look, I honestly think it's going to be a respectable game.

If you were to ask me today what the score would be, I think we.

I think we can hang over.

Hang over 20 on them.

I just don't know if we can stop that offense.

They run that spread and.

And they're just.

They've got track stars at receivers, and they're just talented all around.

I just don't think we have the talent to beat them.

But, you know, crazier things have happened, and I hope I'm wrong.

I tend to agree with 77 when he says it's going to depend on how we do in the trenches.

That'll really be a measuring point for us this season, Josh.

You know, they're going to have some big SEC boys up there.

But one thing I hate to hear is when somebody says SEC speed.

And you know, you're going to hear that at some point in either a prognostication about the game or during the game.

Man, look at that SEC speed.

I want to see some SBC speed on our side of the ball because I think we can handle it with anyone in the country if it comes to trying to outrun somebody.

In my personal opinion, nobody's gonna outrun us.

No, I don't care.

SEC speed.

But we heard from the other two weenies.

We heard from the other two.

The other two scaredy cats.

Let's hear from Lane.

I want to know why Lane thinks we can't beat Missouri.

One name.

Ahmad Hardy.

Screw that guy.

That's all I got to say about him.

He ran all.

He ran all over us when he played at Ulm, and we couldn't Stop him now.

Hopefully the run defense is much better, Much improved this year.

But three games, game three, I don't see it gelling that quickly, but hopefully it does.

But I just don't see us winning that game.

I think it'll be a close one like the other guy said, but I think they pull away at the end.

All right.

I think we're better than last year.

It's not even close.

We're, we're at every level, at every unit, every.

In every way.

And there's some question mark at quarterback.

Obviously, talent wise, I think we're just fine.

But the production, you know, obviously you got to replace that.

So at every level, we're, we're a better football team.

I spent a embarrassing amount of time backing up this prediction.

Obviously you got a little bit of.

You got to have some courage to predict occasions to beat SEC team on the road, one that was ranked last year and had some success.

So.

But I'm gonna just tell you right now, the, the Missouri season last year was a little bit of a mirage.

First of all, I don't think Coach Drinkowicz is the guy that everybody thinks he is.

I watched him coach against Billy when he was here and yes, they ended up getting the better of us a couple times, but I still don't, I'm not a big drink guy.

I never really bought into drink.

They avoided the top four SEC teams.

You know, that top heavy SEC league last year, they avoid playing the top four.

So all their wins in the SEC were against middle to lower level SEC teams.

And, and we know the history of how that goes.

Jerry mentioned that they had an elite offense.

They didn't have any lead offense.

Their defense won them games.

They had, I think they played eight one score games and their defense really helped them win, every single one of them.

So the one bad thing about our game is that they're, they're elite on defense.

Their talent is elite.

They're returning starters or elite.

It's going to be hard to score points on them.

If we put 20 on that defense, I'm going to be thrilled.

Where I think we really match up is where our defense can run with their offense.

You've got an issue at quarterback where you lose Cook from last year.

Brady Cook.

Cook.

If you watch the jets and the, and the Giants play on NFL Network, I think it was yesterday or day before you saw Brady Cook.

That guy's great ball placement was elite in that preseason game.

I didn't really watch him a whole lot at Missouri, but I was super Impressed with him.

They've got two quarterbacks that between the two of them have one half of football that would be considered meaningful in their two careers.

Sam Horn and Bo Prabula.

He's a Penn State transfer who didn't play at all.

Sam Horn's been at Missouri.

He's just been a developmental type guy.

They lose Luther Burden and Theo Weiss, their two best receivers.

Their leading rusher is gone.

Am I saying the cupboard is bare?

I am not.

I'm not saying that it's the sec.

They're going to recruit an elite level, but production wise, they're replacing everybody.

Their two top offensive linemen from a PFF grade standpoint gone to the NFL.

So you got some moving parts on the offensive line where we play them in the schedule.

After Kansas on the road and before South Carolina on the road, they're going to be at home.

Oh, excuse me.

Not on the road.

Kansas game is at home and South Carolina games at home.

I apologize.

But between those two teams you got the Cajuns.

Who are they going to take more seriously?

A very much improved Kansas team that can score points.

South Carolina team that's probably going to be ranked in the top 15.

And talk about very much improved.

South Carolina is on a tear right now in the recruiting standpoint of things.

I think that they're going to be looking ahead to begin SEC play and I think that we are coming off of two tune up games.

It's on the road, I get that.

But I think that we have a real opportunity to walk in there when they're focused on South Carolina.

I'm just giving some, some reasons to be optimistic.

Is it going to be one of those games where we'll probably need some turnovers to win the game?

Maybe.

You know, they haven't figured out a quarterback yet.

I think so.

But I think we're going to win the game.

I think we have a great shot to win that game.

And yeah, we're owing 46 against the SEC.

That means we're due by baseball odds, we are freaking due.

That's what I'm saying, baby.

Jerry, you want to respond to that?

If they win the game, we're all going to the airport to greet the team when they get back.

I'm just saying I'm not driving in.

From Houston to greet anybody, but.

Oh yes you are, Nick.

Yes you are.

When we're on our way to the playoff, the conference, the championship, the college football playoff, I'll greet them then.

It's a regular season win.

I'm going to be excited about it, but I'm looking for postseason.

That's what I'm going to be ready for.

Yeah.

And I think this is one that you start building your resume, which I think is why it's so important in this part of the season.

Because this is one game that they'll look back to if you go 11 and 1 and say, well, they couldn't even beat Mizzou.

Right.

This is why it's so important.

So Josh and I predicted 3.

0 through the first quarter of the season.

The other guys at 2 and 1.

Let's look on to onto Eastern Michigan, home of linebacker Noah Kaniga.

That is his actual name.

He went viral for his name.

Noah Kaniga has some pretty sweet merch as well.

So Noah will be playing for Eastern Michigan.

The question is, if the Cajuns, let's say, maybe beat Missouri, do they have a letdown against Eastern Michigan?

The answer is no, according to all of us, which I don't think is any surprise.

Now, again, this is not.

This is not something that you just pencil in.

Well, it's Eastern Michigan, an automatic dub.

You know, you're going to be at their place.

You're going to be coming off of a road trip in Missouri, depending on how that went.

So lots of distractions to be in Ypsilanti Michigan.

But I think they do get the win against Eastern based on PFF stuff and.

And looking at.

Looking at Phil Steele's preseason diary, I call it.

Boys, any.

Any thoughts on Eastern Michigan you want to share or shall we move on to the Thundering Herd?

I think it's just a good matchup for us.

I think the way that our team is built matches up really well with the way their team is built.

I like our secondary against their passing game, and I think they're going to have to throw the ball to win the game, and they won't.

And that's my small thought on that.

All right, let's move on to the Thundering Herd, who we obviously owe from last season after getting the win in the championship game in Lafayette, which they are just.

They were just so much better than us, which they were a very solid team.

But considering who we did not have playing that game, you know, you.

There's a little asterisk there that we like to just make sure that they remember.

And we remember well across the board.

Again, Thundering Herd getting the loss in Lafayette.

We're getting a little bit of revenge, obviously, Huff leaving and all the players he took with them, which we're now finding Out.

He communicated with them during the season, told them he was leaving, started recruiting them.

That tells you how much of a standup guy he is, which makes sense now that he's at Southern Miss.

He'll fit right in over there.

But, but again, the Thundering Herd will be a little bit of a struggle for those guys this season as they try to recover from their roster being torn apart.

I think they will still have a decent season.

I just don't think they're going to get the winning laugh yet.

And maybe later in the season they'll start getting it together, but I just don't think it happens in the swamp.

Boys.

Your thoughts on Marshall?

Jerry?

Well, well now it's the Southern Miss Thundering Herd, considering all of Huntington and the football team went to Hattiesburg.

But I think this gives us a golden opportunity.

I mean we have players that knew what it felt like walking off that field and watching them hold up the trophy in our stadium and, and I don't think our guys are going to take that too lightly.

I think this is a game where we're just gonna.

I don't think it's going to be pretty.

Honestly.

I, I think Marshall is a decent team.

I think they have some talent, they've got a huge learning curve ahead of them and I think this is going to be a year where when they come to Lafayette, it's not going to be pretty.

I think we're going to lay the, the smackdown revenge on the Thundering Herd this, this season.

Yeah, I agree.

I don't.

I think it'll be a different feel to this game, especially being our first conference game of the year and we won't be down to our third string running back or quarterback like we were last year.

So I feel like that'll play in our favor.

And you never know with Marshall, with losing all of their talent, how they're gonna fare that early on.

Yeah, I mean, guys head Coach gone.

All 22 starters from last year's team gone.

They didn't even have enough players to play a bowl game.

So this is not the Marshall of last year.

This is a completely gutted Marshall team.

I'm sure the new coach that came in did a fine job with piecing together a roster, but that's exactly what this is.

This Marshall team is a peace job.

You know, these are going to be a bunch of guys that are basically learning positions, learning how to play with each other, learning an offense and a defense.

Hopefully by week five we are a well oiled machine ready to roll.

People did not forget that we lost to these people in the building last year for conference championship.

Even though it's a whole new, you know, staff and whole new starting roster, we're still gonna be hungry to beat that, that M logo on that scoreboard.

I think this is a game that we're going to win by 21 plus.

Totally agree with all of that.

It's a total rebuild.

Gibson's a good coach.

He'll probably put it back together in time.

But go back to when DEZ took over for Napier.

I mean, it's a similar situation.

They, they, they, they lost.

They lost everything.

They lost coaches, they lost staff, they lost support staff.

It's a, it's a sad thing that happened in Huntington.

But not only that, the Cajuns will be humming by week five.

And if you look at my prediction, we're coming off the road from beating Missouri and I think that we're going to flirt with a sellout in our new stadium.

It's going to be rocking.

It's going to be loud.

Marshall's not going to have a chance.

And just like Cole said, some of us are going to remember that embarrassment in the, in the conference championship, and I think the players are going to remember it more than anybody.

Good stuff, boys.

All right.

Moving on to James Madison, which will be a key game, obviously not only in the conference, but if we're flirting with the cfp, this is another game that if both of us, hell, are flirting with the CFP at that point of the season, is going to be a must win for both teams.

I think it's going to be an absolute dog fight and I think it brings out visions of Coastal Carolina back in the day where they got a last minute field goal to beat us at home.

I think we see that again and Cajuns get the win at James Madison in that big stadium.

I think it's going to be a dog fight, boys.

And Jerry and Cole going to be going to be crying tears because they, they obviously, I guess chickened out on this one too, boys.

I'll start with you, Cole.

Look, you went against Missouri and James Madison, which we got to win one of those two, to be in any type of conversation for the cfp.

You're saying our chances are over halfway through the season.

I just think that Missouri and James Madison's talent level is, is.

I'm not going to say obviously they have different, you know, players and whatnot, but I think it's similar.

And going on the road to both of those places is going to Be a tall task when it comes to a team like James Madison.

I actually, I really enjoyed listening to Phil still talk about, you know, James Madison and how he thinks, you know, top to bottom, they are the best team in the Sunbelt.

And I respect that because that's a man that puts in, you know, a tremendous amount of work at what he does and, you know, let's call it what it is.

James Madison.

We've never played them before.

You know, as a program, this will be the first time this year a very tall task to go up there and beat them.

I'm not saying it's impossible.

I would love for us to, you know, split between Missouri and James Madison, but in this case with us putting wins and losses down on paper, I went conservative.

I'm, I'm putting what I think is realistic.

I think we dropped that one as well.

Jerry, you also predict us to be out of the CFP conversation by the sixth game of the season.

What's your, what's your logic there, buddy?

I just don't think it's hard to win at jmu.

They don't lose at home.

Like that loss against Marshall last year at home was almost an enigma and they were injured, they were injury prone and they kind of had a sort of a down year to finish off the season.

It's hard, it's hard to win over there.

And I just think that, not to say we can't beat them, but if we're going to go into a shootout at jmu, I think JMU has the advantage there.

I think if they've, they're so, they, they're just so dominant at home and unless we force three plus turnovers, it's going to be hard to beat him.

I'm not saying that we can.

I think it's going to be a war like you said, but I going, if this game were a Cajun field, I'd give the edge to, to us.

The problem is, is we're playing at a place where they don't lose.

And that's the only thing that, the only reason why I took that, that pick, I'm kind of like Cole.

I'm just taking their conservative approach.

And look, I hope come post game after that game, I'm, I'm over.

Cole and I are eating crow.

But I just think right now, you know, we talked about the defensive line, our defensive line and how they're still kind of young, but a little deep, but young.

You can't be young against a jmu.

They, they mix it up.

They're very balanced.

They can run and throw.

We're gonna have to play a perfect defensive game to have a shot.

And I just.

I just don't know enough about our defense yet.

And at least in the front and at least in the front seven to.

To say we can beat him yet.

I just.

I just don't see it right now.

Not right now.

I just wanted to throw this in there because I'm thinking about it as Jerry's talking.

You know, it is a conference game, but that's an Eastern Conference opponent.

So dropping a game, the JMU right there doesn't kill us in the conference standing.

That's.

That's why I'm okay with marking that down as a loss.

Because even if you drop that, you haven't started the Western, you know, the Western part of your conference schedule yet, which I think we're going to run through.

But anyway, I wanted to add that in there.

A loss right there does not kill you as far as Sunbelt standings go.

It doesn't.

And Josh, you know, I think for me, it's just historically.

So we're talking about this losing streak to the sec.

What Louisiana loves to do is break streaks, other teams, home streaks, and win when they're not supposed to win over there.

They've done it at Houston.

They did it at.

@ UAB, ended their huge streak.

And I'm not saying James Madison's on a streak because obviously Marshall beat him last year, but I think that just, you know, historically, we love going into those types of places, especially in conference or amongst the G6 and taking care of business there.

I'm.

Look, I'm.

I'm saying it's a dog fight and JMU could very well win, but I'm putting this one as a dub for the Cajuns.

Josh, I'm with you on this one.

You know what JMU is really, really good at catching good programs when they're down.

It's absolutely fantastic how they've been able to catch App State on a downswing.

Coastal on a downswing.

Georgia Southern, who continues to improve under the coach, USC coach.

You guys will remember his name.

He's doing a great job at.

@ in Statesboro.

They continue to get better.

But anyway, the point is that JMU is always catching these breaks against really, really good conference teams.

They played one of the worst schedules in the country last year.

They have a lot of young guys at key positions.

I. I don't think that they're that good.

And I did listen to Phil still, and he did break down And I don't know if you and I listened to the same video, but he went very in depth on the offensive line and it was very educational and that's great.

And I know they're going to be a solid football team.

I'm just not scared of them.

I think that we stack up, if not as well, better than their linebacker crew.

I think our offensive line has significantly more playing experience than jmu.

I like our quarterback better than jmu.

Definitely like his experience and the things that he has seen.

Obviously not starting experience but the things that he's been around.

I like Walker Howard.

By the time we get to this game, I think JMU look a lot of my pick here can't be defended.

It is a road game.

I understand that.

We haven't played them.

It's a conference game.

Eastern division tends to be a little better than the West.

I get all that stuff.

I'm picking on momentum.

I'm picking on the fact that I don't believe that they're as good as everybody thinks they are.

Somebody said a little bit earlier James Madison's actually due for a down year.

If they actually play a real schedule, I think they're going to lose two or three games.

However, if they turn out to be as good as the people think, they will have beaten Louisville, they will have beaten Liberty and then the Cajuns will come in.

If my predictions stand 6, 0 as well.

If you get a 60 Cajuns team and a 6.

0 JMU.

In an ideal world we might be on college game day, boys, because those are ranked opponents.

That's a conference game and it's right in the middle of the slate.

I think that would be awesome.

I think it'd be an ideal situation for the Sunbelt Conference.

But I think that the Cajuns are better than JMU overall.

Well, five and.

Oh, because that would be our six, zero.

You're right.

Five and.

Excuse me.

We get it.

We get what you're saying.

I think.

I think we'd still be both ranked and yeah, that would be a hell of a.

Hell of a college game day.

I mean instead of sending it to, you know, nobody cares west coast versus Nobody cares East coast.

If they can go to north and South Dakota, I think they can come to James Madison to watch occasions JMU game.

Well, they went to App State.

They've been to James Madison before.

So we got to make it happen, boys.

All right.

So at this point of the season, Josh and I are the most optimistic.

I would be okay with six zero or five and one at this point depending on who we drop a game to.

But four and two, I just don't think it's gonna happen.

I think we got to get one of those two games for sure.

But optimistic Nick is going to take a 60 as well as Josh.

Let's move on to these.

Can I make a quick statement?

No, I'm kidding Clayne.

Of course you can.

Go ahead, buddy.

I think the JMU game all comes down to who their quarterback is.

Their quarterback from last year is coming off an injury but then they brought in a transfer that's supposedly fighting for the number one position and I think it all comes down to that.

But I picked us winning because I just don't like their fans and it all comes down to the quarterback and.

I think for us it comes down to health.

I'll be honest, I agreed.

Agreed.

A lot can happen between now and then.

You all know that.

All right.

This is where it.

Things start getting a little bit, a little bit fun.

I am going to get brutalized because I think after winning the JMU game we get snake bit against Southern Miss.

At homecoming at home.

I really.

Look, I think, I think the historic.

Historically this rivalry has been very one sided.

We only beat him for the first time last year and how many years.

Huff is going to be ready, their team's going to be ready.

He's got some, some key.

I mean the quarterbacks coming from Marshall, he tore us up last year.

I know it sounds ridiculous but this.

If we're going to have a letdown with distractions and let's say we play James Madison there and we get the win and it's on game day and now it's homecoming.

That would absolutely.

I, I just think it's a trap game guys.

And I'm not saying it's going to happen.

I'm just saying if we have one game that we're going to lose that nobody expects us to lose this season it's going to be right here on the schedule.

And no, I'm.

This is not trying to score brownie points with destiny.

Okay?

I'm already going to.

I mentioned her name so now I'm already in trouble.

But I'm just, I'm.

I'm telling the truth.

If there's one game we're going to trip up and lose this season I think it's going to be that week.

Does anybody have any inkling of thinking that might happen or am I absolutely crazy?

Everybody else is pissed off but does anybody not see that this could Potentially be the, the week that we trip.

Up 100 because I was very close to putting it, putting it as a loss for us.

The only thing for me.

Hold on, listen, hold on, hold on.

I would have killed you.

No, the only thing that, that, that I voted against it is because I don't think we'll lose back to back.

And like Jerry said, I don't think we're losing on homecoming.

We owe, we owe Southern Miss one.

I mean, we got our first win against them last year.

I think we continue on, on with that.

I know they just brought in Huff and half of the Marshall roster, so hopefully we go into this game similar to what we're going to go into that Marshall game and knowing that this is the Marshall team from last year with the same, you know, virtually the same coaching staff and hopefully we want to hand Southern Miss a loss just like we wanted to handle, you know, hand Marshall that loss.

I hope it's the same mindset for both games because it should be.

I think we need to come into this game bar all the distractions from homecoming, these boys better be ready to go because you know it's going to be a big win.

Southern misses is on the up and up and this would be a springboard to the second half of the year.

Anybody else want to comment on my crappy prediction?

I just don't want to see Twitter the day that happens, if it happens.

It would just be, I'd want to log off for the day and just be done with it Now.

I tell you, I do think we still win the West.

I don't think that, you know, I think we win.

I think I picked us to win out the rest of the season, but I do think this is one that we potentially drop.

I think, look, Southern Miss is going to be well improved this year.

There's no doubt.

And I think Huff's brought a certain level of expectation and culture that Southern Miss fans have been dying to have for a while.

I, I just don't think they'll be there yet.

I, I, I understand your point.

Nick of a letdown because if we do play poorly, they will beat us at the same time.

I think we'll still be a better established team.

I know that Southern Miss brought a lot of talent from Marshall to Hattiesburg, but at the same time it's not the whole team.

Right?

So you have like half the team is new and then you've got half, you got half that may have some returning guys and look, they're, they're, they're Going to have some growing pains this year.

I just don't think Southern Miss as of now predicting this.

I don't think they'll be at the point where they're ready to beat us yet.

I think this is going to be one of those games where, yes, I think it'll be close.

I think it'll be one of those, the South, South Alabama type games where you may be a heavy favorite and they'll keep it close to about the third quarter and we pull away, but I just don't think it'll be enough.

I think, I think we pull away midway through the second half and we beat them by maybe seven to 10 points.

But to your point, we got.

We have to show up and play.

We cannot slack off because if we slack off that game, they will beat us.

Yeah, I mean, look, last season we, they were a bad team and we only beat them by 10.

Now get granted, it was on the road and playing at Southern Miss is a hard place to play.

But let's not act like we set the world on fire when we played them last season and they were a bad team, we beat them by 10.

Now we're totally different team.

They're a totally different team and we're at home.

But I still expect us to keep the momentum of finally beating them and I think we keep that rolling.

Speaking of rolling, let's roll to the next one.

Troy.

Raging Cajuns all the way.

Not gonna really comment any more on this because we do need to move on through this segment.

We'll go through South Alabama at South Owl.

Looks like we all picked the, the Cajuns to get the win there as well.

This is where it becomes interesting.

Texas State.

What are you guys picking?

Cole.

Here we go again.

Cole.

7 and 3 at this point through the season, taking Texas State.

People do this every single year.

And look, I get it from the same perspective that I said, well, we're 46 and whatever against SEC.

They're due, we're due.

Maybe this is the year Texas State gets it done, but they say that every single freaking year never get it done.

So I'm not buying into it.

Cole, defend your take real quick.

No, I'm not going to take long.

This was my coin flip between Southern Miss and Texas State.

I think we're gonna drop a home game this year.

I, I really don't think we'll win out at home.

I would love it if we do.

I would love to eat my shoe or my, my shrimp boot or whatever, but I think between Southern Miss And Texas State, we dropped one of those games and, and like I said, it could have been a coin flip between either one of those.

But I think Texas State catches us on the way out.

I think they will be improved since last year, but I think they catch us on the way out of the conference and they hand us a loss in the West.

It's going to be a tough game.

I think there'll be a good solid team again, but just not buying it.

Moving on to Arkansas State.

Lane picking the Red Wolves to upset the Cajuns.

Well, maybe not an upset.

I guess it is typically the old days.

The, the, the road team always won and this is Louisiana's road team again, so it wouldn't be an upset.

But you're picking Arkansas State.

Why?

It was.

It's actually the opposite.

The home team usually always won.

Oh, is that what it was?

So that's why I went.

So that's why I went with Arkansas State.

Plus they have Corey Rucker coming back and Jalen Rayner, the 12 connection.

So I feel like that's.

That was my coin flip game.

I feel like either could happen.

But if we were to lose a game, it'd be that one in conference which we would still, I feel like we would still finish on the top of the conference on the west side and it would still have us have a home game for the conference championship.

But that's what I went with.

Corey Rucker, Darius Rucker, any rucker.

Cajuns by 21.

I like that comment from DB real quick.

Nobody should be.

Arkansas State is not a team that's going to beat us.

You shouldn't be scared of them.

They lost Hornsby.

He's gone.

Was their offense for a while.

The Cajuns are going to be on a 12 day rest and Arkansas State's coming off of three of the most physical teams in the conference.

They've been bad on defense for the last year.

They're very poor at tackling.

Half of their top PFF graded players have been either graduated or gone somewhere else to play.

It's not a team that's going to beat us.

I know everybody's scared of Rainer.

I'm not.

He's kind of mid when you force him to be one dimensional.

It's going to be fine.

Good stuff, boys.

Final game of the season.

We all pick us to win against Ulm because baby, that is what we do.

Unless we have an absolutely terrible breakdown at that point of the season.

I mean we could be 1 in 1 in 10 at that point.

I think we still, we still get the game against Ulm.

Not saying that they're not going to be improved, but it's Ulm, folks, and I think that is all that needs to be said.

Josh, going for the clean sweep 12 0.

Is that your serious prognostication?

Do you really think we're not going to drop a single game this season?

I mean, if you listen to me tonight, I gave you a legitimate reason why I think we're going 120 and I don't think we're playing JMU in the, in the conference championship.

I think we're playing Georgia Southern.

I think Georgia Southern is very, they're.

Going to be really improved.

I think people are completely asleep at the on them.

I think their defense is going to be much better.

I think their offense is, is as competent as ours is.

If you look at their running back room, if you look at the experience on the offensive line, that's a real team.

I like their schedule.

I like where their big games fall.

They got a lot of people at home.

JMU is a little bit of the opposite where a lot of their big teams outside of Louisiana are on the road.

I really believe that we can be 120 and we can be playing Georgia Southern as a host championship for the second year in a row.

And I think we're going to win that game too.

And I think we're going to represent the G6 in the college Football Playoff.

By the way, new interim president Jamie.

His last name is escaping me.

Herbert.

Jamie Hebert.

Dr. Jamie Hebert, previously at Georgia Southern.

So I know he would enjoy hosting that championship game in our lady of Lord Stadium.

And, and watching the Cajuns put a whooping on Georgia Southern.

Not the first person we had ties to.

Georgia Southern, former athletic director.

You guys may know before we move on.

Nick, I'll say this.

I would much rather play JMU than I would rather play Georgia Southern at this point.

Yeah, I think people are sleeping on him.

I agree with you and I'm glad you said that.

Boys, any comments on the final records?

I mean, do who.

Obviously Cole doesn't think we're going to be playing for a damn conference championship this year, but he don't.

He only has us with one loss and that's against Texas State.

So that still gives us a chance.

Is there anybody here who thinks we will not be playing in the conference championship this year?

Speak now.

Forever hold your peace.

The answer is no.

Okay, I like that.

I think we do make a repeat performance because we are better than last year.

And I think as long as we can stay healthy, guys, it's gonna be a very fun season in a very nice stadium with hopefully, by the way, very nice weather.

I'm, I'm hearing for the first weekend, knock on wood, might be lower temperatures or at least lower humidity that weekend.

So, so fingers crossed there because we need all the help we can get.

That was a lot of fun, guys.

I appreciate you doing your homework and turning it in in a, a good amount of time.

We got to get all of that in my nice little pretty spreadsheet and share that with you tonight.

So of course next week we're going to talk about Rice.

We're going to get more in depth about, about what to look forward to against the Owls and you know, a little bit shocked that we haven't had any, any talk about a red beans and rice contest.

I know that, that we've been, we've been kind of talking about it on, on the Cajun threads and, and some people mentioning that they're going to have their own.

Could we do our own thing.

We'll talk about why we think that's not going to happen in a little bit.

But before we get to that, we do want to talk about QB1, which has just been announced that Walker Howard will be QB1 this season.

Backed up by, by who's my favorite?

Jerry.

You want to say it like I said it?

Who's talking about Daniel Beal?

Daniel Beal and Lunch Winfield will come in at QB3.

But interesting comments from Dez.

He said lunch will be used in certain situations.

I'm hoping that's more.

And look, I'm not talking about a two quarterback system, but I do want to see more Lunch and situations where we can throw a, a wrench into a game plan for an opposing defense.

Guys, I, I don't think anybody here is surprised that, that he was named QB1.

I think the surprise was.

And Josh, I think you even mentioned this.

Lunch was a lot closer to QB1 than anybody expected going through the spring and summer.

Tell me what you heard about that, that quarterback battle.

Well, from what I can gather from the people that I've talked to, and Jerry actually knows some about this, a lot about this too.

The offensive coaching staff was.

Worried is not the right word.

Concerned.

Maybe that there was some sort of a controversy developing because Lunch progressed so much.

You got to remember before Walker decided to commit, everybody was throwing their resources behind lunch because he was the heir apparent, you know, on the depth chart before Bill, you know, Bill actually kind of came on late in the season too.

But anyway, the development of lunch over the course of the entire off season was an eye opener for the offensive staff.

So, you know, when people were talking about there's a controversy possibly brewing, and then they started saying that Daniel Beal was the number two, well, it was actually lunch that was actually pushing Walker to, you know, where he eventually got to be.

Now, I know that Beals been named the number two, but I think Beals been named the number two because they're going to take lunch and have packages for him to focus on, maybe put him in the slot, you know, maybe a little Lance Lejean type, you know, package.

His role in the offense is going to be similar.

So that's what I heard.

That's what Jerry and I have been talking about.

And that's kind of what we saw in the, in the spring as well.

Man, if you made it out there and watched a little bit.

And also, I want to say, don't forget about Sam Altman.

I mean, I know he's kind of buried in the depth chart, but he can run an offense too.

And if you're familiar with high school football in Lafayette, you know what he did at stm, you know, he's a winner, he's a champion.

So I think the quarterback room is about as healthy as it's been here in a long, long time.

Jerry, tell us what you heard about lunch, because I know you.

You have some good details on that as well.

Yeah.

Coming off the last season, you have to replace a quarterback like Ben Wooldridge, who is apparently lining it up in New England for the Patriots.

Now, you know, when you, when you have quarterback situations where you lose two veteran guys, not just one, but two with all.

But also Chandler Fields and you, you.

You're.

You're expecting an heir apparent to come in and try to fill the roles of both quarterbacks and Ben Wooldridge and, And Chandler Fields.

And honestly, you know, we weren't too sure about lunch because he was kind of down in the depth chart.

He would come in and run the very few packages where he would run it and do quarterback keepers and whatnot.

So we really didn't see much of lunch on the field outside of people who went to practice.

And he was mostly a running quarterback with some.

With some good throws here and there.

And then Daniel Beal came in like in the conference championship as a, as a freshman who was getting red shirted.

So he had a lot of expectations.

So coming into the off season, before Walker Howard was even in the picture, it was a really tough question of who do you.

Who do you put?

Do you put the guy who is a little bit older or do you put the guy with more play experience who was a little bit further up on the depth chart, even as a freshman?

So when.

When Walker Howard came in, everybody, I think, kind of defaulted to him, obviously because of his expectation and who he is.

But then apparently last spring, lunch lit it up and a lot of coaches were like, oh, okay, this is interesting.

So I think there was a little bit of a.

Not like Josh said, not a scare, but just a concern, like, hey, maybe lunch, maybe, you know, vying for the starting job.

But then Walker came in and just was Walker Howard.

So luckily, I'm happy that Walker got the starting job.

I'm kind of surprised that there was even a debate.

I guess they wanted to add some hype to the conversation.

But I will say this.

I'm not upset about the competition because let's be honest, the last time we had a quarterback that played a Full season was 2021 with Levi Lewis.

We've had injuries every year ever since then, playing on our third or fourth string quarterbacks every single season.

So I like the fact that we have competition, because, knock on wood, if something happens to Walker or any other quarterback, at least we have other guys that can come in and be competitive and fill the roles.

So I. I like this quarterback room.

I think it's probably one of the deepest we've had in a long time, and honestly, we might need it.

So I'm glad for Walker.

I think his time has finally come.

And I like the depth.

I like the competition.

Competition's good, especially at a position like that where you haven't had consistent starting roles since 2021.

Jerry, watch your damn mouth with that injury talk.

Dude, I knocked on wood.

I knocked on wood.

So don't.

Don't.

I don't even think you.

You have.

You have one of them presswood desks.

I don't even know if that counts as wood.

Some lolium up there anyway.

All right, so QB1.

I don't think anybody was surprised.

We'll move on to preseason predictions as far as who will be the biggest contributors on the team offensively and defensively.

We'll start with you, Cole.

I'm looking for offensive player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Talk to me who you got.

So I'm gonna start offensive player of the year.

You guys know I love running the football.

I think it starts especially on this year's team with the Run back.

And Zyland Perry is that man, a dog in the backfield.

He led the team last year in all purpose yards with 1,164.

I think he builds on that tremendously this year.

He also had a career high in rushing yards last year with just under 700 at 695 and he averaged 25 yards per kickoff return.

He's a do it all type of guy.

I think the, the offense will absolutely go with him.

I know that Walker Howard's coming in.

I know he's a four star.

He's a former number one overall dual threat.

You know all the, all the things.

But think this offense is built to run the football and if we're going to have any success, it's going to be running the football.

And I think Zyland Perry is going to have a tremendous season.

Now what about defensive player of the year?

Who you got?

Oh, so we're going, we're going through, through both of them.

Okay, so defensive player of the year.

And I think we talked about it last week when we did our defensive run through.

I am really high on Cam Whitfield.

So I, I know last year, you know, Kcosai was basically one of those guys that was the guy, you know, the captain of the defense, led the team in tackles.

I think it was like 115.

I'm hoping Cam can sort of fill that void.

He was a two time, you know, Sunbelt Conference player of the week last year.

He was second on the team with five and a half sacks.

That's actually good for ninth in the Sunbelt.

And then he tied the school record against Southern Miss with, with four sacks in that game where he was the national player of the week, the Walter Camp Award.

So if he can bottle that up and become more consistent, I mean, clearly he showed you he has the ability to be that guy.

So if he can just bottle that up this season and be that guy.

I told y', all, you know, I, I think this defense is going to go on Cam Whitfield.

I know we have Jordan Lawson.

I know we have Tyrese Skipper, but I'm, I like linebackers when it comes to filling voids, making tackles, tackles for lost sacks, all that, all, all of those things.

And being at that outside linebacker position, he's going to be able to make some noise.

I think, I really think Cam Whitfield's going to be the defensive player of the year this year.

Josh.

Offensively, we're all talking about Shelton Sampson from a receiving standpoint, but I'm going to steal your pick because I know you're going to go with my boy Kaden Jensen.

I think he's going to be the new Terrence Carter.

So before you can say it, if that's who you have, who is your offensive offensive player of the year.

So as much as I wanted to pick Caden, I thought it would have been a little bit too easy to predict, and it looks like I was right.

No, look, I think.

I think.

And this is the easy answer, and I'm sure there'll be more than one that say this, but I think Walker Howard is going to be your guy because good quarterbacks, great quarterbacks, make wide receivers way better than they are.

He's already got the built in connection with Sampson.

I think that from snap number one in this season, you have that connection.

It's already built in.

His challenge is going to be to get everybody else worked into this offense, get him comfortable, put balls where only they can catch them and make them better than they are.

Drew Brees, we watched Drew Brees.

For all you know, his career, he was the master at that.

I think Walker Howard has that intangible with him, and I think ultimately he becomes that quarterback later in the season that he's just undeniable.

Look, you got to have a guy that can work the ball at all levels.

In the flat, intermediate and at the top.

I think that he gives you those opportunities.

I think Walker Howard also is very competent with the ball in his hands.

If he has to run, if he has to elude pass rushers in the run game.

I like everything he does.

Protect the football, obviously, protect the football.

But I think Walker Howard just presents too many.

He just has too many good qualities not to be the most productive player on this team.

Lane, your thoughts?

Oh, well, sorry.

Let's go defensive player as well while we're on you.

Thank you.

Everybody thinks I'm going to pick Tyrese Skipper.

I won't.

I think Tyrese Skipper is too much of a known commodity for them to try.

I don't think like my.

My defensive player pick is Cortland Flowers.

I'm going to tell you why.

I think it's going to be the ignorance and the arrogance of the offensive coordinators in this league.

They're going to test him.

People forget about Cortland Flowers because he got hurt early in the.

In the season last year, which really actually changed our defense a lot.

It gave him the ability to sit, study and get a little bit bigger and be perfect for this Starbuck role in 2025.

So it's a little bit of a blessing in disguise in that role.

He'll be able to patrol, he can play in a run game, he can drop back and pass, pass, defend.

He's going to be one of those do it all type players.

He has the athleticism to do it.

He has the body to do it.

I think he's going to be tested more than most on his team.

I think he has the ability to get in the backfield, create tackles for loss.

They're going to try to put sack for to quarterback with him and he's very good in coverage.

I look for Cortland Finland, excuse me, flower.

Cortland Finland.

Do y' all remember him?

The cornerback for the Titans?

My brain is so sports.

Anyway, Courtland Flowers, he's your guy for me defensive wise and, and I can't wait to see him be in this role that he's.

He's absolutely built for with his speed and athleticism.

Good stuff, man.

I love Cortland Flowers, man.

I think he's going to be a difference maker this year.

Lane, your thoughts.

Offensive player of the year.

Go first with that one.

So like Cole, I am going to go with a running back but it's going to be the other running back of the two headed monster with Bill Davis.

He led the team in rush yards and touchdowns last season and I think it just continues that momentum this year for defensive player of the year.

Like Josh was gonna pick tired skipper, I ended up picking him.

I just feel like he's too talented to not that be the defensive player of the year.

Good stuff.

And let's go to you Jerry to wrap it up.

Offensive and defensive players of the year.

I gotta go with the four star receiver from, from tsab.

I gotta give Sheldon Sampson his love.

I think he's gonna have a breakout season.

I think he's going to be an all conference wide receiver.

I think he's going to be Walker Howard's main go to and I think he's going to be sort of that, that X factor in the passing game which I think because of guys like him he's going to open up, he's going to open it up for everybody else.

You know, guys are going to key in on them and there's going to be other weaponry we're going to have offensively because of that.

So I look forward to seeing what Sheldon can do offensively.

There's a lot of hype about him obviously.

I thought he had a great spring.

Caught a touchdown pass in the spring game.

So no, give me.

Give me Sheldon Sampson.

Offensively, defensively, dude, gotta go with my man Jalen Clark.

Work while you wait.

His time has come.

I think he's going to be somebody that's going to step up, have a few interceptions, have a few key plays defensively, a few breakups.

And I think.

I think he's.

He's put his time in and.

And he's played against or played behind some really, really good talent.

And I. I think it's time.

It's his time to shine.

It's his time to shine.

So give me Jalen Clark for defensive player of the year.

I don't think any of those were bad picks, except for the one that DB just shared.

Nick's favorites are Braylon Braxton and Mike Montgomery.

All because I picked Southern Miss to possibly trip us up this season.

You know what?

If they are players of the year for us, that's a good thing.

That means that we destroyed them.

So if.

If I'm picking them, that's what that means.

I'm okay with it.

All right, boys, one last thing before we move on.

Do want to ask, where do you guys think we end up this season?

Is it.

Obviously we all think we'll be in the championship game.

Do you think we move on to the New Orleans bowl as conference champions?

And I. I mean, I don't want to say which bowl do you think we'll go to?

I'm just saying, do you think we'll end up in the New Orleans bowl or somewhere else if we get moved around, or do you think we make it up to the cfp?

Josh, I think you understand what I think.

Oh, RC is throwing me off.

Josh, I think we all know what your thoughts are on how we end the season.

Tell us, man.

We want to hear from your mouth.

Where do you think we end this season?

College Football Playoff.

I don't know where they're going to send us.

Fiesta Bowl, Rose bowl, wherever.

I don't.

I don't even know where the sites are because I'm typically sad that we lost and aren't playing.

But, no, I really.

I really believe we have a chance to represent the G6.

I really believe it.

I think that our schedule lines up.

I think we're talented in all the right positions.

I think we have a quarterback that can, you know, if we get into a shootout, I think he gives you the firepower.

If we need to strap down and play a defensive football game, I think we have the ability to do that.

Now.

The defensive line is unproven.

But it's not untalented.

And it's not because they don't have the reps of seniority.

They just have to go out and do it.

All right.

I really believe we have the team to be able to do that.

I just do.

And I think.

I think if we can get off to a good start in the first two, if we don't scuttle enough, and then we go into Missouri and even if we lose the game at Missouri, but play well, you become a different team after that.

Your confidence level is just.

There's something else there now.

Are we good enough to make the College Football Playoff after a Missouri loss?

Probably not.

But I'm just telling you, I think we.

We have a lot of potential this year.

And I'm usually the negative one.

I'm usually the one saying, hey, we're going to have four losses when everybody thinks we're going undefeated.

So.

So I'm giving you my honest to God opinion.

I think that we can win these games.

Obviously, it's a coin toss no matter what, but I think we have it.

And I think we're playing in a college football game playoff.

When we're.

When all this is said and done.

I'll also say tripping up against Missouri, you have to also think, one, it's early in the season, and two, who knows what Missouri does this season?

I mean, they might go out and make a run and be in the top 10 or top, you know, five, and make the CFP themselves.

Add to the resume.

If we do drop that game early in the season, depending on how we look against them now, if we get blown out 42 to nothing, that's a whole different story.

We could just.

We could close the book on it.

But think about this.

If JMU beats Louisville and we play them in the middle of the season and beat them, we're back on the map.

Exactly.

Exactly.

So good stuff, Josh.

I'm with you.

I think we end up in the cfp.

Lane, we'll go with you next.

Where do you think we play our last game this season?

I think we will not play in the New Orleans bowl just simply because I don't know how they work the champions every year because it changes.

But I will say we'll end up in a different bowl, such as the Frisco Bowl.

Something new and different.

So you don't think we're making the cfp?

No, not.

Not with two losses as my prediction.

Gotcha.

All right, Jerry, your thoughts?

Where do we end this season?

I'm kind of With Lane, I think we end up in one of those bowls we never played in before.

Like last year, went to the New Mexico Bowl, 2022, the Independence Bowl.

I think we end up somewhere we haven't played before.

Maybe it's a Texas bowl in Houston, I don't know.

But I. I just don't see us in the CFP with two losses.

I think crazier things have happened, but I think at the G6 level, minimum one loss to have a shot if you're lucky.

Unfortunately, I just.

As of right now, I don't see it.

I think we're close.

I think we're one of three or four teams that will have to vie for it, kind of like it was in 2021.

But I. I think we end up in a bowl game somewhere we haven't played yet.

Cole, let's.

Let's wrap it up with you.

Your thoughts, Obviously, you think we'll be in the Bourbon bowl this year, by the way, that you predicted us to go.

You know, what is it, eight and three or nine and whatever you predicted.

But.

Okay, but let me say.

Let me honestly ask you guys this.

Are we so spoiled now as a program to where we would be sat at 9 and 3 in a.

In a championship game appearance?

Would any of you guys be Sad at a 93 record in a champ and being in the conference championship?

Honestly, no, I wouldn't be.

But you.

Depends on who we lost.

Okay, that's fine.

I just want to ask that question.

It depends who we lose to.

Exactly.

Okay, but.

But let me answer your question.

First off, I do think we rematch and hopefully we rematch with James Madison in the championship game.

And if we would have talked about that, I. I think we win that second game because I picked us to lose the first one.

I think we would win that game at that point if we were to win that game.

I think we go to the first responder bowl, which is a post New Year bowl, which would be great.

If we lose that game, I think we go to the Independence bowl, which is on the 28th, just before New Year's.

So that is my pick one way or the other.

If we win.

First responder, if we lose Independence, question.

Is, will the Independence bowl be frozen once again?

Can you use the bathroom because the pipes are frozen.

Yes.

We had press credentials, so ready to go, brother.

And everybody got frozen in.

And I was so cold, man, I couldn't even leave.

I went, you're so.

It was so cold, by the way.

It was 15 degrees at game time.

It was so cold they didn't put any beer on ice.

They were selling beer out the cases like this and, and thank God they did because as you got to the stand your beer was getting colder in your hand.

It was ridiculous.

That is crazy.

At least you didn't get any frostbite.

All right boys, that was a lot of fun.

Again, thanks for doing all your homework on that.

I know there was a lot to ask for you in the last couple days, but really appreciate it.

Let's talk outside of of football X's and O's.

Let's talk about the Jimmy's and Joe's, I guess.

Game one Marketing boys living in here in Houston.

I don't want to criticize the university.

I want to criticize the marketing team.

I don't want to criticize people when I'm not hearing or seeing a lot about pack the package and field.

Now I will say Q the players, the coaches, everybody with the basketball program this season is saying pack the dome 12k, 12k club, etc.

So kudos to them to challenging our fans to be there.

And look, we're probably not going to have 12,000 the first game, but hell, I expect there to be 12,000 the first game and at least we're asking the question and motivating people to go.

I have not seen that from a social media perspective in Houston.

So I'll open it up.

Whoever wants to go first.

Has there been a last minute push and when I say last minute, the last couple of weeks has there been a push for getting out to Cajun Field, getting out to tailgating, being there?

You know what has the vibe and and the scene been in Lafayette as far as marketing goes?

I will say I haven't seen really anything about tailgating but I have seen the push for the 2 for 50 with within I think different businesses around town.

It's not that much of a bargain I would guess because it's like $10, $10 off per ticket and there's still 25 a ticket so it's really not that much of a difference.

But that's really the only push that I've personally seen.

But I don't know if any of the other guys have seen other stuff happening around town.

I've seen the 2 for 50 in in some places around town.

I know they did the August takeover today.

They were at Shane's restaurant doing a meet and greet.

They went to one of the banks.

I think it was like First Horizon last week for a meet and greet.

So they're actually like that they're doing more than they did in the past.

Right.

Like they've done actual public appearances.

So I give them kudos for that.

As far as trying to have a season ticket push, I have heard that they have reached out to businesses to buy season ticket packages and whatnot.

Now are there billboards around town and are there crazy posters and stuff?

I have seen some posters of the UL schedule in certain places, but like no, like TV commercials or anything like that.

I remember Coach Ricky Bustle doing the TV commercial back in the day and Coach Hud and haven't seen that in a long time actually.

So there really hasn't been like TV ads.

But.

But you.

There's a.

There's a little bit here and there.

As far as a push for the.

Being the fact this new football stadium.

Not really, but I will say, I mean since the stadium has open to the.

Been open to the public in the last week or so as far as like showings and stuff, I know tonight was one of those nights.

I have been seeing a huge push for the stadium opening in the last few weeks in the media.

They've been pushing a lot of that and a lot of pictures.

So that's really it.

As of now, I'm guessing we have a week and a half to go.

We'll see in the next eight or nine days what, what, what happens leading up to the Rice game.

Before the other guys go, I do want to ask you the question because I.

This is part of it.

You say it open to the public.

Which public?

Because I don't know.

I mean they're really.

I haven't seen public invites to go see what this thing looks.

No, not, not anybody.

But like for example, like tonight, you know, if you're, if you get, you know, if you're.

I don't know if it's quarterback club.

If you're a football donor.

You were in.

They were invited for like a presentation.

I know Friday night was more or less the, the big wheels that gave, you know, that donated to the actual stadium project.

I know there had been some appearances by like the football team last week.

I'm not saying like anybody could walk in.

It's not like we can just go walk into the stadium, but it has been open to people to go in and see.

Josh, is that a missed opportunity that we don't let the common fan.

You look like you just woke up.

That we don't let the common fan go out and see the stadium even.

I mean just for a quick like run through, see what it looks like.

See what it looks like from the.

The field.

I mean, that.

That doesn't cost anything for the university to do to try to engage the common fan.

Has that happened?

I don't think it has.

Why would you do that?

Why would you try to get new fans?

We got enough fans as it is.

We got enough fans.

This stadium is not for all fans.

It's for some fans.

It's the Rice model.

That's what we want.

I hate when we do these topics because I can't really say everything I want to say, but I will keep it short.

The.

The push for the season tickets is disappointing, but not surprising at this point.

If we expect more, it's our fault, you know, I mean, it's.

It's.

We've conditioned our fan base not to give a shit.

And then when we give a shit, they still blame us.

And then it's a vicious cycle that starts all over again.

The promotions are not what they should be.

But even if they were, be honest.

I'd be brutally honest.

Even if we had a very strong, calculated, present marketing push, it wouldn't work.

Because the fan base is so conditioned to just expect a absolute bare, bare minimum.

Like maybe not even that.

So if the question is, have I seen it and been satisfied with it?

I've seen it.

I'm not satisfied with it.

If the question is, did you expect more this year?

I did.

Because you're opening up a stadium.

If.

If I can't expect to sell more than 7,000 season tickets when I'm opening up a season, a stadium that has been overdue for probably 20, 30 years, when can you expect it?

HUD sold 12,000 plus season tickets to the dump that we had before.

You're telling me I can't expect to sell a third of the capacity of season tickets?

I mean, where the hell are our priorities?

Where's our goals?

It just.

If the administration is out here telling you that their goal is to sell 7,000 season tickets and they'd be thrilled with that, that tells me where their expectation level is.

It also tells me where the expectation level is of the fan base.

So disappointing, but not surprising.

But I don't know.

I don't know what else to do at this point.

Cole, your thoughts?

I mean, is this a missed opportunity to let the fans go with a common fan go and see the stadium?

Or I mean, do they just need to pony up money so that they can go take a look early?

I don't know.

I mean, I was joking with you guys earlier.

I bought I bought tickets in one of the really nice sections in.

In the.

The lower level, but I don't even know how to get to my.

My damn.

Like, I don't know which gate to go through.

I literally don't know how to get to my seat.

And I'm going to be the dummy that's walking to the.

The entrance of the.

The club, saying, is this where I go or do I go somewhere else?

I don't know what to do.

So, yeah.

Your thoughts on.

On all this stuff?

Oh, man.

I mean, perfect.

I mean, I'm.

I'm the candidate for this conversation.

I don't get to see that.

That beautiful club.

I mean, I get to live through it through Jerry, you know, and through friends that, you know, donate, you know, thousands of dollars.

Yeah, it's a missed opportunity.

Let the cat.

Let the average fan.

Hell, let these students go in this beautiful stadium you just built.

And you know what?

While they're walking through, it doesn't have to be a gala.

Right.

It doesn't have to be served with cocktails and food.

They can just walk through.

You know, just let them walk through and see everything you built, all the features that you built.

And while they're doing that, maybe you have a guy in there that's pushing season tickets, and maybe, hell, you sell a couple hundred while people.

While the general public is walking through this beautiful stadium you built.

Yeah, it's a missed opportunity, and it costs you nothing.

It would cost you nothing to do.

Just open the doors one day and say, hey, open to the general public.

Come see what we built.

We are proud of this as a university.

We want you to be proud of it as the average Joe, you know, fan.

Come see.

It would cost absolutely nothing.

And guess what?

You would sell a couple hundred tickets if you do it.

Josh, you brought up a point a couple of weeks ago when, when I first started with this podcast with you guys.

Lafayette people are lazy, and I'm one of them.

You know what?

Me and.

Me and Blair were talking about purchasing a season ticket today, and we're a week out of the.

Of the game.

So, yeah, there's going to be a large, you know, a large portion of these fans that buy season tickets next week, the week of the game.

So don't be surprised if that final season ticket number does get somewhere in the ballpark of 10 grand, or hopefully over 10 grand, because that's.

That's the casual Lafayette fan right there.

They're gonna get.

They're gonna get excited of during game week, and that's when they'll make the push to buy tickets.

Can.

Can I.

Can I respond there just real quick?

It's.

And I know you're joking about being lazy.

We're distracted.

This is a family community.

I don't know about y', all, but I got kids in volleyball, soccer, football, and something else.

Oh, they both play soccer, football, and volleyball.

I'm at the park every single night.

And that's not my own personal stuff where I got to stay in shape.

And, like, we all have things going on.

This is a family environment.

You're competing with YSC and Broussard and Moore park and all this stuff every.

So, yeah, we're gonna get the tickets at the last minute because we're busy.

We're.

We're distracted.

You gotta be in their face.

The reason why you hire a marketing team is to be in the face of people, to remind them we've been here for a while, but we're just letting you know, we got a new stadium.

We got a good football team.

We got a local kid running the team.

We got a local coach coaching the team.

When have you heard.

When's the last time you heard about Des being from New Iberia?

When's the last time you heard?

Look, outside of Raging Review, they ain't a whole lot of Walker Howard's from Lafayette.

I just don't see it, and I'm about as plugged in as anybody.

So it's.

It's.

We're busy.

We got families.

Your.

Your Target demo that 18 to 54.

We're raising kids, and we're at ballparks, and we're doing things as families.

You got to find a way to meet people where they are, and we just don't even attempt to do that.

I want to piggyback on his family comment.

I am not thrilled with the young, raging, raging Cajun Club.

Whatever.

You're going up to $30 for a kid, and then you only give two ticket vouchers to football games.

So you want to build this family foundation in Lafayette, Louisiana, where we're known for family and fun and all this great stuff.

And you're gonna limit my family to two ticket vouchers per.

You know, you get two throughout the season.

That's.

That is asinine to me, for lack of a better word.

Why would you kill the family dynamic?

People want to be able to bring their.

Their kids to football games.

I want to be able to bring my son to baseball games.

Why would you limit that?

I would rather pay $50 for the raging cajun kid club and be able to bring them to all the games.

So if there's anybody listening out there, this is the first time I've got heated on this podcast.

I think it is asinine that you are alienating the family man from bringing his kids to any raging Cajun sporting event.

Fix it.

Well, we've said it countless times, and you know what we're told?

Well, people got to buy tickets.

Sorry, we don't do that.

And it's not just football places across the board.

Yeah, we can't have kids sitting in other people's seats, Cole.

I mean, that's what we've been told.

You can't actually sitting in other people's seats even though there's 15, 000 other seats that are wide open in the stadium.

Come on, man.

Everybody wants everything for free.

That's what you're saying.

Lafayette's cheap.

But I want you to get in your car Friday night, Saturday, all day.

Saturday night, Sunday, all day.

And Sunday night, I want you to drive around Lafayette.

I want you to look.

Look at the full restaurants.

I want you to look at the full parking lots at the mall, at the.

The shopping centers.

I want you to drive to the bars.

I want you to see.

There's no place to freaking park at the Goat or at adopt a Dog or all these other places.

But Lafayette's cheap.

They'll go pay $12 for a craft beer, but they're going to complain about a six dollar domestic inside of our stadium.

It's not the people of Lafayette.

Your market is telling you what you ought to charge for things.

Maybe you should listen.

Shut up and listen.

That's saying that.

I said, look, we got to quit.

We have to quit blaming Lafayette.

Well, the thing is, I mean, the.

The.

The.

The whole thing of we're the smartest people in the room and you don't know what you're talking about.

Has to go away.

We have to.

Again, Jerry, I think you said it.

We have to.

We have to start listening and stop dictating.

I don't want to get too caught up on this because we could go on this for forever.

Jerry, I do want to bring up one thing, you know, game day experience.

Every year, game one is the same problem.

Something doesn't work, something's not going right.

Speakers don't function properly, the concession stands out of something, there's always a problem.

Game one, the hope was going into the first game of the season.

Maybe they fixed some of those issues.

New stadium, great everything.

And then we hear rumors that are confirmed now, Aries, you know, we're talking about marketing.

A perfect example.

There is no marketing.

Everybody has left game day operations.

You know, the people who run the music and do the coordination of the PA guy and all that, gone.

There they are a skeleton crew right now.

How concerned are you guys?

Because I'm deathly concerned that the people who do show up for game one expecting to have this wonderful experience in this new stadium are going to be sadly disappointed by the game day experience because of all the departures that have happened in the past several weeks.

Jerry.

Yeah.

I'll start with you.

I mean, I don't know how they recover from that in such a short time frame.

I, I think it's going to be bad.

I think we just need to prepare for it to not be a great experience.

Now, a lot of the stuff I'm talking about we probably won't even see because it's in the background.

But I, my confidence for game one going off from a game day experience is not, I'm not, not feeling the war and fuzzies today.

Look to me, Game one, especially with a brand new stadium, a whole new side that's completely new.

I'm just hoping they don't botch the simple things like an hour long wait in the concession stand.

And I'm hoping the bathrooms don't get clogged up.

And I'm hoping the, the sound system on the scoreboard is not in.

Not like making me deaf when I walk by it because it's so loud.

Get the, the.

You got like the.

To me, the first game is about getting the basics down and making sure that with the quality of the facility that you just built that's over $60 million matches the quality of the service.

When I go to the bathroom or I want to grab a beer or I want to grab a hot dog to eat and I want to make sure that, you know, I can get back to my seat without feeling like I'm inside of a Black Friday shopping mall like I used to feel at the old stadium.

Him, as far as the light effects and all that stuff, look, that's going to be a work in progress.

I think it's going to be a work in progress.

I'm sure they're going to have to experiment with a bunch of things.

I know they did the light show the other night, Friday night.

It looked really good and I hope it works.

And look, another thing too, you know, I know they got that DJ and all that in the, in, in the, in the, in the Student section.

Look, the band.

Andy brings up a good point.

It goes right into what I'm about to say.

Make sure they're.

They're synchronized.

Make sure we're not playing rap music one minute and then the band's playing over them and then he's playing over the band.

Let's have some synchronization there because at the end of the day, I'm old school.

I understand.

I'm not, you know, I like some of the rap stuff.

I kind of dig that atmosphere for the younger crowd.

But you also got to pipe in some band music as well.

As long as they're creative.

Right.

So I think this is a game where you.

It's almost like you have to fix the little things.

Make sure the fan experience as far as getting food, going to the bathroom and going to the apparel store isn't the worst experience in the world.

And it's going to be hot.

So please don't run out of bottle of water this time.

There's no excuse.

You've got the logistics.

So I'm just hoping that the basic stuff is, is good to go.

And if, now, if that, if that is a problem, then, then we have some issues.

But yeah.

Josh, are we going to come in here post game pissed off at the, at the game day experience?

Are you just kind of apathetic like?

I think I'm going to be.

Happiness is slave to expectation.

Correct.

Heard me say that before.

But I'm going to tell you this.

I'm going to choose to believe that they're going to figure it out.

And I'm tell you why.

Maybe this game, all these volunteers and all these R calf people and even the administration, instead of walking around with their beers and sitting in the stands with their, their wives and everything, maybe they can be behind the scenes actually doing something like all hands on deck type stuff for game one.

You worked all this time, you put all of this energy into opening up this beautiful stadium.

Maybe we can, we can put down the collared shirt for one evening, put on a T shirt and go to work.

If that's what it takes to make the game day atmosphere worth coming back to.

See, that's what needs to happen.

I don't care what your position is.

We have literally hemorrhaged our entire game day staff.

The guy who's going to be running it is very new here.

We're gonna need senior people that know what the hell's going on.

Hell, maybe pull John out of retirement or whatever he's doing.

John Dugat, just pull him back in and say, john, we'll contract you for the evening.

Help us, because they're going to need help.

I'm going to choose to believe that that's what they're going to do.

I'm going to choose to believe they're going to step up for one night.

Now after that, all bets are off.

I have no idea.

I just hope that they can get it all together and push through and have a great experience in game one.

Because the absolute worst case scenario is that you invite Acadiana to come to your event and you told them they got a brand new house and you put on this big parade of homes type introduction and then you botch it.

Can't do that.

Absolutely can't do that.

Because honestly, if you have a good game experience against rice and McNeese, I mean, by the time Marshall comes, you can be looking at 27, 28,000.

If you don't, you're going to be averaging 18 and 19 in a brand new stadium.

And that's about as embarrassing as it gets.

Drew, you're hearing the voice of the guy who started the whole thing with the music in the stadium back in 1997.

You got a guy who would come in from Florida in a heartbeat to play the music or show somebody how to do that in.

In the blink of an eye.

You got a guy again in me who for 20 years sat by the guy directing the PA and the band and trying to get everything synced out.

You have people who are willing to help for free.

I think a little bit of pride in this situation might have to be put to the side if they want help because there are people out there like me who will go out there.

No.

Cost you you one phone call and I'm there helping out again.

Maybe a little bit of pride has to be put aside because of some of the things that might have been said behind the scenes from doing this and, and things.

But look, I'm here.

All I'm saying is I'm here.

We're all here.

We want to help.

That is my outreach to the university.

There are people who are willing to go in who have done this for a number of years and know how to do it, and we're willing to help.

Not run the show, but willing to help.

So, so let me, let me say real quick, Andy's comment, and it's actually, I'm glad he brought that up.

Let's just say I've been talking to people on campus that have this idea right here.

May have some.

May have Some momentum to it.

I'll just leave it at that, hopefully.

So, Cole, your thoughts?

Game day, what are you expecting?

Game one.

I don't mean to cause a divide, but it's going to be the halves and the have nots.

I think the people that have their tickets on the home side, you know, I bet they have a pleasant experience, you know, with all that.

But for people like me who are probably going to have their tickets on the away side, I, I, I, I mean, I'm not expecting anything different than what it was last year or, you know, anytime.

I mean, like Jerry said to start this segment, as long as the concession lines are respectable, the bathroom lines are good, you don't have any issues with the basic necessities that a fan needs.

I mean, that's fine, but I'm not expecting, you know, maybe to be blown away by some entertainment would be great or better music or the light show now that we have LEDs and whatnot.

But from the average fan, which is what I am, and somebody made a joke, just tell them that, you know, just say that you're poor.

It's not that I'm poor.

I'm the average Lafayette, Louisiana kid with a family of, you know, five.

But I'm going to be sitting on that away side.

I'm not going to be with all the amenities that they just built.

But I think it's going to be, unfortunately, a case of the haves and have nots.

If you have it, you're going to enjoy yourself.

It's going to be a social event.

The have nots.

Not much is going to change.

At least in my, at least in my mind.

I think it's gonna be very much the same that it always has been.

And that's their challenge, is to change the minds of people that have gone to Cajun Field all these years, experience the same thing over and over and over.

And then they are going to, you need to get them to expect something different in order to want to buy season tickets and want, in order to want to go to the games and spend money on beer and concessions and all that stuff.

That's the challenge.

I'll let you wrap this one up.

My boy.

Lane, what are your thoughts on game one experience?

I just don't see how, with all of the departures, how it will go off without a hitch.

I hope it does, but in order for that to happen, you have to have everybody on board and then some.

Like Cole said, my tickets are gonna be on the away side or on the hill or whatever.

So I won't notice the new nice stuff that the home side has to offer.

So for me, it's just gonna be the outside of, like, the.

The light show and everything.

It'll be the same, same old, same old for me.

Well, boys, I got.

I got tickets on the home side, so I'm sure I'm not gonna make every game.

I'll make sure you get to go sit with the.

With the halves.

I'm not a have.

Trust me when I tell you, but I'm a have.

Not like y'.

All.

I don't know how I scored these tickets, but here's what I'm telling you.

This man got his Christmas lights up in August.

It's not Christmas lights.

It's called jellyfish lighting.

By the way, if anybody wants a referral code, please, please hit me up.

But the point is, there are more have nots and.

And then.

Then there are halves in Lafayette.

Let's be honest.

There are more common fans that we don't reach out to because they don't spend the $20,000 to have their name on a plaque in the new space.

Because I. I mean, hell, could I afford $20,000, probably.

But get that.

That I'm not gonna spend $20,000 on a plaque in the wall.

I'd rather go get some.

Some damn jellyfish lights for my front porch.

So, anyway, this is what I want to say.

Cole.

Cole made a great point.

I really enjoyed his perspective on that.

And then one of our commenters said that, you know, just being in the stadium, there's a different feel.

I just want to say this.

The reason why I'm going to choose to believe that they're going to get it right is because I pass by that stadium every single day, three, four times a day, on my way home or leaving the neighborhood or whatever.

There is a feeling of this is badass.

There is it.

There is a different feeling.

Like, there's a feel.

There's a feeling of pride when you pass by the stadium.

And in.

In times past, it was a feeling of haunt.

Unless, I mean, say it plainly.

So there is some excitement just from me as.

Look, there's going to be times I'm going to be able to go sit up in the.

In the club suites.

I could go do that.

I'm not that I'm.

I want to watch the game.

I go to the games to watch the games.

I'm one of those old school types.

I do understand it's entertainment, and I do understand you got to think about everybody in the stadium it's not just for us anymore.

Football has evolved sports in America.

America has evolved to entertainment.

We still love the game in the competition, but it is entertainment.

We got to know that.

I feel like it will have a certain aura about it once everybody gets on property.

I just wanted to say that.

I just want to say to the point of, you know, you talk about the having the have nots as.

Like I said before, as long as the.

The premium experience of the concessions in the bathroom also carries over to the end zone and the student side.

Consistency is what.

What's important.

And I do think if that's the case, there'll be a lot of people sitting where Cole is that'll be happy, plain and simple.

Cole, I gotta just stress again, it's not Christmas lights.

They're permanent lights.

And, and I do the.

Right now I've got the, the Astros lights out there.

So I, I just want to tell everybody I'm not putting up Christmas lights at this point of the year, but there will be lights up.

You should totally synchronize it after every UL touchdown.

Just.

Well, I do.

I have it.

It's going to be red and red and.

Yeah, on and off red.

So I got that taken care of.

Before I move on to the last, last part.

Cole, I do want to go back to you.

You had a fantastic, brilliant idea, and we're not all going to comment on it.

I'm just gonna let you talk about it.

Something that we need to do with the Teague that would cost a minimal amount of money and bring a ton of people that Friday night to Cajun Field to have a great atmosphere, that.

To give the opportunity to sell more tickets.

Let's talk about it.

Cole, what is your thoughts?

Yeah, so real quick.

And this is going to be a tip of the hat to Cajun threads and all the guys that are watching tonight that are a part of that community.

You actually gave me the brainchild that I brought up to these guys this afternoon.

So a lot of, you know, that rhythms on the river is kaput.

Done deal.

That's done.

I had a really good idea based on, you know, reading some of the things that you guys put on threads.

You guys are looking to fill that void.

And I, I got to thinking about what would be a good way to do, like, do some sort of, like, pep rally, slash get the Cajun culture involved.

So I actually had a, you know, I was blessed to be able to go to Texas A and M a couple of years ago and do the, the midnight rally with them.

And that is a phenomenal atmosphere if you've never been there.

There they bring 30, 000 people plus on a Friday night at midnight in that stadium.

And they do, they run through their cheers and stories and all of that.

Why don't we start something called Rhythms on Reinhardt?

You set it up at the Teague.

That way you don't disturb anything that's being set up at Cajun Field for the, you know, the next day.

You basically let people in for free.

You could sell concessions, you could sell merchandise at a discount, you could sell tickets at a discount.

You let the fans basically gather in the grandstand area, socialize whatnot.

And you have the band playing on field.

Nick, you, I mean you, you've paid there for years.

You have, we have all the, the sound equipment necessary to do that.

You set the band up basically at home plate and let them play in front of a grandstand.

And I think that is a great way to build buzz for the following day.

People can set up their tailgates, you know, on the Friday night just turn around, walk into the baseball field and enjoy some live music.

I, I think that's something that, that UL needs to incorporate to get it to just make a weekend of it.

Right?

It's not enough to just say, hey, come tailgate.

You know, we've been doing the same thing for 10, 15, 20 years.

You know, come listen to music under the oak tree.

Which is fine, but you need more than that if you're trying to really build this program to where it wants, you know, where you need it to be.

And I just think replacing Rhythms on the river with Rhythms on Reinhardt is a play on words.

And I just think we have the, we have the means to do it.

And boys, we don't have to do it just on weekends where we have football.

We can do it every weekend during football season and sell tickets for the next game and raise money for the programs and do this.

I mean the community wants this event to happen, so let it freaking happen.

Brilliant idea.

Hopefully somebody's listening.

Jerry, next time you talk to somebody, suggest that to them.

Minimal costs for the university, maximum potential for, for income that we desperately need in this new world of nil and all that.

Shaws, before we move on to the final segment, want to mention a couple of things.

Just a reminder, this is our new time.

7:30 on Wednesday nights that we will go every week unless something dramatic happens.

But typically we'll be here at 7:30 on Wednesdays reminder that we have a pretty kick ass tailgate that we got planned coming up to launch in game one.

So more details next week on what's going to be going on out there.

And also next week we will have the breakdown of Rice University, the Owls coming to Lafayette.

Hopefully we can get some partner up with someone from Rice to talk a little bit of football next week.

More to come on that very soon.

All right, boys, a couple of things for the Grimmy section.

I know I keep calling it Lanya, but you got to say it with the the Grimmies portion of the show.

Brought to you by Eat Lafayette and Lafayette Travel.

Want to know a couple of things and I'll start off.

I want to know your favorite hot sauce, which surprisingly to you boys will be crystal.

I love me some crystal hot sauce.

Jerry is making a face, but I don't know what it is.

I use it in my Bloody Mary's.

I love it.

And my favorite seasoning comes from the Best Stop Ball.

Got some Best stop Original Cajun season.

They got some garlic one too.

That's pretty good.

But we definitely want to stick with the original Cajun seasoning.

Reminds me of the Gratons at the Best Stop in Scott.

Let's go with you, Jerry.

Let's talk about what your awful suggestion will be for hot sauce and.

And Cajun seasoning because I know it's going to be something dumb that's going to piss me off.

So I just want to get it out the way.

Well, you're.

You're down, right?

Not occasion if you get offended by this.

Because my people in general, my dad grew up seven miles from Avery Island.

I gotta go with the Tabasco.

I gotta go with the Tabasco.

Respect.

That's my people.

I got my.

I'm give a little love.

I'm give a shout out to sometimes when I cook my meals.

My K Fred Cajun seasoning.

I do like that.

I mean, it's better than the generic Tony Sacheries, right?

So I gotta go with.

I gotta go with Tabasco and K Fred.

Those are my two.

My two choices for tonight.

Not bad, right, Nick?

I mean, I.

It's a C compared to an F, right?

It's not.

Not as bad.

I think it's.

Yeah, I, oddly enough don't hate you right now, Lane.

At least not over this.

Lane, let's talk about your choices.

Hot sauce and Cajun seasoning ball.

What you got?

So I got Tabasco.

The spicy one.

The really spicy one.

Actually, the really spicy Scorpion.

Scorpion.

Yeah, the scorpion pepper sauce.

Tabasco's always been my go to I like the variety.

My seasoning typically is Tony's.

More spice because I like spicy stuff.

Stuff I've always liked spicing my food, so that's what I go with.

All right, Cole, what you got there?

Bo, I know you got something up your sleeve.

I had to flip the hat around.

Y' all see that thing's sweet.

But yeah, Tabasco is the go to for the hot sauce.

Pro tip.

The Tabasco is sweet and spicy, or I think that's what it's called.

Is phenomenal in hamburgers.

I actually learned that back when I worked at Judy Sin.

In those days, Judy Sin used to have them on the tables.

And that is some phenomenal sauce to put on your hamburger.

As far as seasoning goes, I'm gonna give two answers.

Usually as a family, we are.

We're a Camp Dog family.

We love Camp Dog.

But as of right now, we're using bos.

Bos is very good as well.

Of course, we use, you know, Tony Sasheries and all that stuff.

Tony's a little high on the salt.

Try to stay away from that.

But right now, as a family, we rolling with Bos over here.

I also do like the Raging Cajun seasoning, by the way, but I think they're getting sued by the university, so I don't know if I. I should be talking about that.

But I'll stick with the best stop because they're still my favorite.

There goes that sponsorship.

Hey, I got plenty.

That's what I'm saying.

I love them, man.

They're awesome.

Anyway, Josh, let's talk about what your favorites are.

Show me what's going on.

President's a Southern Miss guy, so I'm not too worried about it.

So that K Fred that you mentioned there, what's that?

That's Britney Spears ex husband.

KJ Brother in law or something.

K. Freds.

Line.

K. Fred line.

K. Fred.

That's.

That's like.

That's T. Fred's younger brother or something.

He's a backup dancer.

No, I like.

As far as to the Tabasco competitor, I like Bruce Foods Louisiana hot sauce, by the way.

I know they're out of business, but you can't beat it.

If you go to.

And I know we're gonna talk.

We could talk about whether or not raising canes is good.

But if you go to raising canes, you get the sauce.

You ask for the Louisiana hot sauce.

Put that in the sauce.

Mix it up.

Game changer, bro.

I'm telling you, that Louisiana hot sauce in the cane sauce is amazing.

So when I fry my fish.

I take my ketchup, I throw some Bruce's Louisiana hot sauce on there, and I mix that up ball po.

That's good.

What about seasoning?

What you got there?

Seasoning.

So for a long time, we were a rod's family from Church Point.

Use that a lot.

I'm still a very big fan.

Recently switched over to bestop their original.

Very low on the salt content, very low on the MSG content, and just spicier with a lot less in it.

So best stop.

Good for me.

And you all should buy it in packages if you can buy as much as you can.

So is it Duma?

Have we decided?

Duma traded dimontre.

What are we doing?

Let's call him Chris.

Chris.

All right.

Talking about Poirier.

Interestingly enough, I've got.

I. I bought the.

The deal where you could buy.

Dustin's like four.

He's got four different ones.

A creole, he's got the regulars, another one, and then the KO Edition with ghost pepper, which I have not tried yet.

I'm willing to take a one chip challenge with somebody.

If y' all gonna pour some.

If y' all got some chips, if you got some shaws.

I said, I know Lane's ready to go, man, but I really don't want to do this by myself.

But I will pour this.

Oh, that's Lebib.

To you, Labarb.

I mean, to you, sir.

Le Barb.

My bad.

That.

Which means the.

The beard, right?

Okay.

So we're gonna do this.

I'm gonna try.

God help me, Josh.

I know you're not gonna try this.

Because you're gonna do it.

Oh, yeah.

Hell yeah, I'm gonna do it.

I, I. I said at the very beginning I wasn't going to, but I'm gonna put a good look.

This got some ghost pepper shaws.

Holy cow.

Is that too much?

Hold on.

Oh, in the event that Nick can't finish the show.

Yeah, that's why.

Well, that's why you can't do it.

Cheers, you guys.

Good luck.

Do.

No problems.

We got.

We're good.

The Porier's Louisiana style KO Addition.

Okay.

That burns.

Wow.

Okay, wow.

It's hot, but I think I can get.

I think I can get through it, guys.

Oh, it's got some afterburn there.

Lane, you good?

Dead ball's gonna have the lava fots later, I promise you.

I think it's making it worse.

Drink some milk or something.

I don't have any milk.

I had the incident with the jalapenos.

The other night with the hands and going to the bathroom thing, and it's like, dumb.

It's like the dumb and dumber scene.

That's very.

It's very tasty.

That's gonna melt the porcelain.

So we want to thank our sponsors.

Dr. Brett Venable with recovery, Chiro Med.

Oh, man.

This guy.

I'm gonna need some recovery tomorrow, man.

This is.

I feel it in my.

In my.

At my chest.

This is not right.

You okay?

Dr. Brett Venable with recovery.

I'm gonna be okay.

My mama's watching.

I gotta be tough for my mama.

Dr. Brett Venable with recovery, Chiromed Darren Doming, Lafayette Roofing, and of course, Lafayette, brought to you by Lafayette Travel.

I am never doing that again.

He needs some milk.

That is correct.

Don't forget, we have a Patreon as well.

We're gonna launch that in the next few days.

Thanks to Andy Thomas for being our first subscriber.

More to come on that soon, but I think I got a.

Peace out, boys.

For Lane, for Josh, for Natty Daddy.

For Jerry.

I'm forgetting names right now.

I'm sweating, bro.

I'm Nicholas.

Have a wonderful rest of your evening.

And as always, go Cajuns.

Sam.