What do you say Cajun ThREDs? Which is the bigger moment, the kick that gave us our first bowl win in the modern era or the Texas A&M win? Tell us which one and why?
https://x.com/geauxnick/status/2077550698741285332?s=20
Texas A&M.
Upsets over ranked opponents live forever.
Low level bowl games are flash in the pan, and are likely on their way to extinction.
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Personally, looking back I think the win at the New Orleans Bowl in 2011 is the bigger moment. That win against Texas A&M in 1996 was great at the time and could have been a catalyst for growth of Ragin’ Cajuns football, instead from what I’ve been told cuts were made to the recruiting budget and things went downhill. The 1997 season was the start of what I consider the Dark Ages of Ragin’ Cajuns Football.
| Year | Conf | Wins | Losses | Pct | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ind | 5 | 6 | 0.455 | Nelson Stokley (5-6) |
| 1997 | Ind | 1 | 10 | 0.091 | Nelson Stokley (1-10) |
| 1998 | Ind | 2 | 9 | 0.182 | Nelson Stokley (2-9) |
| 1999 | Ind | 2 | 9 | 0.182 | Jerry Baldwin (2-9) |
| 2000 | Ind | 1 | 10 | 0.091 | Jerry Baldwin (1-10) |
| 2001 | Sun Belt | 3 | 8 | 0.273 | Jerry Baldwin (3-8) |
| 2002 | Sun Belt | 3 | 9 | 0.25 | Rickey Bustle (3-9) |
| 2003 | Sun Belt | 4 | 8 | 0.333 | Rickey Bustle (4-8) |
| 2004 | Sun Belt | 4 | 7 | 0.364 | Rickey Bustle (4-7) |
| 2005 | Sun Belt | 6 | 5 | 0.545 | Rickey Bustle (6-5) |
| 2006 | Sun Belt | 6 | 6 | 0.5 | Rickey Bustle (6-6) |
| 2007 | Sun Belt | 3 | 9 | 0.25 | Rickey Bustle (3-9) |
| 2008 | Sun Belt | 6 | 6 | 0.5 | Rickey Bustle (6-6) |
| 2009 | Sun Belt | 6 | 6 | 0.5 | Rickey Bustle (6-6) |
| 2010 | Sun Belt | 3 | 9 | 0.25 | Rickey Bustle (3-9) |
| 2011 | Sun Belt | 9 | 4 | 0.692 | Mark Hudspeth (9-4) |
From 1997 - 2010 we boasted a .307 winning percentage, with a lot of bad losses over those years. By the time the 2011 season arrived it had been 41 years since we had been to a bowl game. There was energy with the hiring of Coach Hud, but the fanbase didn’t have a vision for what was possible truly possible. The 9-4 record, plus the bowl win in my opinion restored hope and showed fans we could be more.
I was at both and they each have their rightful place in UL Football History. Both super exciting moments that pushed our football team a notch higher. The problem is, we need more of these moments. I would say the win over Iowa St and being in the top 25 are just as important but different.
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In 1996, A&M ended up 6-6 with four losses to unranked teams that year. They also started the year 0-2, so they were definitely over-ranked. To me, the bowl win was a bigger win.
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Two angles to this. On one hand, it’s NO Bowl by a mile. Way more visibility. And it catapulted us to a 10-12 year run that was unprecedented. The A&M game had far less visibility for us nationally.
On the other hand…living in Houston and having lots of Aggie friends, I do still regularly mention 1996 to them!