That was in 1987. NLU, and let me make that clear, NLU had some legit football talent roaming around campus then. Monroe people actually went to school there and didn't leave for LSU, Tech, or Ole Miss. I guess LSU not really being much of a SEC powerhouse program helped. Athletics were a focus, not an afterthought. I know this might be a shock, but people really went to football games. I guess because NLU won. That is what puts people in the stands and in the school. Winning. Greek life was legit. It was a cool campus. I mean seeing that school in the Fall with the Bayou backdrop, I mean it had cool scenery. It was within 30 minutes in almost any direction of good duck and deer hunting plus fishing.

Then the school decides to jump up to 1A. I guess to follow Tech and to pay for other sports. NLU gets it's teeth knocked in playing teams that it can't remotely hang with on a consistent basis. Starts to suck in football since everybody is hurt from playing the big boys. Questionable coaching hires. Questionable AD hires. Even more questionable leadership at the top. Starts losing in pretty much all sports, except water skiing. Athletics is an afterthought. School loses focus on attracting local talent, both in academics and athletics. Finally changes name to ULM, leaving lots of alumni wondering WTF? And then lets ULL just have the UL brand.

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Posted by TulaneFan

Slidell, LA

Member since Jan 2008

14092 posts

Posted on 8/30/22 at 4:33 pm to MWP

quote:
And then lets ULL just have the UL brand.

I never understood why ULM didn’t just start calling themselves “Louisiana” too.

What is ULL going to do about it?

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Posted by LaLadyinTx

Cypress, TX

Member since Nov 2018

6495 posts

Posted on 8/30/22 at 4:52 pm to MWP

quote:
It was a cool campus. I mean seeing that school in the Fall with the Bayou backdrop,

I was there in the early 80's. Cypress by way of Monroe. NLU, La Tech, USL, Southern Miss...they were pretty much equal schools then in every way. It was a fun place. We lived in Shreveport in 1987 and went to most of the home games that year and stayed with friends. The student section was packed and cheering. Yes, Greek life was fun!

The Bayou was gorgeous in the fall! You find that a lot of people who went to school there in the 70s and 80s truly love that school. For sure, all the alums from that time still think WTF about the name change. It's truly impossible to imagine what leadership was thinking...or maybe they just didn't care that much (cough, Swearingen, cough) and sold us down the river (bayou). I wonder what Dr. Vines thought of it all?!?! It truly thrived and grew while he was there.

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Posted by tigerpimpbot

Chairman of the Pool Board

Member since Nov 2011

67431 posts

Posted on 8/31/22 at 5:54 am to MWP

quote:
Then the school decides to jump up to 1A.

I was there when they made the move. They ran these local commercials with coaches of the schools they were going to play. I can still see Lavell Edwards and Terry Donahue saying ‘Welcome to the big time NLU.

We would go to the cafeterias or the Wigwam the week after these games and it looked like a hospital dining area with all these players in crutches and casts. The school really sacrificed those dudes for big paydays. Really sucked the life out of the program.

I don’t know Seth but I’m rooting for him. N.L.U. ooh ooh ooh