Ricky Bustle will not be the head coach of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team next season. Using private funds the university will buy out his $100,000 remaining in rights on his contract and also attempt to pay the next coach more money. Called both a firing and a resignation the exact process is unclear but the decision was announced as being that of the Athletic Director when he gave his most recent press conference at this posting. The tenure of the coach was marked by successes and failures worth noting.
The Ragin’ Cajuns Football coach who came in to take the place of coach Baldwin in 2001 is now resigning from his position as head football coach after a bad year overall. Bustle made the Cajuns bowl eligible for several seasons but was not very successful at getting bowls and often had the Cajuns in that relatively tiny group that is bowl eligible but does not get a bowl. He let the conference championship elude him repeatedly when some thought he should have it.
Bustle did a great deal to improve attendance, rebuild community support and bring some big event games to the schedule again. Many of us will remember those contributions. Playing Southern and Mc Neese were both great home events at Cajun Field. Now the school will be looking for a replacement.
I have a suggestion. Get Brandon Stokely, Jake Delhomme, Brian Mitchell and Louis Cook on the committee in any capacity they can serve in as well a handful of others. If these people are involved in a search committee of ten or fifteen appointed officers I believe we will achieve a good result. Recruit the committee first. Then we can recruit the right coach!
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