From: Nick Bruno

To: dwightjcrafc@aol.com; shawn.murphy.B28S@statefarm.com; samhannajr@samhannajr.com

Subject: RE: ULL gets their way - partially
Date: Thursday, November 24, 2016 8:09:29 AM

I have repeatedly reminded all parties of the state statute; however, there seems to be no
enforcement mechanism.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

-------- Original message --------

From: dwightjcrafc@aol.com
Date: 11/23/16 7:47 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: Nick Bruno <bruno@ulm.edu>, shawn.murphy.B28S@statefarm.com,
samhannajr@samhannajr.com
Subject: FW: ULL gets their way - partially

This controversy will not end until Jesus comes again.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: davidrobinson4260@gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2016 7:11 PM
To: Dwight Vines
Subject: ULL gets their way - partially

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Sun Belt Gets Behind Cajuns Branding From the Birds Nest

byJay WalkerNovember 23, 2016 12:50 PM

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The Cajuns have been fighting the fight since August of 1999.

Resistance has come from everywhere, most notably within its own league.

But today, the Sun Belt Conference announced they are recognizing the athletic branding efforts
of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.

As announced by the school two weeks ago, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns is now the preferred first
reference for athletics. LA is the preferred branding when used in official statistics and media
abbreviations.

The Sun Belt recognized Louisiana as the brand when the name change first went into effect.
But when the University of Louisiana at Monroe joined the league as a football-only member in
2001, the league reversed its position.

Ever since, the efforts of the Cajuns athletic department have been tantamount to Sisyphus
pushing the boulder uphill for all eternity.
Not only did the league not recognize Louisiana, it actually went out of its way for many years
to push the dreaded ULL, something the University had asked NOT to be referred to as from the
day of the name change.

This caused rancor, especially with the Cajuns fan base, which pointed out the league was
willing to used the preferred brand for every other school in the league, including ULM after
they changed their mascot to Warhawks from Indians. Because of the emphatic protestations of
former ULM President Dr. James Cofer and current President Dr. Nick Bruno, the league
continued its stance despite the continued efforts of the Cajuns.

The failure of the league to support the brand has been the impetus of a very vocal segment of
the fan base to want out of the Sun Belt Conference.

We would put it in our fact sheets and media guides what we wanted to be called, former
sports information director Daryl Cetnar said, but we could never gain any traction because the
league wouldnt get behind it. We would ask television not to call us ULL, but the league was
insistent. The one dent we were able to make nationally was the guide for the College Football
Writers of America. They listed us as Louisiana. But that was it.

The league sent out the memo on Monday to CEOs and Athletic Directors informing them of
the leagues policy. The media was informed today. In addition, the league is also recognizing
UTA (UT Arlington) and ULM as first-reference designations. UALR changed its brand to
Little Rock last year.

So what does this mean for Louisiana athletics?

How about everything.

Now that the league recognizes the branding, the conversations can start with major sports
outlets like ESPN, and CBS along with the Associated Press. And, those outlets should at least
be willing to listen now.

Of course, the last place the brand is going to be recognized is within the state of Louisiana.
You can bet the fan base of ULM, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State and LSU arent going to like
this. And, you can assume their local media outlets are going to ignore the leagues stance.

And, dont expect everything to change overnight. The name Louisiana-Lafayette will
probably be the rule of thumb to the NCAA, at least for the time being. And, you arent going to
see any instantaneous changes with major media outlets.

But, LA fans wont be alone any more when it comes to its Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and LA
please.

Now theyve got some stroke in their corner.

Sisyphus is still pushing the ball. But for the first time, theres a top of the hill.

Read More:Sun Belt Announces Support of Cajuns' Branding| http://espn1420.com/sun-belt-gets-

behind-cajuns-branding-from-the-birds-nest/?trackback=tsmclip

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