Sun Belt Announces Support of Cajuns' Branding

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 wouldn't 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 CEO's and Athletic Directors informing them of the league's 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 aren't going to like this. And, you can assume their local media outlets are going to ignore the league's stance.

And, don't 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 aren't going to see any instantaneous changes with major media outlets.

But, LA fans won't be alone any more when it comes to "it's Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns and LA please."

Now they've got some stroke in their corner.

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