Athletics: Sun Belt Conference OKs ‘Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns’ – UL-L will remain as school’s abbrevia

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, Jan. 15, 2014

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After objections voiced Monday by University of Louisiana at Lafayette officials, the Sun Belt Conference revised its newly released University Reference Guide regarding name references for Ragin’ Cajun athletic teams.

The Sun Belt Conference changed UL’s sports nickname from Ragin’ Cajuns to the school’s preferred Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, it announced Tuesday night.

It also changed UL’s first reference for its sports teams from UL-Lafayette to UL Lafayette, eliminating a hyphen Cajun administration officials say they did not request but that Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson said “they never objected to … in earlier versions of the guide, for whatever reason.”

“Unfortunately there wasn’t a recognition on their part before we released (the guide) originally on Monday,” Benson said, “and once they recognized it and brought it to our attention we said we’ll continue to work with you on it.”

The conference did keep UL-L as its abbreviation for the Cajuns — a decision that according to the SBC was approved by UL president Joseph Savoie after preference requests were made.

UL spokesman Aaron Martin answered the question of why the hyphen between the two Ls — something met with dismay and anger by many Cajun supporters — was submitted and retained.

Martin said the university initially informed the conference it “does not have a two- to four-letter abbreviation” and that “ULL” is on its list of “prohibited” references.

Added Martin: “The SBC office suggested that ULL would be used. … Faced with the choice of submitting UL, which would have been in violation of University of Louisiana System policy, or accepting ULL as an abbreviation, something the University has rejected for more than 15 years, we chose to submit UL-L for those isolated instances where an abbreviation was needed.”

Benson said he believes the athletic teams of member institutions should be referenced as they prefer, regardless of any state-system guidelines.

“I don’t have to answer to the state,” he said. “It’s their issue with their governing board.”

The Sun Belt’s statement Tuesday said the original guide “incorrectly listed” the Ragin’ Cajuns nickname and revised it to “Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.”

It also said that as a result of the hyphen between UL and Lafayette being removed “the hyphen on the first reference ‘UL-Monroe’ has also been removed.”

Benson said that was done “to be consistent,” and that ULM was OK with that.

“If it was gonna be UL Lafayette,” he said, “then it made sense for it to be UL Monroe, minus the hyphen.”

UL and UL Monroe have been engaged on an ongoing name-reference feud for years, with the Cajuns preferring to not have to use the Lafayette reference but the Warhawks insisting that they do.

“I apologize for the omission of ‘Louisiana’ before Ragin’ Cajuns as well as the incorrect listing for UL Lafayette and I further apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused,” Benson said in the statement.

When the Sun Belt released its name usage guide Monday, it said that’s how it would refer to conference members’ teams.

It also said it would “encourage” media, other member programs and “outside entities” to do the same, but that none of it is mandated to others.

The Sun Belt said all nicknames, first references and abbreviation were approved by individual member-school presidents and chancellors — including Savoie.

But UL complained Monday that it submitted Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for its nickname, but was assigned only Ragin’ Cajuns.

Sun Belt spokesman John McElwain said later Monday that the Sun Belt had “simplified” that for its guide to be consistent with other common nicknames.

Tuesday night, however, the revisions were announced.

UL says shorter versions of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are acceptable, and it frequently uses only Louisiana in its own athletic first references.

It’s a way to prompt use of Louisiana sans Lafayette for its sports teams by national and regional media and by other programs.

Savoie has consistently declined comment.