Second-year Ragin’ Cajuns coach Billy Napier revealed a new team rule earlier this week that encourages all scholarship football players to become a minimum $50 donor to the school’s athletic fund beginning this fall, according to The Advocate (Acadiana, La.). The donation will be optional for walk-ons.
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“It’s all about gratitude,” Napier said in a news conference on Wednesday. “We’re trying to create a scenario where five or 10 years from now these are guys who will give back and continue to be a part of the program and realize what this place did for them.”
Napier said he hopes players who donate allow them to better understand what makes the athletic department function, and to help grow an appreciation for the benefits they receive as student-athletes.
“That’s probably a little bit unheard of and a little bit unique, but I think this is a place where that would be appreciated,” Napier said. “We want our players to be educated and understand the benefits that come with being a student-athlete and that is not something that should be taken lightly — the effort and time and investment that the people that support athletes at UL have put in into this program.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns finished 7-7 in 2018, finishing the season with a loss to Tulane in the Cure Bowl. Louisiana’s 2019 recruiting class finished 76th according to 247Sports, an area that could potentially take a hit if recruits don’t like the new team rule.
