Did you kneux that today in 1971, Cajun Field opened with a win over Santa Clara 21-0?СAPP
Craig Melancon, СAPP88, did. He tweeted it on Sept. 25 from his CajunFan11 Twitter account, which reports tidbits on RaginСAPP Cajun athletics, such as upcoming contests and game scores.
СAPPIt really started in the spring of 2012. I wanted to bring some excitement to the softball team, which was and is nationally ranked,СAPP said the 49-year-old alumnus.
More than 8,500 tweets later, CajunFan11 has become a reliable source of social media bulletins for RaginСAPP Cajun athletics. A popular feature of the feed, Melancon said, is the in-game score update, which he has voluntarily tweeted for football, softball, baseball, soccer, menСAPPs and womenСAPPs basketball, volleyball, tennis and golf, sometimes covering multiple games at once.
СAPPFor softball, itСAPPs probably about 30 or 40 tweets a game. ItСAPPs the same thing for basketball. With football, sometimes I get a little sidetracked with tailgating,СAPP he said.
Twitter messages, or tweets, are limited to 140 characters, making them short, public text messages. Melancon said he chose the Twitter medium because of its growing popularity and its ease of use on a cell phone, which is needed for his quick updates during games.
Following the 2012 softball season, Melancon said he received so much positive feedback that he expanded CajunFan11СAPPs focus to include other RaginСAPP Cajun sports.
СAPPI felt like I had to keep going. I donСAPPt know if I ever expected to do something like this, but now itСAPPs turned into something that I enjoy.СAPP
Sallie Guillory, associate head coach for UL LafayetteСAPPs womenСAPPs basketball team, said she appreciates the encouraging effect of MelanconСAPPs messages. СAPPHe recognizes student-athletes, not just if they score 20 points, but if they earn an academic award or if they do something good in the community or just for working hard every day for this university,СAPP she said.
In addition to having season tickets for the СAPPСAPPs major sports, Melancon is a member of the Alumni Association, RaginСAPP Cajuns Athletic Foundation, Quarterback Club, Rebounders Club and Diamond Club.
He holds a bachelorСAPPs degree in general studies and works for CoStreet Communications in Lafayette.
Melancon said the CajunFan11 Twitter feed represents the СAPPСAPPs passionately loyal and welcoming fan base.
СAPPI try not to do anything political or demeaning toward the other team. IСAPPm just making sure that everybody can see whatСAPPs going on.СAPP