<blockquote><p align=justify>
Granted UL quarterback Mike Desormeaux rushes for seven yards next Wednesday against Middle Tennessee, coach Rickey Bustle can boast about his senior signal-caller and running back Tyrell Fenroy finding another place in the record books.
Desormeaux, thought to have gone over 1,000 rushing yards this season in last week's 48-3 loss to Troy, lost eight yards off that total on Wednesday. That's when Troy's stat crew fixed a scoring error from the game, changing a play that was incorrectly recorded as an incomplete pass to intentional grounding and an eight-yard sack.
So Desormeaux now has 993 rushing yards this season, leaving him just short of making history with Fenroy as the Cajuns (5-6 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt) prepare for their final home game of the year. If Desormeaux can hit the 1,000-yard mark against the Blue Raiders (5-6, 3-3), he and Fenroy would become the first quarterback and running back combo in NCAA history to do so in back-to-back years.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20081130/SPORTS/811300344/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Joshua Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • November 30, 2008
<!--
In fact, they would become only the third teammates to ever rush for 1,000-yards apiece in back-to-back seasons. Minnesota did it with running backs Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney in 2003 and '04. In 2006 and '07, Arkansas got 1,000-yard seasons from Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.
"I think it's going to be a great thing to have two 1,000-yard guys in the same backfield two years in a row," Bustle said. "That's been our offense for two years. I don't worry about whether it's going to happen. Barring any injury in the final days before the game, Mike is going to play.
"It's going to happen."
In a way, it's fitting that Desormeaux and Fenroy will forever be linked in history. Both are seniors this season, although Desormeaux sat out in 2004 as a redshirt. Both are more lead-by-example guys, but Desormeaux is a little more outgoing and more likely to show his emotions, said center Chris Fisher. Both have played with injuries throughout their careers. Both have become fixtures on the field since Fenroy fought his way up the depth chart as a true freshman in 2005.
That season, Fenroy became the first running back in school history with a 1,000-yard rushing season. Desormeaux, who began his career on the punt team, stepped in for injured starting quarterback Jerry Babb and helped lead the Cajuns to a piece of the Sun Belt crown, their first conference title in 11 years.
Desormeaux earned first team all-league honors that season, while Fenroy was a second team pick.
With a healthy Babb in 2006, Desormeaux played on special teams and saw time at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back as a sophomore. Fenroy came back with another 1,000-yard season. That year, Fenroy was a first team all-conference player, while Desormeaux was a second-teamer.
Both Desormeaux and Fenroy started again in 2007. While the Cajuns went 3-9, Desormeaux and Fenroy both ran for 1,000 yards despite missing time due to injuries. Fenroy was a first team all-Sun Belt pick, with Desormeaux again being a second team selection.
For most of this season, opponents have been unable to stop UL's one-two running attack. The Cajuns are third in the country in rushing.
Despite a few nagging injuries, Fenroy has become the leading rusher in UL, Sun Belt and state history this season and is the nation's active rushing leader with 4,563 yards. Named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back, the LaPlace native is tied for third in the nation with 17 rushing touchdowns and is 10th in rushing yards per game (117.45). He set a school and Sun Belt-record with 297 rushing yards against ULM on Oct. 4.
Earlier in the year the soft-spoken Fenroy became only the seventh player in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard seasons.
"He doesn't bring any attention to himself on purpose," said Desormeaux, who is from New Iberia. "All the attention he's brought to himself has been from what he's done on the field, and that speaks for itself."
Meanwhile, Desormeaux needs seven rushing yards to hit 1,000 for the second consecutive season despite playing half the year with a torn meniscus in his right knee. No Cajun quarterback, not even former great Brian Mitchell, has had 1,000-yards rushing in back-to-back seasons. Desormeaux leads the league in total offensive yards per game (262.6) and is second in rushing yards per game (99.3).
Although Desormeaux has started only two and a half years at quarterback, he will finish third in school history in career rushing yards, fourth in total offense and sixth in passing. His toughness would have made him an ideal safety, which will likely be his new position if he plays at the next level.
"When he gets the ball in his hands, he's looking to get into the end zone, just like I do," Fenroy said. "He's looking to get yards to help the team. He brings a lot of toughness, and I try to do the same thing."
If UL advances to a bowl game for the first time in 38 years, Desormeaux has a shot at becoming only the sixth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. The current names on that list include Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler, Missouri's Brad Smith, Texas' Vince Young, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick.
While Fenroy is a lock to earn first team all-league honors again, and possibly earn player of the year honors, Desormeaux will face some stiff competition to earn similar honors at quarterback.
But numbers, honors and recognition don't define Desormeaux and Fenroy. Both dream of playing in the NFL but will be college graduates. Both want to give back to the next generation. Whenever it's time to stop playing the game, Desormeaux plans to become a high school teacher and football coach in the area. Fenroy aspires to be a state trooper.
Desormeaux struggles to think what people will say about him and Fenroy long after their playing days are over. Right now, he's having too much fun to even dare think about life after UL.
"I don't know what people are going to say," Desormeaux said. "I just hope people remember us as guys that played the game hard and played it the right way.
"That's the only thing I think you can expect is for someone to give 100 percent effort, and I hope people know that we both did that."
-->
