The Book: 2003 Football

Poor Fred was not just double but sometimes triple covered last night. I was amazed at a pass that Babb threaded into him. I swear there were at least 4 white jerseys surrounding Fred on that pass. I guesss that's what happens when you're a big threat. FIU certainly knew which side our bread was buttered on. I, too, was rooting for Fred to have a big night, but Bill Sampy and Kimie Lewis did a good job of stepping in and making receptions. That 43 yard bomb to Sampy was an awesome sight. It was nice to see Babb finally land one of those.

Thanks CajunKate could you tell if Stamps was the primary reciever or knowing he would be double teamed was he the 2nd or 3rd choice?

I know there has been talk of people saying that Ull should move down to D-I AA, however i do not think that people realize what that would do to the university and the players. We as players take a lot of pride in the fact that we are D-I athletes and we work very hard to do what we do. By moving down we might do better but that would be because we would be playing teams of less calliber. Also by moving down the university would not get the same type of althetes that it is getting now. so i know that it is easier said than done but please just give us time you wont be sorry.

Last night showed me this team is D1 all the way.

Kimmie Lewis had a big night and must be enjoying himself. After the game he had a smile from ear to ear. He came over to the Press Box side, shook the hand of everyone hanging over the rail, and signed many autographs for the kids. He was one of the last ones to leave the field. My 11 year old and 6 year old slapped his hand and got an autograph. Kimmie, "Thanks for making last night a great one for my kids!!"

Imagine next year, Kemmie, Jackson, BJ Crist, and Sampy. Next year, I think we have something very special with our ide Receiving corps next year, in fact I think this next year team could be very special. Babb comes back, our 4 headed horse of Running backs come back, most of our defense comes back, most of our offensive and defensive line comes back, and I fully believe we could have a 6 win season next year. Lesser competition, alot of returning players, 3 years in the system, and all this is before we have our next years recruiting class to add. I will say, the game up in ruston next year will be alot better than the one here at cajun field this year. Im already excited about next year, lets win this last one!

Tuffguy

I knew there was a reason Redbug was hanging around near the railing. Well and it wasnt raining so you could get out from under you nice overed seats.

Its good to see the players making a positive impact on the community.

I expect to see Kemmie filling Fred Stamps shoes next year.

Our average attendance this year was below 14,000. Hopefully we will not be forced to move to 1AA.

Another good recruiting class & a positive start to next year could turn things around in the fans eyes.

RC70, Don;t sweat what some people say about UL.

GEAUX CAJUNS! .~.

<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Not all of them are starters.

Some are role players.

But all 23 Louisiana seniors finished their home careers in style last Saturday at Cajun Field in a 43-10 victory over Florida International.

Wide receiver Fred Stamps will be remembered as one of the finest receivers in UL Lafayette history, while punter Grant Autrey’s numbers also have him ranked highly.

Injured quarterback Eric Rekieta is in the Ragin’ Cajun record books.

Linebacker Ross Brupbacher has made the most of an extra year of eligibility after graduating last spring, while fellow Lafayette High grad Ricky Calais has done the same thing.

Defensive ends Derace James and Antonio Floyd both came up with big plays in their home finales.

It was a satisfying evening for a hard-luck group that has helped coach Rickey Bustle’s transition period at UL.

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/730A1870-F446-47C9-B513-38D7A60AF2CE.shtml">The rest of the story</a>

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--

“First of all, I want to say congratulations to the seniors,” Bustle said after his team improved to 3-8. “We came down here Friday during warmups, and you noticed the (jersey) numbers at midfield.

“I told stories about each player, and it was serious. You think of all the operations No. 59 (Brupbacher) has been through, or No. 26 (Jamal Smith), who graduated and came back and whose whole season was ripped away from him (by injury) before the first game.

“The seniors deserve credit for keeping the team together. I’ll be sad to see them go.”

“I committed myself to winning this game for the seniors,” said junior receiver Bill Sampy’ Stamps heir apparent who had four catches for 71 yards.

“It was a good game. We needed that victory. Early in the season we had struggled on offense. It was good to pick it up.”

Since the Cajuns won easily, Bustle and Sampy could take a light approach to Sampy’s near-miss blocked punt attempt.

“We work on it every day,” Sampy said. “I just didn’t extend my hands out.”

“We said all week that if their wing blocks out, Bill had a chance to go for the ball,” Bustle said. “He had his hands stretched out, but drew them back. He lost his nerve.”

James didn’t flinch, though, blocking a field goal at the end of the first half that Antwain Spann returned 45 yards for a touchdown and a 36-7 halftime lead.

Sampy and Kemmie Lewis (5-41-0) benefitted from FIU’s attention to Stamps (3-37-0) for big nights.

“They did a good job covering Fred,” quarterback Jerry Babb said. “They brought a safety down on him a lot. So, my reads had me throwing to Bill and Kemmie.

“We needed this kind of performance on offense, scoring more than 40 points. It gives us confidence going into Middle Tennessee next week, and into next year.”

“I know they feel good,” Bustle said of his Cajuns. “We want to be able to build on this win. We’ll try to go in there (at Middle Tennessee), play well and see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Florida International, a Sun Belt Conference member currently playing Division 1-AA football, could be a future SBC rival for the Cajuns under coach Don Strock.

“They’ve got a lot of young people,” Babb said. “Their defense flies to the ball, and they’ve got skill people on offense. They’re going to be good in a year or two.”

“Don (Strock) is going a great job out there,” Bustle said. “They played with great effort. They move the ball around well and have a good scheme on offense.

“Playing with basically freshmen and sophomores, I think they’re doing a good job.”

Bustle’s Cajuns have won three of four and could make it four of five by topping Middle Tennessee next week. That would be an even better way for the seniors to finish.
-->

<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. -- The University of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns may not finish the 2003 season with a winning record, but with a victory this week against Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee, they can do something no ULL team has done since 1996 -- win at least four games.

The Cajuns, who lost their first seven games of the season, defeated Division I-AA upstart Florida International, 43-10, on Saturday for their third victory in their last four games (the first time they've won three straight at Cajun Field since 1995).

In doing so, they put themselves in a position to close out a disappointing season on a positive note.

"We needed this win, we got the win, we got it in a good way and I really pleased for our football team," said ULL coach Rickey Bustle, whose team rolled to a 36-7 halftime lead against the Golden Panthers. "The thing I would really like to see happen now is us have a great week of practice and go to Middle Tennessee and have a chance to have won four out of the last five. That would be a testimony to our football team, our coaches and our seniors. It's been a long season for us.

"I'm going to ask everyone for one more week."

<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/111003/spo_ull001.shtml">The rest of the story</a>

By GLENN QUEBEDEAUX
Special to The Advocate <!--

Against the Golden Panthers, the Cajuns gave Bustle nearly all he asked for in piling up 443 yards and the most points since his arrival at ULL in 2002. Other than a lethargic effort in the second half, the only negative for the Cajuns was the 12 penalties for 123 yards they were assessed. Both were also highs under Bustle.

"We were fortunate to take control of it early; there were some crazy plays out there," he said. "But I thought our defense played better, made some plays. They gave up some yardage down the field, but they came up and made some big plays.

"Offensively, I thought we ran the ball well. We're still rolling in two and three backs. I felt good about the first half. The thing I challenged our guys at half was we hadn't been in this position since I've been here. And we need to understand what to do here in the second half and I don't think we did that in the third quarter."

The Cajuns didn't score in the second half until Josh Harrison raced 23 yards with 10:57 left in the game.

"I was really kinda getting upset with that because I wanted to come out and control the third quarter and do what a team oughta do when you have a situation where you score early and get other people into the game earlier. But we didn't do that," Bustle said.

Of the first 36 points, the most dramatic was the 45-yard return of a blocked field goal by Antwain Spann on the final play of the first half. It marked the second time this season a ULL player returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. Patrick Lamy returned a similar block 89 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina in the Cajuns' first game of the season.

"We got great push inside," said Bustle of the play. "That was a real big play in the game. Those are heart-breakers when they happen to you and heart builders when they happen for you."

Bustle gave much of the credit for the victory to his 23 seniors, who were honored prior to the game and had their numbers painted at mid-field.

"I'm so happy for them because they really deserve credit for keeping our football team together and keeping them working hard every day," said Bustle.

Now, if they can do that one more week.

-->

don't let that D1AA talk bother you, "IT WANT HAPPEN." you guys just continue to work hard you do have supporters cheering you guys on. "GEAUX CAJUNS" fight on to victory, good luck saturday. and remember those who are talking about that, are those who are hoping this university fail.....the rest of them are cowards.