It did and looks great :DQuote:
Originally posted by AustinCajun
i saw that "C" missing awhile back and was hoping it would get fixed before the scrimmage.
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It did and looks great :DQuote:
Originally posted by AustinCajun
i saw that "C" missing awhile back and was hoping it would get fixed before the scrimmage.
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Tear up all the old schedules for preseason football practice.
It’s a whole new ball game for collegiate teams checking in for the start of fall drills for the 2003 season, and UL will start experiencing those changes today.
There will be more players on the field when the Ragin’ Cajuns hold their first practice session beginning at 3 p.m., but over the course of the next four weeks that group won’t be logging as many practice hours.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/2265BB95-AD08-4B19-826B-5F9F1B33D028.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--
New NCAA regulations now mandate that incoming freshmen and returning varsity players check in at the same time. In previous years, the newcomer class was permitted to arrive several days early to get a jump on orientation and practice.
Other regulations limit the days that teams can hold two-a-day practices. Collegiate squads can work out only once each day for the first five days of drills, and after that cannot hold two-a-days on back-to-back days.
That’s something Cajun coach Rickey Bustle instilled last season, alternating one-a-days and two-a-days throughout his first fall camp
“Not that many people were doing that last year,” he said Sunday after welcoming back his 105 squad members. “I had a lot of coaches ask me about it at clinics and what I thought about it. I guess we were a little ahead of the game.”
Per NCAA regulations, teams must work out in helmets and shorts for two days and in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts for two days before being permitted to don full gear for the fifth day of practice.
That will come Friday for the Cajuns, who will have their first two-a-day session on Saturday.
The bigger change, Bustle said, is having the varsity in camp at the same time as the freshmen.
Both groups checked in at the UL Conference Center Sunday and went through physicals and equipment checkout Sunday evening.
“I’m not certain of the benefits, to be honest,” he said. “I think they’ll lose some of the camaraderie they (the freshman group) have had in the past, and we won’t be able to have the individual time with them.
“I talked to a bunch of coaches, and they were all up in the air about how they were going to handle practice. I had our schedule done, and I changed it when I got back from the Sun Belt meetings.”
How he and the Cajun staff will handle it is bring the freshmen and other newcomers out for practice one hour early each day through the first three days.
For example, the newcomer group will hit the field at 3 p.m. today through Wednesday, and returning varsity members will join them at 4 p.m.
“It means that they’ll be able to hear everything and see everything twice,” Bustle said. “That’s the teaching part of it. We’ll teach exactly the same things, and that’s where they’ll get the extra repetitions.
“When it came down to it, after the individual periods there wasn’t a lot of group stuff you could do with just the freshmen.”
Sunday’s 2 p.m. squad meeting was the first time Bustle had met with his charges since the end of the spring term, but he was happy with what he saw.
“When you have that many records in the summer conditioning it’s impressive,” he said. “The records give the guys something to shoot at, but I’m more excited about how many guys we had get personal bests. That says that we’re heading in the right direction in the weight room.
“But the first thing I told them today was that we weren’t just going to let those records just hang here on the wall in the weight room. We’ve gotta take it out on the field with us.”
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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Cajuns’ Rekieta revived after elbow surgery</b>
LOUISIANA La. — There were times this spring when Eric Rekieta wondered whether life was fair.
The heir-apparent at quarterback for UL Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajun football squad had a hole in his right elbow and a smaller one in the front of his leg ... the telltale signs of the infamous “Tommy John” surgery.
Only four months earlier, he had completed 25-of-33 passes for 256 yards in his first-ever Division I start, leading the Cajuns to a comeback victory over Arkansas State.
Now he was watching spring drills, and wondering if his arm — his meal ticket, his stock in trade, the appendage whose strength impressed so many in his short time in Acadiana — would ever be the same.
“I’d finally gotten the chance to play,” Rekieta said Sunday, “and the injuries just seemed like they kept coming. It was like, why is all of this happening to me?”
He’s hoping all the injuries – and the agony of rehabilitation — are in the past now, and he’s ready to battle for a starting slot starting today when the Cajuns begin fall drills in preparation for the Aug. 30 opener at South Carolina.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/6DA19F89-0876-4C7D-AF15-B52F1CE7FC37.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--
Rekieta doesn’t recall a particular point during the 2002 season that he injured his elbow. He just knows that it started hurting and never quit, and the pain got worse as the season progressed.
“I remember one day in practice,” he said. “The first ball I threw was a long one, and it really hurt. I don’t know if I didn’t warm up enough, but that’s when I knew something was wrong.”
The Paducah, Texas, native gutted out the rest of his junior season with a variety of compression sleeves and braces, while stretching, heating and icing his elbow before and after every practice and game.
And he had success. Taking over for the injured Jon Van Cleave late in the Idaho game, he hit 6-of-8 passes in the final period and led his team on an 87-yard, 14-play drive that set up Jerome Coleman’s game-winning three-yard run with 0:49 left.
He got his first start the next week and made it count against ASU, and might have done the same a week later against Arkansas before having to leave that game late with a dislocated thumb and with his squad in position for a tying score.
But it wasn’t his thumb he was worried about.
Elbow surgery was scheduled following the season, and on Dec. 4 Cajun team physician Dr. Micahel Duval took a piece of patella tendon from below Rekieta’s kneecap and constructed a new ligament in his right elbow.
“It’s normally baseball players who’ve had it,” Rekieta said. “I don’t know of many football guys, but I’ve read that the pitchers who’ve had it done have a couple of extra miles per hour on their fast ball.”
When former major league pitcher John had the surgery done in 1974, it required 18 months of rehabilitation for him to return. Rekieta was throwing a football in four and one-half months, and Duval and director of sports medicine John Porche have talked about using him in a case-study paper describing his recovery.
“Knowing what kind of competitor he is,” said Cajun offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rob Christophel, “he understood what he had to do. You never heard him complain and he never made any excuses.”
He and Porche started rehab work immediately, at first concentrating on lower body work and conditioning and gradually adding in twisting and stretching exercises for his elbow that created minimal stress — minimal, of course, if it’s not your elbow.
He watched teammates Jerry Babb and Matt Lane take all the snaps during spring practice, a breakout series of practices for Babb.
“I did a lot of mental reps,” he said of those drills. “When I went out I’d watch Jerry and Matt and try to go through the reads with them, see if I’d have thrown it the same place. All the new plays, I had to do them by memory and not from actually executing them.”
It wasn’t until after the spring that he began light throwing, a regimen that he continued into ever-increasing summer workouts.
“I’m a firm believer in the summer program now,” he said Sunday. “After sitting out the spring, the summer really helped in getting my strength and conditioning back. It helped me get back what I had lost.”
“He’s been through a lot,” said Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle, “but he’s also been out there throwing pain-free. We’ll keep an eye on him, but we’re going to let him go and communicate as much as we can.”
“As long as he feels good, we’re going to let him go 100 percent,” Christophel said. “We won’t get a true evaluation until we start two-a-days, but I think he’s excited and looking forward to it. He was going in as our number one guy, and nobody likes to get knocked down with something like that.”
“A lot of people worked their tails off this summer,” Rekieta said, “and a lot of people worked hard to help me get back to here. I just want to have a big recovery and a good season, and that’ll make it all worth it.”
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Today at practice, Turbine and I were discussing the transfer rules about D-1A players. Basically, we were lamenting the fact that a player like a Craig Nall had to transfer to a 1AA program, when he probably could have played for a 1A program. The problem is he would have had to sit out for a year. At first I was thinking that a change in this rule could be a big boom for the smaller 1A programs, but then another thought came to mind..
If a smaller school found a diamond in the rough ( like a Stamps) or someone the big schools missed, would he be enticed or tempted to transfer to a BCS school?
:confused: Do you guys think a more liberal transfer rule (like in baseball) would be good or bad for non-BCS football schools?
"If a smaller school found a diamond in the rough ( like a Stamps) or someone the big school missed, would he be enticed or temped to transfer to a BCS school?
Do you guys think a more liberal transfer rule (like in baseball) would be good or bad for non-BCS football schools?"
I never thought of that, are there any cases of a player transferring up a level? I am sure there are I just never heard of it. Jerry Rice stayed put I wonder if the BCS schools came calling. I know you can go right away to a 1aa school but can you go right away if you are moving to 1a? Wish I could help but I don't know.
<blockquote><p align=justify><i><b>Series:</b> Cajun junior tight end Lawrence Johnson, a mass communications major from New Orleans, will be offering daily insight into Louisiana’s preseason football training camp for the Advertiser.</i>
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — It’s a natural assumption to figure that Louisiana’s football program would be further along in Year Two under Rickey Bustle than in last year’s maiden voyage.
Bustle’s not one to overlook anything, though. Not with the opener at South Carolina coming on Aug. 30. So, when the Ragin’ Cajuns hit the field for their first practice of the 2003 season, Bustle kept it basic. “We didn’t assume anything,” Bustle said. “In our meetings we went over and over things. And today, we made the coaches start from square one. We didn’t do a lot of things today.”
Freshmen began drills at 3 p.m., with the varsity joining them at 4 p.m., a structure that will be followed today and Wednesday before the entire squad practices together on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Even detail-conscious Bustle had to admit, though, that the veterans looked like they knew what to expect after a season and a spring under his staff. “We did have carryover from the older guys,” Bustle said. “Our organization was good. They know where to go, got our alignments right.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/3FEAB0B2-17FB-414B-B620-27D63F610EDF.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com<!--
“I think the players are tired of being in the weight room, tired of those 300-yard shuttle runs. They were ready to get out here and start preparing to win some games.”
The Cajuns were 3-9 in 2002, and they face a demanding non-conference schedule again in 2003 before they can focus on the Sun Belt Conference race. But the atmosphere was a positive one on Monday. “We have an excellent group of seniors,” Bustle said. “We had a good group last year, and I think they learned from them. “I talked to (strength coach) Brad Ohrt, and one thing we looked at was how hard the players worked. There were some records set, but mainly we looked at how hard they worked. There were a lot of them we felt good about.”
Numerous junior college signees were also on hand during the summer, getting accustomed to the Cajun work ethic so they can help right away this season.
Two positions fell under quick scrutiny — quarterback and running back.
St. Thomas More product Jerry Babb emerged as the No. 1 quarterback after the spring, with senior Eric Rekieta back from elbow surgery to challenge him. Matt Lane and walk-ons Butch Roussel and Ross Corcoran followed during first-day drills.
“We need to see what Eric can do,” Bustle said. “He looked a little rusty at times today.”
At running back, Bustle’s staff is trying to find a viable threat to take the pressure off the aerial game from a group that includes Comeaux High-ex Dwight Lindon, Josh Harrison and Chester Johnson.
“I’d like to see if one or two of them will step forward,” Bustle said. “We’ve moved Ross Rix to fullback, which gives us more depth there. I want to see two or three who are left keep it going.
“They were all so close in the spring.”
As the squad broke from positional meetings at the end of practice and defensive coordinator Brent Pry reminded his players to hydrate, Bustle gathered seven team members around him for a reminder.
Since they had neglected to lock their lockers, they got to do extra grass drills before calling it a day.
It all goes back to not assuming anything. Bustle doesn’t even take his observation tower for granted.
“I got down from the tower without falling,” he said with a shake of the head. “That was the biggest thrill for me. “Last year I fell getting down, but I didn’t completely fall until I got out to the hashmark where everybody could see me.” Day One, and the tower, went better this time around.
CAJUN CLIPPINGS: A total of 101 players went through the initial workout. Weather conditions at the start of the 3 p.m. drills were 93 degrees, 59 percent humidity and a heat index of 106 degrees, which was down to 97 at the 6:25 p.m. close of practice.
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What's going on with the old scoreboard. Is it just there for advertisements, or can it do something???:confused: :confused: :confused:
The South Carolina game will be here in no time and i cant hardly wait. Does anyone know about how the practices are going ? Are we looking good ? Any new guys standing out ? I know our D is going to have to step it up. Im also intested about how Erick is throwing the ball. If anyone can update me I would greatly appretiate it.
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Day one finally arrives for Cajuns</b>
<b>Monday August 5th</b>
After a long, hot summer with strength and conditioning coach Brad Ohrt, we all finally made it to the notorious two-a-day training camp. The brutal workouts coach Ohrt put us through this summer made us bigger and stronger. It’s finally time to put the summer school books away and just practice football for two and a half weeks. We all could not wait.
The empty feeling from leaving a desolate Malone Stadium in Monroe for the last game of the season was not very pleasant. The bad taste that left in my mouth is still there. It was not the right way to end the season. I still can’t believe that it happened that way. It just made me appreciate the feeling of victory more and hate losing even more than before. It made all of my teammates and myself hungrier for a winning season than ever before.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/65BE8A07-E086-4675-8241-EBE6928D5F78.shtml">The rest of Lawrence Johnson's daily insight</a><!--
As training camp opens, it is easy to notice all of the new faces joining us upperclassmen on the practice field. The coaches did a pretty good job at bringing in new talent to complement all of us that are already here. These new guys are the future, and as an upperclassman it is my responsibility to show them the right way to conduct themselves as a part of the Ragin Cajun’ football program.
Finally getting to hit the practice field was like a breath of fresh air. Everyone, including myself, was psyched up. especially after watching the Saints put on a great scrimmage two days ago.
After practice started, the offense as a group was truly glad to see Eric Rekieta return from off-season surgery. He still possesses tremendous zip on the football. Matt Lane has improved his arm strength as well. He almost knocked me over throwing the ball during warm-ups. Jerry Babb’s athleticism was also on display for all to see.
It was a good day to begin and before I know it, we will be in Columbia getting ready to play the Gamecocks. See ya tomorrow!
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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Drills starting to speed up</b>
<b>Tuesday August 5th</b>
Day 2 is in the books. It was yet another long day. Even though it was a long day, the weather was not as much of a factor as it was the other day. There is nothing better for us to be on the field practicing, and look up and see the sun covered by many gray clouds. The hot summers of Louisiana need a few more days like today.
Even though we were only in shorts and helmets, the intensity picked up quite a bit. Teaching and installation quickly turned into game speed non-contact drills. Anyone who was not awake for practice today, quickly woke up when the drills got faster and more intense. Everyone, including myself, is trying to compete for a spot on the varsity and trying to complement the team as much as possible.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/7CEE82A4-6129-42B1-A9AE-40C6DC41A1F8.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
As the intensity grew more and more, everything just seemed to move much faster. Coach Bustle’s practices are already fast paced, but today it seemed to move just a hair faster than normal. Pass skeleton, our 7 on 7 passing practice, moved so fast some of us had to have our technique and corrections coached on the run. We try to run forty plays in 20 minutes. So in other words, everyone is running somewhere, quick, fast and in a hurry.
Pass skeleton is an opportunity for the defense to try to stop the offense from catching any ball at any point in time. The electric personality of defensive coordinator Coach Pry is the source defense’s energy. They were especially aggressive and talkative today. If they make a play on the ball, and it hits the ground (whether they have anything to do with it or not) you can hear them celebrating from the other side of town. On the off chance one of us offensive players does drop the ball, they will immediately try to talk you out of your game and make you feel like the smallest person in the world. Some people found that out today, but they will bounce back.
All in all, it was a pretty good day of work, highlighted by the play of our running backs. Dwight Lindon has stepped up to be a new offensive leader for us. Chester Johnson showed off his excellent hands in pass skeleton. Josh Harrison ran with speed and shiftiness. Between these three running backs, I think we have the best depth since a few years ago, when we had Jerome Coleman and then running back Ike Taylor in the backfield. There are still some talented players behind those three as well. All we have to do as an offensive line unit is open holes for them. The tight ends and offensive lineman are all working towards meeting that challenge.
Tomorrow, we put on some more of the pads, and the intensity level should be through the roof. We have to be better than we were yesterday. We have to improve everyday. See ya tomorrow!
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I think they are trying to fix it up to run messages across it (which is why they left the scrolling message screen intact).Quote:
Originally posted by RedBug58
What's going on with the old scoreboard. Is it just there for advertisements, or can it do something???:confused: :confused: :confused:
<table width=496 height=400 background="https://forumeus.com/images/seasons/2002-03-oldscoreboard.gif" border=0><tr><td><td> <br></td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td width=160> </td><td width=210><marquee border="0" style="COLOR: #BDB76B; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; font-weight: bold"> &nbs p; Lo uisiana has BEST Season since 1996</marquee></td><td width=145> </td><tr><td height=205> </td><td> </td><td> </td></td></table><br>Since this picture was taken the SGA has done some painting around the tunnel.
PS do me a favor and hit "F5" on your keyboard.
I am getting so stoked for football season! These articles are great!
I, for one, like the articles, LJ"s efforts. I feel certain he has to push himself, after a "fun day" on the practice field, to meet the paper deadline. I t shows me that he has character and handles responsibility.
If he was already getting noticed, would there be a reason to leave?
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Cajuns overcome heat</b>
<b>Wednesday August 6th</b>
It was so hot outside today, we were all drenched in sweat by period 4. Period 4 is nowhere near the end of practice. It seemed like we were outside in the 105-degree heat index all day. It was sweltering. But even though it was that hot, we still got some good work in.
On both sides of the ball, I think the players who went through the spring successfully retained knowledge of the plays very well. People know exactly where to go, and when to do it on the field.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/E90E0326-F8C7-4885-BC8A-941ED708FF2F.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
Even though people know what they are doing and going full speed, we all have to work on getting our technique better. Technique is one of the “little things.” as Coach Bustle says.
For instance, a “little thing” is when a receiver runs a 5-yard out and cuts it down to four yards. There is a reason in our play selection why certain routes are run certain ways. It may be opening up a crease for someone else to be wide open and score a touchdown. This is a specific thing that we can all stand to get better at. The closer we all get to perfection, the better we will be.
Aside from working on technique, the big thing about today was putting on the shoulder pads and getting to pound on one another. One player who looked forward to that was G.W. Ru____. We lost him for the season against Idaho, when he suffered a renal fracture to his kidney.
It could have been a career-ending injury, but he battled back and was ready to play today. He was so ready to get back in the mix he had all of his pads on a full hour before practice started. He has moved to inside linebacker now, so I look forward to going at it with him everyday. It will be fun.
We will be back on the field tomorrow competing with one another again. It is getting late right now (almost 10 p.m. while I am writing this) so I am going to go get some rest now. See ya tomorrow!
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<blockquote><p align=justify>
Cajuns’ unit eager to work during first day of full pads.
LOUISIANA La. — There’s no question in Rickey Bustle’s mind about which of the UL Lafayette units was ready to put on pads Wednesday.
“The defense came out there with their motor running,” said the Cajuns’ football boss after Wednesday’s two-hour and 20-minute workout. “They came over and set the tempo in a big way.”
The Cajun squad, in its third day of preseason drills, donned shoulder pads for the first time since reporting to camp Sunday. As per NCAA regulations, the squad will work out once more in shoulder pads and shorts today before going in full gear for the first time Friday.
The squad got a chance to work offense-vs.-defense in a contact drill for the first time since spring practice ended, and did that during two late-practice periods Wednesday.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/B0B93318-87DF-4B60-A695-87E4FA1B22FA.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--
“We banged around a little,” Bustle said of the session. “It gave us a chance to get some film. We’d been teaching fundamentals for two days, and now we can use them, and we can look at the film and correct some things we’re doing wrong.”
The Cajuns, prepping for the Aug. 30 opener at South Carolina, had 103 players take part in Wednesday’s drills. The mostly-freshman newcomer group, as has been the case in the first two days of drills, came out for the workout one hour in advance of the returning varsity players.
“Our conditioning’s pretty good right now,” Bustle said. “We had a heckuva summer in the weight room and offseason program, and it looks like we’re continuing that out here. The kids are talking about winning, and that’s great right now.
“Sometimes we get so focused on drills and things that we forget the most important thing, and that’s winning.”
One area Bustle and the Cajuns hope to get some wins from are special teams, and Bustle’s “Pride and Joy” punt-block team came up with a big play from a surprising source during late-practice drills. Backup quarterback and St. Thomas More product Matt Lane stormed in to block one Grant Autrey punt and came close to blocking a second.
“With the kind of people we have on that unit, we’re going to get some of them,” Bustle said of the punt blockers. “They’ve been hand-picked to be on that team, chosen because of how they run or because they provide some other special ability.”
CAJUN CLIPPINGS: Temperature was at 95 degrees with 50 percent humidity at the 3 p.m. start of freshman practice, but a steady breeze during the last 90 minutes of full-team drills made things more comfortable ... The squad will work out as a full unit from start to finish for the first time today beginning at 4 p.m. The first full-pads practice is Friday at 4 p.m., and the first two-a-day practice is set Saturday at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ... The squad’s annual Fan Day is at 6 p.m. Sunday at Cajun Field following a 2:45 p.m. practice. -->
Man, it's good to see GW R u d i c k is back in action after a life-threatening injury against Idaho last year.
He attended New Mexico Military Institute and now Louisiana-Lafayette. Do anyone have information on how his practices are going?
good to see this young man writing in the paper. maybe the time p. will hire him and we get a story or two.:o
I enjoy these articles by Lawrence. His writing style enables "easy reading". He really creates a vivid picture of the practice from the inside. I hope he continues his work during and through the season.
K
I cant tell you how excited I am about this season as well as this upcoming D. I think we have a good one. Ross is back as well as Smith At ILB. J.Smith at S/S and Both returning Corners. We lost a great ball player Charles Tillman who signed with the bears but I can say that the position is being handled well by David Prater. Our D line will do fine as well with returning starters and more depth this year. Man we are looking good :) ...... Anyone been to any practices?? How is the O looking ? any standouts on either side of the ball? Go Cajuns!
Ragin Cajun Fans<p align=justify>
Our company, Channel One Video and Film, Inc. produces the content for the video scoreboard under the guidance of The University of Louisiana Athletic Department.
Channel One, a locally owned company, is honored and proud to be associated with Ragin Cajun Athletics and we are looking forward to a great football season. We are presently, producing the head shots of the team , graphics, animations and content for this upcoming season. We are also presently filming clips for the opening video that proceeds the team’s exit from the tunnel. It promises to be an exciting piece.
We asking fans for input on the content of the board.. More replays..more scores... I Like... I Hate... good or bad we want to know. Our goal is to entertain you, the fans of Cajun Field.
Unfortunately, one of the Fans’ favorites “The Subway Pepper Race” was not sponsored for this year, however look for the pepper’s to appear in different situations during the game.
Once again your input is greatly appreciated.
My email address is
greg@gochannelone.com
Thanks and Always
GO CAJUNS
The Grey Goose
A rap/music video with Cayenne. With a special guest artist "Dr. A.". Sort of like Dr. Dre' but without all the thug baggage.:cool:
More frequent of the really "good" plays even if it is a while after the fact.
I would like to see more scores at appropriate lulls in the action at hand. Maybe more sounds/video clips like they have at Moore Field? Will it work? "Yeah, Baby!"
What is the musical theme for the intro for the team this year??