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After watching his senior football season at Catholic High in New Iberia fly by, Michael Desormeaux promised himself he would cherish his collegiate playing career.
Desormeaux did what he could to appreciate playing football at UL but still found himself starting his final fall camp with the Ragin' Cajuns on Monday.
The senior quarterback took a few minutes after Monday's practice to talk with The Daily Advertiser about himself, his teammates and his expectations for this season.
<b>Question: </b>What do you like the most about finally getting out on the practice field?
<b>Answer: </b>It's the intensity when you're back at practice. The coaches are on top of you. Everybody's trying to win a spot right now. That's what makes this fun.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/SPORTS/808050323/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the interview</a>
Joshua Parrott •
jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 5, 2008
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Q: Back in the spring, the offense put more emphasis on stretching the field vertically in the passing game. Where would you say the offensive unit is right now with those changes?
A: Right now we're establishing a really good base. For a first day it was great. We've got a long way to go, no doubt. We've just got to keep adding stuff to our playbook every day. We'll eventually get where we need to be.
Q: How did you end up playing football at UL?
A: Early I wasn't recruited by UL at all. They had just signed a freshman out of Texas who was supposed to be a really good ballplayer. Then about halfway through my senior year they figured out he wasn't going to make it (academically), so they started really recruiting me hard. It pretty much came down to ULM, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State and UL. This place just felt like home and where I needed to be. I felt like I fit in here.
Q: You've played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back and seen time on special teams with the Cajuns. How were you able to make that work?
A: Growing up, I always loved the game of football. All I ever wanted to do was play, and I didn't care where. When I got here I learned my playbook frontwards and backwards. It got to where I knew where everyone was on offense, so it was an easy fit for me. On defense, they put a couple packages in for me to play one year, and I enjoyed it. It was a blast.
Q: You and senior running back Tyrell Fenroy both rushed for 1,000 yards last year as the Cajuns ranked seventh nationally in rushing. How much credit does your offensive line deserve for that success?
A: We always try to put their name in the newspaper and give them some love. Yeah, Fenroy and I rushed for 1,000 yards, but in the end that's impossible without a heck of an O-line. We have guys who get after it. But it's not just the O-line. Whenever you watch film you see our receivers blocking 20 yards downfield and tight ends tying to make blocks at the end.
Q: When you were a redshirt freshman in 2005, the Cajuns won a share of the Sun Belt title. They went 6-6 in 2006 before going 3-9 a season ago. What does this program need to do to rebound?
A: We have to start playing for each other again. When people are sacrificing for this team and each other you're going to play harder. We've got to go out there and play with some confidence and have a little swagger, not to be cocky but to be confident that we can win if we play as a unit.
Q: Who were your favorite players to watch growing up?
A: I grew up watching NFL Films. I liked Johnny Unitas. That guy was tough as nails. Joe Montana was probably my favorite when I was really young. Of course I like Steve Young because he was left-handed.
Q: Which teammate would you say you're closest to?
A: It's definitely my little brother, Matt (a sophomore tight end with the Cajuns). You can't get closer than brothers. We live together. We hang out all the time. I enjoy spending time with him.
Q: What are your expectations going into this season?
A: Our goal is to go out there and compete in every game and have a chance to win every game. The chips are going to fall as they will, but we're always going to be putting out 100 percent effort and playing as a team. If that happens, I think we'll be able to accept whatever happens.
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