You sure that's not spaghetti and red-eye gravy??Quote:
Originally Posted by DestinCajun
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You sure that's not spaghetti and red-eye gravy??Quote:
Originally Posted by DestinCajun
Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunFun
"scarcasm"Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunFun
was an attempt at satirical humor
IE: scarred by past disappointment(s)
smiles
Mr. R, a serious question -Quote:
Originally Posted by snote
What's your feeling on LaTech being in the current WAC with the other 8 members all being from 1000 to 4000 miles way?
could that be the separation they were looking for? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DestinCajun
Z
Elite too. You forgot elite.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeebart21
Deafening is the silence on your reply from Mr. R (chuckle, grin, snicker)Quote:
Originally Posted by DestinCajun
Goat ache!
That's pronounced ee-light up in Ruston.:p:p:p:pQuote:
Originally Posted by DestinCajun
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The doubters gave their opinions in the preseason, picking UL's football team to finish sixth this season in the Sun Belt.
In many ways, that's now a distant memory. The Cajuns (5-3 overall, 4-0 Sun Belt) can become bowl-eligible for the third time in four seasons by beating UTEP (3-5, 3-2 Conference USA) in a non-conference game at 6 tonight at Cajun Field.
"We ain't in the shade no more," UL coach Rickey Bustle said for a program coming off a 3-9 season. "I like this 4-0 business. The shade's gone."
Translation: Life is good in Lafayette.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20081108/SPORTS/811080325/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • November 8, 2008
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Since losing three of its first four games - including a three-point loss at Illinois and an eight-point loss at Kansas State - UL is as hot as any team in the country. The first-place Cajuns are riding a four-game winning streak, are 4-0 in league play for the first time since 1980 and sit on the verge of their first bowl berth and outright conference title in 38 years.
"For us, those are things that we felt like we could do," said UL quarterback Mike Desormeaux. "Now we're finally realizing some of the goals we had, but we're not done.
"You can tell something is a little different around here now."
UTEP coach Mike Price was not expecting to face this type of team when the game was scheduled earlier this year. Both teams had a bye during this week. Both teams needed another game. The El Paso Times reported that the Miners scheduled UL thinking it could be an easy victory against a program that last won more than six games in 1993.
Instead, UTEP's second non-conference game in November since 1992 will be against one of the nation's most potent offensive attacks. The Cajuns rank third in the nation in rushing, eighth in total offense and 14th in scoring behind the play of Desormeaux and running back Tyrell Fenroy.
"Whoever scheduled this game is nuts," Price said, poking fun at himself. "I'm a scheduling guru."
While the Cajuns look to become bowl-eligible, the Miners will try to end a two-game losing streak and keep their postseason dreams alive. They qualified for bowl games with 8-4 records in Price's first two seasons but fell to 5-7 in 2006 and 4-8 in '07.
"It's going to be much more competitive than I would have guessed a year ago," Price said. "This is as important of a game as there is this year for our program. It would put us closer to six wins, just like they want to get. A year ago when we both scheduled this game we thought it was just going to be fun to play each other.
"Now it's going to mean something for them and mean something for us."
In the season opener, UTEP got rocked, 42-17, by a Buffalo team that went 5-7 a year ago. Price has prepared his team to avoid taking UL lightly.
"We really had our rose-colored glasses on for that game," Price said of Buffalo. "We threw those (glasses) away. We know what we're getting into now."
The Cajuns are also taking UTEP seriously. On Oct. 4, the Miners beat Southern Miss, 40-37, in double overtime. UL lost to Southern Miss, 51-21, to open the season.
With four games left in the regular season, the Cajuns are in position for their first nine-win season since 1976. If that happens, they will play in a bowl. A bowl win would give UL its first 10-win season in program history.
The last thing the Cajuns want to have happen is to leave the postseason up to chance. Troy went 8-4 a season ago, but lost the tiebreaker with Florida Atlantic for the Sun Belt title. The Trojans did not go to a bowl despite having eight wins and earning a big non-conference upset over Oklahoma State.
"We feel like we need to win every game," Desormeaux said. "We've seen it not work out for other teams. We know finishing this thing strong is a must.
"If we win out, we're guaranteed to play in the New Orleans Bowl, and that's what we want to do."
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EL PASO -- November non-conference football games, at least in recent years, have been even rarer than November victories for the UTEP football team.
Games against teams that don't spread out the field and chuck, chuck, chuck the football have been almost as unusual for a Miner squad that sees a heavy dose of Conference USA passing teams late after seeing a heavy dose of non-conference passing teams early.
Against that backdrop comes a Louisiana squad that lines up with a featured tailback, a blocking fullback and a tight end and batters the football down the field like a throwback from the 20th century.
<center><p><a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_10932265" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
By Bret Bloomquist / El Paso Times
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"This offense is a little bit different from teams in Conference USA," linebacker Adam Vincent said. "They are the No. 3 rushing team in the nation, they run 90 percent of the time. We're used to seeing teams throw the ball.
"As a linebacker you like playing against teams that run the ball because you get a little more action."
"They pound the ball," safety Josh Ferguson said. "We know it's going to be a physical game. I'm more used to covering people, but I have no problem getting in the box and hitting."
For a UTEP team torched by the pass for
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two consecutive games this could seem like a welcome change of pace, though the run defense has been only marginally better than the pass defense. Trying to stop the Tyrell Fenroy-lead rushing attack that ranks third in the nation (301.25 yards per game on the ground) will be the country's No. 109 rushing defense.
Not only that, but Louisiana-Lafayette is a capable passing team. Though they run the ball on two-thirds of their plays, Ragin' Cajuns quarterback Michael Desormeaux has an excellent passer rating of 138.5 that leads the Sun Belt Conference.
"They are a heavy running team, their running back is a special player," linebacker Nu'u Punimata said. "But for as much as they run, when they do get in passing situations they can pass. That quarterback can throw the ball well."
Still, unlike most Conference USA offenses that spread out the field and use a successful passing game to set up runs that almost seem like a surprise, Louisiana-Lafayette is the opposite.
"A really different game, a really different opportunity," coach Mike Price said. "Not only is it a non-conference game this late in the season, but it's one with a powerful running attack."
The key for the defense is more fundamental than just stopping the run.
"We need to work on team confidence," Price said after giving up 126 points in the last two games. "Going into that Tulsa game (a 77-35 loss) we thought we were good. We have to get back to thinking we're good.
"We will. We have character."
Said Punimata: "We need to get back to the enthusiasm we had early in the year. Guys were excited, making plays."
One area where UTEP is getting better is on offense. A retooled line overcame some injuries going into the Rice game and helped produce 44 points.
"Overall, the running game is improving and we're making more big plays," quarterback Trevor Vittatoe said. "Our goal every week is to score at least 40, and in the last two games we've left 14 or 21 points on the field with missed opportunities.
"That's what we need to capitalize on."
There isn't much margin for error at this point.
Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359.
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UL— Bowl eligible hasn’t been a phrase commonly associated with Louisiana at Lafayette recent football seasons. UL has a chance to change that today beginning at 6 p.m. at Cajun Field with a victory over Conference USA member Texas-El Paso.
The Cajuns (5-3) can qualify for postseason play by earning a sixth win for only the 11th time since the school participated in its last bowl game 38 years ago.
UL has reached the sixth victory plateau only four times since 1994, with two of those under current coach Rickey Bustle.
The Cajuns are 5-3 for only the second time since 1995.
Bustle said UL, which has won five of its last six, has the chance for a strong finish.
<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/34130029.html?showAll=y&c=y" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
By BOB ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate
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“It’s great to be in the position that we are in. We talked about it last week; it is something that you work for,” Bustle said.
“This week our team has heard a lot about becoming bowl-eligible, but we want to focus on us and doing the little things we need to do to keep on improving.”
The Miners are 3-5 and 3-2 in their conference. At 4-0, ULL leads the Sun Belt Conference with three league games left.
UTEP coach Mike Price said he’s not looking forward to the nonconference game.
“Whoever scheduled this game is nuts. (ULL) is the number one rushing team in the country, a tremendous team,” Price, who coached briefly at Alabama, said.
Actually, the Cajuns were leading the nation in yards rushing, but slipped to third this week and eighth in total offense.
Bustle said the Cajuns are enjoying their recent successes, but that distinction also comes with a price.
“We’re definitely not in the shade anymore. That said, I do like being 4-0. There is no doubt we have a target on our backs,” Bustle said. “It’s the same in every conference as a leader emerges.
“I don’t know if we’re playing out of our head, but we are playing great together right now.”
UTEP has lost two straight games, including last week’s contest against Rice, 49-44.
Like ULL, the Miners are compiling big offensive numbers, but also allowing the opposition a chance to do the same.
Teams average 483 yards per game when playing UTEP, something Price said his team has been attempting to correct.
UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatore has thrown for 4,996 yards in two seasons. Vittatore threw 125 straight passes without an interception until he was picked off in the second quarter against Rice.
ULL’s Tyrell Fenroy has set every school rushing record. He has gained 4,322 on the ground in four seasons.
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