DE Hills rides out the storm
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — We’ve all heard the phrase, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”
Louisiana's Ragin’ Cajuns are testing that theory.
They’re trying to survive tough times long enough to see their rewards, but each defeat adds weight to their burden.
At 0-6 overall and 0-2 in Sun Belt Conference play, the Cajuns are almost certain to post their eighth straight losing season and are out of the running for a Sun Belt title.
What’s left is a team still learning while rebuilding a program’s pride.
Last week at Oklahoma State, UL outgained the Cowboys 131-33 in the first quarter but only led 3-0 after blowing scoring opportunities. Properly awakened, OSU rolled to a 56-3 win.
“When the offense moves the ball, and does it every time, it gives us more confidence,” defensive end Tony Hills said on Monday. “They were pinning them deep, and that gives us a chance to get safeties.”
As much as anything, that reflects the hope that can only be harbored by a redshirt freshman.
Instead of bemoaning a lost scoring chance, Hills was licking his chops, thinking of a score by the defense.
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But OSU broke a long run and a punt return in the second period, turning a 14-3 lead into a 28-3 hole, and the evening was decided.
“That’s all part of the game,” Hills said of the quick change in momentum. “The defense started out giving a good showing, but they exploited us and we gave them a couple of cheap touchdowns.
“We just had to try to do better in the second half. The effort was definitely there, but we had a couple of blown assignments.”
This week’s homecoming matchup with Sun Belt foe UL Monroe could help the Cajuns get back on track, but only if they remain focused.
“It will be good to get back to a schedule like this,” Hills said. “We’ve played some of the top teams in the nation, and we’ve really contended in parts of those games.
“That’s our motivation against teams that are better that we’re matched up against.”
As for ULm, the 0-6 Indians got the Cajuns’ attention by scoring 41 points in last week’s 44-41 loss to Arkansas State. But, without that score, UL Monroe averages 12 points per game.
“One of our defensive goals is to hold teams under 13 points, so that works,” said Hills, who isn’t likely to get caught up in homecoming festivities this week.
“Homecoming is more for the fans,” Hills said. “It’s another game for us. We’re preparing for a victory.”
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Bustle: It’s no time to relax
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Fans who have grown weary of seeing UL hammered by a grinding schedule may view the upcoming homecoming game with Sun Belt Conference rival UL Monroe as a relief.
That may not be such a good idea.
It’s true that both squads are 0-6 overall and 0-2 in SBC play, and that the Ragin’ Cajuns and Indians seem well-matched.
But last season, one week after a near-upset of SEC member Arkansas, coach Rickey Bustle’s flat team was ambushed 34-10 by ULM in the 2002 season finale.
That memory should keep the Cajuns focused this week.
“Last year when we played them, we didn’t have any fight to us,” Bustle said Monday. “They were the better football team that night, and they got out there and whipped us.
“Both of us need a win, and there’s no question they think they can come in here and win.”
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The Cajuns are still reeling from a 56-3 road loss at Oklahoma State, the latest stop in a six-game chamber of horrors that could sap the resolve of many teams.
They certainly don’t need to be taking anyone lightly.
“In those first six games, if we’d won one, it would have been an upset,” Bustle said. “We had hoped there might be one or two wins in there. We’ve been in a couple of games, and been outmatched in a couple.
“But, it hasn’t affected the way we practice. Last Wednesday in the middle drill, you’d have thought we were 5-0 from the way they were hooping and hollering. That’s what they know how to do.
“A lot of times, you work hard and it doesn’t pay off. But that’s the only chance you’ve got.”
The Cajuns have a legitimate chance to beat ULM, New Mexico State, Idaho, Florida International and Middle Tennessee, with only the Nov. 1 trip to Southern Miss a likely mismatch.
“If we can go 0-6, we can go the other way, too,” Bustle said.
It would help if the Cajuns would stop getting injured.
Already short-handed in the secondary, they lost cornerback Ricky Thomas to a broken foot at OSU. Also, offensive guard D’Anthony Batiste limped out of action with a knee strain.
JC transfer Antwain Spann and freshman Michael Adams are ticketed to start on the corner at the moment, backed by sophomore Terryl Fenton and freshman Jarrett Jones.
“Thank goodness you only play two (corners) at a time,” Bustle said. “We’ve got two of them. I don’t know if we’ll get Jerrell Carter back this week or not.
“Jarrett was recruited as a cornerback and we’ve had him at strong safety. This gives him the opportunity to play what he was recruited to play.
“We try to approach it in a positive way, try to develop the ones we do have to play well. You have to think someone’s waiting for that opportunity.”
The loss of Batiste cost the Cajuns possibly their most consistent lineman against an Oklahoma State defense loaded with speed, and the Cajun offense struggled as a result.
The offensive line is one area that will be addressed with junior college signees in 2004, just as the defense was targeted for JC talent this year.
For now, Bustle’s staff keeps working with the talent on hand to try to land that first victory.
ULM came close to winning last week, losing 44-41 at Arkansas State despite over 500 yards of offense behind SBC leading rusher Kevin Payne, quarterback Steven Jyles and receiver Mack Vincent.
“I was impressed with the way they moved the ball at Arkansas State,” Bustle said. “They had over 500 yards of offense ... we haven’t had that in two games.
“It looks like they’re starting to hit their stride a little bit, like they’ve found some schemes that work for their team.”
Just what the Bustle needed — another hungry team that’s figuring out its puzzle just in time to play his Cajuns.
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CAJUNS ANNOUNCE HOOTERS AWARD WINNERS
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. – Each week Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football coaching staff honors players for their individual effort in game performances. The University of Louisiana coaching staff would like to thank Hooters for sponsoring the Cajuns weekly and spring football awards.
This week, senior wide receiver Fred Stamps was named Hooters Offensive Player of the Game. Stamps caught five receptions for a team-high 118 yards. It was eighth 100-yard game of his career and he extended his streak to 38 consecutive games with at least one reception, which is fourth-best in the nation. Daniel Taylor was named Hooters Defensive Player of the Game. Taylor had one tackle, one assisted tackle, two quarterback hurries and went the extra mile once.
Place kicker Sean Comiskey was named the Hooters Special Forces Player of the Game for the second week in a row.
Jordan Jackson and Julian Harris were named Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Players of the Week, respectively. It was the second time in three weeks that Jackson was given the award.
Per player vote, Josh Joerg was given the Thumper Award given for the biggest hit on offense, while C.C. Brown received the Hammer Award for the biggest hit on defense. Wendell Williams received the Kuhuna Award for the biggest hit on special teams.
Stamps and Wayne Stein will serve as offensive captains for the Cajuns next week, while Taylor and Pat Lamy will serve as defensive captains. Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team hosts Louisiana-Monroe for Homecoming on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cajun Field.
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<b>PREVIOUS HOOTERS WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS</b>
<b>Offensive Player of the Game</b>
South Carolina - Travis Smothers
Louisiana Tech - No Award Given
Houston - Ronnie Harvey
Minnesota - Erik Rekieta
North Texas - Josh Joerg
Oklahoma State - Fred Stamps
<b>Defensive Player of the Game</b>
South Carolina - Pat Lamy
Louisiana Tech - Ross Brupbacher
Houston - Antonio Floyd
Minnesota - No Award Given
North Texas - C.C. Brown
Oklahoma State - Daniel Taylor
<b>Special Forces Player of the Game</b>
South Carolina - Michael Adams
Louisiana Tech - Sean Comiskey
Houston - Grant Autrey
Minnesota - Eric Bartel
North Texas - Sean Comiskey
Oklahoma State - Sean Comiskey
<b>Offensive Scout Team Player</b>
South Carolina - Butch Roussel
Louisiana Tech - Mike Moore
Houston - Bruce Taylor
Minnesota - Bruce Taylor
North Texas - Jordan Jackson
Oklahoma State - Jordan Jackson
<b>Defensive Scout Team Player</b>
South Carolina - Mark Risher
Louisiana Tech - Kade Wildbur
Houston - Hershell Robinson
Minnesota - Jacob Junkin
North Texas - Derek Morel
Oklahoma State - Julian Harris
home coming is well deserved
I can't remember a team that deserved a homcoming more than the 2003 Cajuns. GEAUX CAJUNS
Cajuns’ offensive line seeks cohesion
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Mix-and-match may work for a temporary wardrobe, but it’s hardly the ticket for an offensive line.
Louisiana has been shuffling linemen in and out of the lineup most of the season, one of the many hurdles faced on the way to a 0-6 record midway through the campaign.
Of all the units on the team, the O-line needs a connected, cohesive effort to succeed, and that’s nearly impossible without a steady group of starters.
“The line is a developmental position,” assistant coach Mike Gibson said Wednesday. “You have to have five playing together. You have to have that continuity and consistency, because they all rely on each other.
“You’ve got to get a feel for that guy playing next to you.”
But, just who is lining up next to whom each week? That’s Gibson’s $64,000 question.
Junior guard Greg Hodges has been hurt most of the year.
Starting guard D’Anthony Batiste was sidelined early in last week’s loss at Oklahoma State.
The Cajuns haven’t had their expected starting five intact for any noticeable time.
“We lost our best lineman (Hodges) early,” Gibson said. “Then last week D’Anthony suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play. He tried one more snap, but couldn’t go.
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“It’s a shame, because he was playing his best football before he got hurt. You have to look at it as an opportunity for someone else to step up, but it is a task.”
Still, young athletes have a way of surviving hard times with a note of optimism, and the linemen are learning as they go.
“They are upbeat,” Gibson said of his squad. “They look forward to the opportunity to play another Saturday. If you dwell on being 0-and-6, the future will catch up with you.
“Winning is an attitude. You can’t flick it on like a light switch. I think you practice how you play. I hope we’ve learned something in these six games.”
One player who can’t help but learn is freshman right tackle Brandon Cox, a 6-foot-7, 295-pounder who is the Cajuns’ best prospect in the trenches.
“Every snap is a learning experience for Brandon,” Gibson said.
If Cox asks older teammates about this week’s opponent, the UL Monroe Indians, he’ll find out that the line has some issues to settle. ULM drummed the Cajuns 34-10 in last year’s season finale, holding UL to a net one yard rushing on 21 attempts.
“These kids handled us last year,” Gibson said, “so I think we’ve got something to prove.
“They are similar to us in that both teams run an eight-man front — the same type looks, the linebackers are shaded a certain way. Oklahoma State ran an eight-man front, too, so we’ve seen it the last two weeks.
“We have a big challenge this week. They have a good defense, like Houston. I know they had 44 points scored on them last week, but one of those scores came on a fumble return so it wasn’t as bad. No. 45 (linebacker Maurice Sonnier), the kid from Port Barre, is good.
“They all run to the ball.”
The Cajuns began the season with freshman Jerry Babb at quarterback, but are now led by senior Eric Rekieta. They also have relied on numerous running backs to move the ball.
“Our system revolves around the system we have,” Gibson said. “Jerry can get away, move a little better. Eric will stand in, hold onto the ball and take a hit for you. He’s not afraid to get hit. It doesn’t matter to my guys.
“I’m sure each of our running backs wishes he could carry the ball 25 times, but they have to react to us. When they carry more they can get a feel for what we’re doing. If we can create a seam, they can take it from there.”
Behind Gibson’s crew, the Cajuns are averaging 86 yards per game rushing and 169.5 passing, numbers they expect to improve in the second half of the season. And they don’t care which way they move the ball.
“The toughest thing for an offensive lineman is to pass block, because you’re pushing, trying to keep the defender away from you,” Gibson said. “You should like to run block more. The toughest thing to develop is pass protection.”
Gibson has been grateful for any signs of progress the Cajun line has achieved. But, one step forward, two back is hard for a line that continues its mix-and-match makeup.
“We’ve got to play,” Gibson said. “At times, we’ve looked better. At times, we’ve struggled. We continue to work hard every day.”-->
Quote from UL-Monroe's head coach
<blockquote><p align=justify>..."I know they're the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, we're the University of Louisiana-Monroe. So who is the University of Louisiana, is it Monroe or is it Lafayette? We're fixing to find out here in a couple of days."...<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/100903/spo_special001.shtml">The rest of the story</a><!--
UL-MONROE: In Monroe, for the University of Louisiana at Monroe players, this week's matchup with winless University of Louisiana at Lafayette means more than a chance for the Indians to notch their first win of the season. It's a rivalry game, and that would make victory all the sweeter.
"It's a big game, its the Battle on the Bayou," said ULM cornerback Cash Mouton, who hails from Carencro, during Wednesday's weekly football press conference.
"It's two Louisiana teams going at it. If we come out victorious it will help us out a lot in recruiting and a lot of other aspects for the University," he said.
It will be the first "Battle on the Bayou" for first-year Indians' head coach Charlie Weatherbie, but he said he realizes the game's importance.
"I know an opportunity to win an instate rivalry game, to win an instate game, it helps in recruiting. I believe it helps in the overall feeling of the university and our program," Weatherbie said.
"I know they're the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, we're the University of Louisiana-Monroe. So who is the University of Louisiana, is it Monroe or is it Lafayette? We're fixing to find out here in a couple of days."
Despite the tough start, linebacker Maurice Sonnier said the Indians are still upbeat, particularly with five Sun Belt Conference games remaining.
"Our morale is still up because they (the players) know the type of talent that we do have on this team," Sonnier said. "They know we can compete in the Sun Belt if we play the way we need to play. I think everybody is ready and anxious to get that first victory."
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0-6 Cajuns, Indians sport talent
<blockquote><p align=justify>Louisiana La. — Despite the matchup of winless teams in Saturday’s homecoming game at Cajun Field, both Louisiana La. and UL Monroe have players who could make the contest enjoyable.
Judging by last week’s near-miss 44-41 loss to Arkansas State, ULM’s Indians are capable of putting up points in a hurry at the midway point of the season.
The breakout star for coach Charlie Weatherbie is redshirt freshman running back Kevin Payne, a 208-pounder from Junction City, Ark. , who is 24th in the nation in rushing at 96.3 yards per game.
Payne rushed 25 times for 169 yards — the 14th-highest single-game total in ULM history — against ASU. He also scored on a 55-yard screen pass and totaled 227 rushing and receiving yards.
Another new face is freshman wide receiver RoShon Jacobs, who had nine catches for 85 yards and TD grabs of 20 and 9 yards from Steven Jyles. Just a sophomore himself, Jyles has hit 109-of-196 passes for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns in 2003.
ULM’s top aerial target remains All-Sun Belt wide receiver Mack Vincent (31-325-3). The senior from Marrero has 172 career receptions for 2,298 yards for the Indians.
ULM rolled to 538 yards of offense last week — 208 rushing, 330 passing.
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The defense also has impact players including senior linebacker Maurice Sonnier, a Port Barre product who leads the Indians with 52 tackles in six games including three for losses and a pair of sacks.
Other Acadiana area products like punter Joel Stelly (Cecilia, 44.6 yards per punt) and strong safety Travin Moore (Abbeville, 33 tackles) are also prominent.
Coach Rickey Bustle’s Cajuns continue to rely on senior wide receiver Fred Stamps, who paired with ULM’s Vincent as the receivers on the 2002 All-Sun Belt team.
Stamps, who had a breakout 5-for-118 game last week at Oklahoma State, has a catch in all 38 of his college games and is at 142 for 2,202 yards and 13 touchdowns in his sterling Cajun career.
In last year’s finale at ULM, Stamps’ 74 yards receiving put him over 1,000 yards for the season (1,002), only the second receiver at the school to do that.
While the Indians have Payne to carry the ball, the Cajuns have put together a backfield-by-committee so far. But junior college transfer Travis Smothers ran for 109 in the season opener at SEC member South Carolina and has big-play potential.
Senior quarterback Eric Rekieta hit 13 of his first 14 passes at Oklahoma State last week, and is clicking on over 60 percent (60.8; 59-of-97) for 558 yards and three touchdowns.
With Rekieta as the starter the last three weeks against a trio of 2002 bowl champions, the Cajuns have totaled 208, 227 and 347 yards of offense.
Redshirt freshman Jerry Babb (46-of-101, 451 yards) is still in the rotation at the position.
Sophomore Sean Comiskey hit three field goals at North Texas and is at 5-of-8 on the year.
One kicking number that is too big is Grant Autrey’s 42 punts, which puts him on a pace for 84 by season’s end. That would break his 11-game school record of 81 set in 2000.
The Cajun defense has been hit by injuries, with leading tackler Patrick Lamy (33 stops) on the list this week. Close behind is senior linebacker Ross Brupbacher (32).
The Cajuns, 34-21-2 all-time in homecoming games, are 4-3 against the Indians for homecoming including a classic 40-26 comeback in 1982. In a series tied at 19 wins apiece, ULL leads 7-4 at Cajun Field.
Saturday’s winner has a chance to re-start a disappointing campaign. Chances are, one of the above players will have a crucial role in that revival.
CAJUN CLIPPINGS — The Cajuns are 59th in the nation in turnover margin at plus 0.17, while the Indians are 113th at minus 2.0 per game ... Four other teams in ULL history have started a season 0-6 ... The last Cajun to return a kickoff for a touchdown was Brad Franklin in the 1998 finale against Western Kentucky, 52 games ago.
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