The Book: 2003 Football

All week I have seen the signs the sayings all of them saying that the best is yet to come and it hit me the first day that i saw it that it could not be futher from the truth. See all the fans see is what happens in the games, they dont see the behind the scenes if you will all the things the team goes through during the week. Four 2-2 1/2 hour practices a week, school, and not to mention tons of meetings. every week for the past 6 weeks I have seen the distraught, anger, and dissappointment that has been on my teammates and coaches faces, and trust me they are tired of losing too. I wont lie ULM is a good team and although both teams are 0-6 ULL will win this "battle on the bayou" we need this winn more than some can imagine and I feel that once we get this win fans will see what lafayette is made of and what is to come and they will realize who the real university of louisiana is, UL !

Practice went ok for the cajuns again this week we just need to figure a way to carry it over to 4 quarters of football!

<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Someone’s got to win.

Louisiana is 0-6 on the season and 0-2 in Sun Belt Conference play.

UL Monroe also is 0-6 on the season and 0-2 in the Sun Belt.

When the Ragin’ Cajuns host the Indians at 4 p.m. today for homecoming at Cajun Field, someone has to emerge victorious.

There are far more glamorous matchups in the nation today, but none that means as much to the two combatants.

“We’re looking forward to the weekend,” said first-year ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie, whose team nearly broke into the win column with last week’s 44-41 loss to Arkansas State.

“I know Lafayette is in the same situation we are. We both have perfect records like we are. It’s the Battle of the Bayou in their backyard, and I know both teams will be ready to play.”

<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/0CDC9678-F913-47B7-A3F7-22F63380A316.shtml">The rest of the story</a>

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--

Some of Weatherbie’s Indians will have extra motivation, a homecoming of their own.

Linebacker Maurice Sonnier (Port Barre), safeties Travin Moore (Abbeville) and Shaune Maynard (Jennings), cornerback Cash Mouton (Carencro), punter Joel Stelly (Cecilia), nose tackle Corey Conde (Iota), fullback Joey Trappey (New Iberia) and offensive tackles Desi Edwards (Franklin) and Bruce Hampton (NISH) are all Acadiana area products.

There are other connections to consider, not uncommon for in-state rivals.

“I have a lot of family members coming to this game,” said ULM defender Brandon Guillory, a product of Abramson High. “I know Fred (Cajun receiver Fred Stamps). He went to Carver and I played against him in high school.”

ULM is 12 points from being 3-3, adding near-misses against Stephen F. Austin (23-21) and Northwestern State (14-10) to the ASU game.

Coach Rickey Bustle’s Cajuns have had close calls of their own. They opened with a 14-7 loss at SEC member South Carolina and also played Houston within a 21-14 game, but have been blistered by a combined 139 points in the other four defeats.

In that scenario, veterans become crucial to the squad’s revival.

“We have a good group of seniors who believe in the coaches and believe in what we’re doing,” Bustle said. “They’re mature enough. They can look at the film and see the mistakes we’re making.

“With the schedule we’ve played so far, every time the ball has been in someone’s hands, you’re talking about a pretty good ball player.”

In last Saturday’s 56-3 loss at Oklahoma State, the Cajuns out-gained their hosts 131-33 in the first period but only had a Sean Comiskey field goal to show for it. Once the Cowboys hit their stride, they steamrolled UL with 49 points in the middle two quarters in preparation for today’s Big 12 battle with Kansas State.

A 68-yard run and 78-yard punt return just before halftime turned a reasonable 14-3 game into a 28-3 runaway.

“We gave up some big plays in the second quarter,” Bustle said. “We had an opportunity early to get some momentum and create a little havoc.

“If we had gotten out of there (the half) down 21-3 or 21-10, we’d have still been hanging around. When you make mistakes against a good football team, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Neither the Indians nor the Cajuns will be taken for a good team, but thoughts of the schedule easing up for Bustle are halted by ULM’s 34-10 win in last year’s finale in Monroe.

“They flat-out outplayed us,” said Bustle, who sees no reason his team can’t flip-flop its record if it can gain some momentum today.

“I really hope we get a great crowd,” Bustle said. “We’re trying to show that we are doing the right thing.”

The only way for either squad to experience positive reinforcement for all its hard work will be a victory today. Both are long overdue.
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Why can't the university give tickets away?

"Easing up a bit " I say never ease up!

Cajuns fall to 0-7 vs. ULM. Our defense really sucks right now. How many years in a row have they sucked now? At least the offense came up big tonight, just not big enough. What is that now, 4 games in a row giving up 40+ points. All of the rationalizing about our tough early season schedule just went out the window. I am proud of the heart our team showed, but they have to find a way to win! Losing sucks, especially at home to a team that has already lost to 2 D1-AA teams this season. Our special teams had a very mixed night, blocking a punt, but continually giving up long returns. I am a very unhappy less-than-Ragin' Cajun tonight. If our defense is that beat up & short of talent, I don't know who we can beat the rest of the season.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I am too derpessed to even talk about the game :(

:( :o

"Cajuns fall to 0-7 vs. ULM. Our defense really sucks right now. How many years in a row have they sucked now? At least the offense came up big tonight, just not big enough. What is that now, 4 games in a row giving up 40+ points. All of the rationalizing about our tough early season schedule just went out the window. I am proud of the heart our team showed, but they have to find a way to win! Losing sucks, especially at home to a team that has already lost to 2 D1-AA teams this season. Our special teams had a very mixed night, blocking a punt, but continually giving up long returns. I am a very unhappy less-than-Ragin' Cajun tonight. If our defense is that beat up & short of talent, I don't know who we can beat the rest of the season."


Good post RaginFan2, I could not have said it any better. I don't think this defense is any better then what we watched during the Baldwin era. And special teams have gotten worse during the season. If anything, you should see improvement in your defense and special teams as you add talent to your program. With the exception of Jamal Smith and Thomas, everyone played tonight. Jerrel Carter and Stanley Smith both played. There is no excuses for tonights results. This staff really needs to look in the mirror and make some changes in the defensive scheme. The only positive tonight was the fact the players never quit.

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Originally posted by NewsCopy
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>INJURY UPDATE</b>
<li>Jamal Smith, ankle surgery
<li>David Kirkley, knee surgery
<li>Greg Hodges, knee
<li>Wes Simon, shoulder
<li>Ricky Thomas, foot
<li>D'Anthony Batiste, ankle
<li>Pat Lamy, shoulder
<li>Tyler Norman, leg
<li>Jerrell Carter, shoulder
<li>Stanley Smith, knee

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INJURY UPDATE


Jamal Smith, ankle surgery

David Kirkley, knee surgery

Greg Hodges, knee

Wes Simon, shoulder

Ricky Thomas, foot

D'Anthony Batiste, ankle

Pat Lamy, shoulder

Tyler Norman, leg

Jerrell Carter, shoulder

Stanley Smith, knee

Again Turbine, Stanley smith and Jerrel Carter both played tonight. The only starters that were missing tonight were Jamal Smith and Thomas. The offense does miss Batiste and Hodges, but they scored enough points to win. The rest of those guys are not starters! No excuses tonight!

<blockquote><p align=justify>I loved the band tonight I took more footage of them than anything else, but I think some untimely music might have cost us the game.

Some have pointed to Eric throwing 9 yards instead of 11 when we needed 10, and I am no different. But that is not the game costing play. It's just one of them. The play before was much more harmful, as I think it would have put us in Commisky territory.

Before I go any further, I don't know if any of you heard Nick Saban complain (a few weeks back) that LSU fans were not the most knowledgeable around. He was referring to the LSU fans making noise when LSU was on offense. It just doesn't give you the best chance to win, it is a no-no.

Well I know we are not used to winning but we can all become more knowledgeable on ways to win. The band can absorb some criticism for playing great music at the wrong time. On the second to last offensive play of the game the team could not hear Eric either call the play or audible.

Remember we were in no huddle the whole second half; often the players were at the line when the plays were called. On the second to last offensive play the band starts playing while Eric is either trying to call the play or call an audible.

Now I recorded this completely across the field from the band, I can only imagine how loud the band sounded at this point in the game because the players were just a few yards removed from the band.

The result is no receiver was where they were supposed to be when Eric threw the ball.

The video has the last three offensive plays of the game. Notice the trouble Eric has calling the play on the second to last paly.</blockquote>

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Originally posted by CAJUNGURU
Again Turbine, Stanley smith and Jerrel Carter both played tonight

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You're not saying they were either 100% or should have been are you?

"You're not saying they were either 100% or should have been are you?"

Nope! But I did not say the didn't play either! Look, I'm not disappointed in the effort tonight. But, I do believe that this defense and special teams should be showing some improvement now that our schedule is in conference play. Just imagine what our defense would be like without Ross B. back. I think when the season is over, I believe coach Bustle and his staff need to do some sole searching . Some examination of defensive philosophy and scheme needs to take place. We did not play Minnesota or Oklahoma State tonight. We played a team that lost their starting quarterback in the third quarter and still lost. We are tied with Buffalo as the worst Div1a program right now and recruiting kids to play here just got harder.

lets not give the offense too much credit. early turnovers set up ulm with scoring opportunities.

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Originally posted by RaginFan2
All of the rationalizing about our tough early season schedule just went out the window. Losing sucks, especially at home to a team that has already lost to 2 D1-AA teams this season. If our defense is that beat up & short of talent, I don't know who we can beat the rest of the season.

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Amen! I must say I was completely shocked at the end of the first half, ____ed off, and ready to leave, but barring a life threatening emergency, I never leave a game early. I thought we were losing because of the level of talent we were playing on our schedule up to this point, but after tonight I wonder if some of those losses would have been a lot closer if we'd had more talent on the field. I thought the team was also outcoached at some points. I'm proud of the team for not giving up, but did anyone see those poor guys after the game? I have never in my life seen a more dejected looking group of young men. I fear an 0-12 season. Say it ain't so!

I saw a Cajun team that due to the level of competition the first six games -and loss of key offensive linemen- had not been able to find its offense all year. <i><b>I think it found its offensive niche last night.</b></i>

When 3 points is the difference between hero and goat, I can't get down. I saw massive improvement in the team last night.

What I did notice last night -I have noticed this all year- is the loss of a 100 tackle player to the NFL. <i><b>I knew Peanut would be hard to replace, his replacement was drafted as well</b></i>

The only thing that stopped it from being a great game was 3 points from Sean. <b><i>That would have kicked this game into the best Cajun game ever.</i></b>

I am sick and tired of everyone thinking this team (ULM) is worthless. That UL lost to a worthless team. Those games against ULM should be automatic wins. That simply is not true, nor should it be, at leas not historically.

Let me back up a second.

What jumps out at everyone this season is that they have lost to not 1 but 2 D1aa teams. But they fail to look at the fact that early in the season ULM had an emergency coach trying to teach a new system. They found their offense last week and this week implemented it to its fullest extent.

Give the Indians credit they beat a good Cajun team last night when they won the first half by 14 and lost the second half by 11 points. Granted it was two different quarterbacks, but give coach Charlie Weatherbie credit he went with a totally different offense to maintain the game. It almost didn't work it took a Tyler Kuecker kick with 1:46 remaining to provided the difference in 45-42 victory.

And don't ignore the talent level that coach Charlie Weatherbie inherited. This team pistol whipped the Cajuns last year with 2 NFL players on the Cajun Squad.

Perhaps most of all, don't ignore Indian Charlie Weatherbie, he has turned other losers into winners before at Utah and Navy. So the sacrificial loses to D1aa teams early are not indicative of the talent level he has. It is indicative that they were learning his system and that team diced with talent from the Acadiana area is finally coming together.

For those who think a game against ULM should be an automatic win? When and where did you get this idea? In the history of the rivalry ULM has out scored the Cajuns to the tune of 714 to 632. This is the second time they have put 45 points on the Cajuns. Louisiana has never put 45 on ULM.

The best the Cajuns have ever done against ULM occurred last night when they put up 42 against a much improving ULM squad. We certainly didn’t lose to a worthless team. It is a team with more talent at this point than UL and a national title under title belt to boot.

ps <i>ULM's national title run utilized and offense implemented by current Ragin' Cajun coach Rickey Bustle.

Did you record from the upper deck? It was probably much louder down on the field.

Hey Turbine, I'm in the band and get what you're saying, but have to defend the band a little.

We're doing a job, same as the football team, cheerleaders, and the Ragin Jazz. If we don't play in those last minutes, people start to call us dispondent and say that we're not doing what we're supposed to do. The band director gets an earful which is passed to us even though we had nothing to do with playing/not playing and we eventually start to lose our already non-existent funding because University higher-ups are displeased with us. It's happened before and I think we'd like to prevent it from happening again.

I know that seems a little extreme for playing in the last 3 or 4 minutes in a big game, but we played the same in those last minutes as we did for the rest of the game and that's what we're there to do. When they make a 1st, we play the Fight Song. Time-out or quarter change, we play a longer song to entertain the crowd.

Like I said earlier, though, I understand what you're saying and can't really disagree with it. Thanks for the kind remarks and criticisms. I'll make sure that it's passed on to someone that can fix the problem and find the balance between playing too much and not enough in critical moments!

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Originally posted by CajunKate
Amen! I must say I was completely shocked at the end of the first half, ____ed off, and ready to leave, but barring a life threatening emergency, I never leave a game early. I thought we were losing because of the level of talent we were playing on our schedule up to this point, but after tonight I wonder if some of those losses would have been a lot closer if we'd had more talent on the field. I thought the team was also outcoached at some points. I'm proud of the team for not giving up, but did anyone see those poor guys after the game? I have never in my life seen a more dejected looking group of young men. I fear an 0-12 season. Say it ain't so!

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I dont fear an 0-12 season, though I do fear a 1-11 season. If we cant beat FIU, then we should not be playing at this level. Regardless, after such a hopeful start, we may end up with 1 or 2 wins because if you look at the rest of the schedule, this is what Im seeing. A NMSU team who has caught alot of bad breaks, they run all over you and just cough up the ball and shoot themselves in the foot, any game they could hold onto it a little better and get a win. An Idaho team who finnally started Brian Lindgren and came back to beat NMSU, and nearly pulled off an upset of UNT. A good Southern Miss team, and a MTSU team thats finnally found itself when they trounced NMSU, and thats besides the FIU game. The chances of even having a 3 win season arent even looking good to me.

Tuffguy

What an exciting game.

We lost we didn't get beat.

Thanks for such an exciting comeback.

Hey,
Look at the bottom of the screen on the last play from the video clip 3 WIDE OPEN RECIEVERS!!!!!!!!!!!

OH YEA the band might have a job to play but they also have the job of knowing not when to play!!!!
:hot: :hot: ::x::

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Originally posted by Sanchez
Did you record from the upper deck? It was probably much louder down on the field.

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I had the camera rolling from up in the press box.

My belief is it has to do with the NCAA requirments and the university not giving away freebies to pad their attendence.

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Originally posted by brockmeaux
..Like I said earlier, though, I understand what you're saying and can't really disagree with it. Thanks for the kind remarks and criticisms. I'll make sure that it's passed on to someone that can fix the problem and find the balance between playing too much and not enough in critical moments!

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I don't know how you walk the tight rope in a game with no huddle.

I doubt we have ever had full no huddle half like that before at UL. Certainly never a half where the offense brought us all the way back single handedly.