We're using the grapevine for no huddle?
Center to LG: "I asked Betty out and she said 'maybe'."
LG to LT: "I knocked Betty up and she's having a baby."
:-)
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We're using the grapevine for no huddle?
Center to LG: "I asked Betty out and she said 'maybe'."
LG to LT: "I knocked Betty up and she's having a baby."
:-)
"But I don't think its over yet. "
That's the attitude! What I can't believe is that $100,000,000 was raised and no one asked for any of it to go to athletics.
<blockquote><p align=justify>The Sun Belt Conference’s own version of “Separation Saturday” comes this weekend.
ABC and ESPN may have already celebrated that event, but two games scheduled for this Saturday will go a long way in clearing up the league race. Of the five teams that are either unbeaten or holding only one loss in Sun Belt play, four of them are in action in Saturday’s two league games.
Two-time champion North Texas (2-0) hosts surprising Utah State (1-0) and Middle Tennessee (1-0) heads for Idaho (1-1) in a pair of afternoon clashes.
Utah State coach Mick Dennehy knows the importance of his team’s meeting with the Mean Green.
“The road to the conference championship goes right through Denton, as it should. They’re the team to beat,” Dennehy said. “We know we’ve got a big challenge ahead of us.”
UNT remained perfect in league play and extended its conference winning streak to 13 games — the second-longest in the nation behind Miami (Fla.) — with a comeback 24-14 win on the road at Idaho.
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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--
“Our experience in games like this paid off a lot,” said North Texas coach Darrell Dickey, whose team trailed 14-0 early. “In the past, our guys might have gone haywire and done things that we hadn’t taught, but we had a good nucleus of guys that knew what we had to do, mature guys, and we started making plays and got ourselves back in the game.”
It helped that Patrick Cobbs rushed for a conference record 249 yards and three scores, giving him the league’s second-highest season rushing number with 575 yards even though he’s played in only four games. League leader Kevin Payne of UL Monroe (721) has played in seven games.
But Dickey said it was the offensive front that was the biggest factor.
“Our entire offensive line was our offensive player of the week,” he said. “For us to win we have to be able to run the ball, and that means our guys up front have to do a good job. Anytime a guy like Patrick Cobbs has a lot of yards he’s going to get recognition, but the biggest key is how we play up front.”
Idaho boss Tom Cable didn’t argue with that.
“They had a plan and they stayed true to it,” he said, “and they knocked the snot out of us with their offensive line. We moved the ball all over the place and we only scored 14 points. It was a shame, because I really think we’re ready to step up and play at that level.”
The Vandals go home Saturday to welcome Middle Tennessee and continue a memorable series. Two years ago, Middle won a 70-58 shootout in Murfreesboro, and last year Idaho shocked the visiting Blue Raiders in a 21-18 win.
“Poise is the biggest issue for us,” Cable said. “We had some critical errors last week, some mistakes in the punting game that hadn’t happened to us before. We’ve got to stay to the test and keep focused on what’s at hand.”
“I don’t think we played well in a lot of areas last week,” Middle coach Andy McCollum said after his team’s 35-18 win over New Mexico State. “But we still came out with a win. New Mexico State whipped us up front and kept us from running the football like we need to, but we found a way to create turnovers and made some big plays.”
BIG FOOT: Cecilia native Joel Stelly had another stellar punting performance in UL Monroe’s 45-42 win over UL Lafayette Saturday. He punted only three times officially (he had one blocked in the fourth quarter, but that went as a team attempt), and averaged 56.7 on first-quarter kicks of 67, 41 and 62 yards.
Stelly, this week’s special teams Player of the Week in the Sun Belt, currently ranks sixth nationally with a 45.6 average and leads the Sun Belt by over three yards. -->
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Both teams trying to salvage subpar seasons.</b>
LOUISIANA La.— The Chicago Cubs aren’t the only team that’s been defying logic lately.
We give you the New Mexico State Aggies, UL Lafayette’s opponent for today’s 6 p.m. Sun Belt Conference game at Cajun Field.
For the last two weeks, coach Tony Samuel’s squad has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, falling to 1-5 on the year and an unexpected 0-2 in SBC play.
First there was a 35-31 home loss to Idaho, when the Aggies watched in dismay as a 28-0 lead melted steadily away.
Then there was last week’s 35-18 loss at Middle Tennessee which was even more bizarre, as MT was outgained 525-293 but outscored NMSU 21-0 on turnovers.
New Mexico State has gained 1,113 yards the last two weeks — 620 of that on the ground — but has still managed to lose both contests.
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
This is a team that challenged North Texas for Sun Belt supremacy in 2002 and was expected to do so again this season, but they have a tendency to self-destruct. Foes have an 83-21 scoring advantage off turnovers.
Now, the Aggies check into Lafayette on a short week, on a second straight long road trip, with a TV audience watching.
“In a perfect world,” Samuel said, “that may be something that we as a league can take a look at. If you know in advance, it would be nice to have a home game before.
“One good thing was that Middle Tennessee was a day game, so we were able to get back and get going right away. The players don’t get the time off, but you still take the TV over anything else.”
The matchup is a natural one, given the show the two teams have provided in the last two meetings. NMSU won both of those games, roaring back at Cajun Field two years ago for a 49-46 victory and holding off a Cajun rally in Las Cruces, 31-28, in 2002.
In both games, Aggies place kicker Dario Aguiniga sent a dagger through Cajun hearts with late, long, game-winning field goals.
Cajun fans saw that kind of show last Saturday for homecoming, right down to the late field goal, as UL Monroe topped coach Rickey Bustle’s squad 45-42 to drop the Cajuns to 0-7.
“It was a great game to watch for the fans,” Bustle said. “The players from both sides played hard. We got down (28-7) and were able to come back and tie it up, got down 14 again (42-28) and our offense was able to come back and tie it again.
“We’re excited about playing on Thursday. It’s better for us to play at home because of the short week.”
New Mexico State is outgaining foes 404-351 yards per game behind several capable leaders.
Paul Dombrowski has hit 42-of-79 passes for 583 yards and two scores and leads the Aggies in rushing (86-382-5). Buck Pierce (40-of-61, 534 yards) is a better passer, but not the runner Dombrowski is.
Redshirt freshman Tony Joseph (60-374-1) has rushed for 115 and 163 yards in the last two weeks. Also, senior Ronshay Jenkins (26-476-2) has 23 catches for 412 yards in his last three games and is 30th nationally in all-purpose yardage (128.17 per game).
The Aggies’ option offense is especially challenging with a short week of preparation for a UL defense that has given up 193 points in its last four games.
Bustle’s Cajuns, who are 116th in the nation in rushing at 81 yards per game, caught ULM last week with air power.
Eric Rekieta has hit 92-of-151 passes for 1,030 yards and seven scores, with senior Fred Stamps (32-584-3) leading the receiving corps. Stamps (8-198-2 last week) has 150 catches for 2,400 yards as a Cajun.
Bill Sampy (22-187-2), Eric Bartel (16-145-0) and Kemmie Lewis (14-135-0) are getting more involved in the offense.
Another shootout would surprise no one, but Cajun and Aggie fans have learned not to expect anything normal in 2003.
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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Louisiana faces SBC foe New Mexico State tonight 6.p.m.</b>
LOUISIANA La. -- Despite catching 2,400 yards worth of passes in his University of Louisiana career, Fred Stamps still feels a bit unfilled.
Before his eligibility ends in five games, Stamps would like to throw for a touchdown instead of catching one.
"It's something I've always dreamed of, throwing a touchdown in college. I've talked to the coaches about it a bunch of times.
"All they've said about it so far is they would see what they can do," Stamps said.
The moment to showcase Stamps' passing skills might come true at 6 p.m. today at Cajun Field when ULL plays host to New Mexico State in a televised Sun Belt Conference game.
ESPN's regional network will televise the game in Louisiana on all Cox cable affiliates, according to ULL officials.
Stamps, who has caught at least one pass in every college game he's played since his freshman season, has 150 career ULL receptions and 15 touchdowns.
Occasionally Stamps said his mind drifts back to his middle school days in New Orleans, a time when he played quarterback.
"All throughout my middle school years I was at quarterback, but then my coach saw me catch the ball and I was moved to receiver," said Stamps.
As it's turned out, the coach's decision has worked out well for Stamps, who has receptions in 39 straight college game.
Currently Stamps is tied for fourth in consecutive game receptions behind leader Kunie Patrick of Northwestern University (41), Wes Welker of Texas Tech and Roy Williams of Texas (40 each).
Kentucky's Derek Abney has also caught passes in 39 straight games.
Stamps is also second on the Cajuns' career list in yardage and third in receptions and TD's.
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By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate <!--
During his final two seasons at Carver High, Stamps was a two-time all-state selection and caught 103 passes for over 2,500 yards.
In high school Stamps said he was courted by numerous recruiters and had opportunities to receive scholarships at other universities, including LSU.
The Cajuns have won just seven games since Stamps' freshman season, but he's not disappointed at his choice of schools.
"I consider it a blessing that I'm here. I really love being a Ragin' Cajun. I think there's a reason why I'm playing here," Stamps said.
The one thing that has amazed Stamps this season is the way the Cajuns have continued to exhibit a positive work ethic, despite a 0-7 overall record.
"In order to understand what I'm saying, people need to come out here to every practice and see what it's like," said Stamps.
Stamps said he once considered transferring to LSU early in his ULL career, but he eventually decided to stay in Lafayette.
He said one reason was the hiring of Rickey Bustle as ULL's coach in January of 2002.
"I think I've really improved as a receiver the last two years since coach Bustle and his staff have been here.
"Now I've learned how to watch tape and study tape to make the adjustments that I need.
"I can look over the defense now and learn how to attack. Before coach Bustle came, I never did study tape," said Stamps.
Stamps said his receiving numbers have forced opposing secondaries to make specific adjustments to limit him.
"Teams have played a lot of Cover 2 in the secondary, where they might slide over the safety over on top of a linebacker.
"When teams do that, it opens it up for our other receivers like (Bill) Sampy and (Eric) Bartel. I've even been triple teamed this season," he said.
Stamps said he was single covered during most of the Cajuns' (56-3) loss at Oklahoma State.
"They were playing man (coverage) on me and then as the game went on, they started to play more double coverage," he said.
Stamps said the Cajuns spread him all over the field, something which he really likes.
"In the past two years they've really opened up the offense and I became more productive because of that," Stamps said.
New Mexico State (1-5) like the Cajuns, hasn't won a SBC game this season.
The Aggies are 0-2 in conference play, while the Cajuns are at the bottom of the league (0-3) standings.
In order to defeat NMSU, the Cajuns will have to stop the Aggies' rushing attack which ranks No. 1 in the conference (218.2 yards per game) and No. 9 in Division I-A.
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Stamps said he once considered transferring to LSU early in his ULL career, but he eventually decided to stay in Lafayette.
He said one reason was the hiring of Rickey Bustle as ULL's coach in January of 2002.
"I think I've really improved as a receiver the last two years since coach Bustle and his staff have been here.
"Now I've learned how to watch tape and study tape to make the adjustments that I need.
"I can look over the defense now and learn how to attack. Before coach Bustle came, I never did study tape," said Stamps.
Wow. File that in the Baldwin case. They are all just now learning how to play college football.
you need to get your facts straight, come to the quarterback luncheons, get the facts, and ask questions and find out what is actually going on, get involved, the question "YOU," want to ask is, why?
CAJUNS PULL OFF A WIN IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE GAME, REVERSING THE TREND THAT NMSU HAD DONE TO US. Huge win for us against a pretty good team, this could lead to better things in the next few weeks.
Tuffguy
That is awesome we just got back from Houma, I can't catch 1420 over there. The Cajuns deserved to win.
Well, he threw it tonight against NMSU, and he almost pulled it off. Right off of the fingetips of Kemmie Lewis. Bummer! Would of been a beauty!
Eric Rekeita is now our for the season after suffering a broken collarbone. He put a spark back into this team, and even though they were not able to pull off a win with him at the helm, I think he did a great job. He'll be missed. (Babb has some big shoes to fill...or is that refill?) So thanks, Eric, for a great season and congrats on breaking the UL record for total yardage!
I hope some NFL team gives you a tryout. I think you have what it takes to play pro ball. Go to NFL Europe and develop your skills.
Acctually, Erics wife told me before the season that he is sticking around here to be an assistant next year, a QB coach if you will to help players like Devin Williams, Jerry Babb, and Cocoran on their throwing style, Im real happy he will be around for the long haul, and No one will be happier to see us win, than him.
Tuffguy
To say CONGRATS! to the Cajun fans and players on the win tonight!...it couldn't have happenend to a better bunch of folks!
Keep the steam rolling...
Same to you man, yall are rippen people up this year, and I'll be excited to see yall in a bowl game this year, which i think I will. Geaux Cajuns, Geaux Cougars, hell, GEAUX EVERYONE!
Tuffguy
DITTEAUX, KATE!
That was awesome. Stamps is the Man!
How 'bout that Crist bomb? Stamps was so wide open, as he was much of the game. People in my section were yelling "Stamps is open! NOOOOooooo....YEESSSSSS!" on that play! :D
Man, the defense about gave me heart attacks on those 3rd and long situations! ::x::
You really deserved to play over JVC those past few years Eric, it was great to finally get to see you in action. Good Job!
I would if I could, trust me. Im just a meager college student with no time and no money. Oldman trust me when I say if I was able too I'd be raiding the buffet at the luncheon every week!
How about Eric's block on that play, I didn't even care about the throw after that hit.
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — It's no surprise that Thursday’s UL Lafayette-New Mexico State game came down to a field goal.
The last two games between the clubs had been decided the same way, but it was Aggie kicker Dario Aguiniga that had provided NMSU with those two victories.
His 29-yard last play field goal had given the Aggies a 49-46 victory at Cajun Field in 2001, and he duplicated that effort last year in Las Cruces, N.M. with a 41-yarder with zeros on the clock. Both times, the Cajuns had just scored touchdowns to take the lead.
“I told him before the game that their kicker had beaten us two years in a row,’’ said Cajun assistant coach Mike Gibson, “and this was his time to shine.’’
Comiskey’s 21-yard field goal capped a 40-yard drive in the final 2:20, a drive that started at the Aggie 44 and one that the sophomore kicker figured he’d be ending one way or the other.
“I’d almost rather have kicked a 50-yarder than the one from 21,’’ Comiskey said after the game. “That’s nerve-racking.’’
One thing Comiskey might be less nervous about now is walking into his 9 a.m. class this morning and not being recognized.
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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--
“It’s big enough where you don’t know who’s in there,’’ he said of that class. “Nobody knows you. Now, I may talk to come of the girls in there, trying to get a date.’’
BEST SIGN: Among several signs brandished by Cajun fans, in an effort to attract the ESPN Regional cameras, one managed to be topical and still highlight the home team’s top offensive threat.
Fred Stamps isn’t on the ballot for the November runoff in the governor’s race, but that didn’t stop one fan from holding up a sign “Stamps for governor’’ early in the contest.
SPEAKING OF FRED: Stamps had six catches in the first half for 64 yards, with the first one coming on the Cajuns’ first offensive possession. That extended his string of consecutive games with a reception to 40, tying him for the nation’s second-longest streak. Kunle Patrick of Northwestern has 41 straight games with a catch entering the weekend, and Wes Welker of Texas Tech and Roy Williams of Texas each are at 40 games.
MULTIPLE CHUNKERS: Four different Cajuns threw passes in the first half -- Rekieta and Babb from the quarterback slot, Matt Lane out of short-punt formation on a fake, and Stamps on a wide receiver reverse pass.
No official records were available, but long-time UL Lafayette staffers believed it was the first time four Cajuns had attempted a pass since the opening game of the 1993 season against Utah State. In that game, Jason Sanborn, Reggie Hayes and Danny DiPace all threw first-half passes before first-game freshman Jake Delhomme came on in the second half and started the next 43 games.
LAGNIAPPE: UL Lafayette’s 17-14 halftime lead marked the first time the Cajuns held an advantage going into the locker room since Sept. 21, 2002, when UL Lafayette led UAB 10-0 on the way to a 34-0 win. The Cajuns had trailed 15 straight games at intermission ... The Cajuns’ escape from the winless ranks left four Division I-A schools in the country with 0-and-whatever records entering this weekend. Buffalo is 0-7 and Army, East Carolina and SMU are all 0-6.
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<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Even though their school’s football team is tied for last place in the Sunbelt Conference, UL Lafayette students were getting their spirits up before the game began in the parking lot outside Cajun Field. And it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that the game against the New Mexico State Aggies was an ESPN regional broadcast or that a diamond ring was being given away.
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Beverly Corbell
bcorbell@theadvertiser.com <!--
It’s been a tough year so far for fans of the Cajuns, whose loss in last week’s Homecoming game made their record 0-7.
But true-blue fans such as Matt Angelle, a nursing major, said he didn’t need any extra incentive to come to the game.
“I’m here for the team, not the ring, but I guess it makes us look good for ESPN,” he said.
His friend Derek Pelloguin was optimistic about the Cajuns’ chances.
“I will be waving at the camera, and I think it’s great that it’s on ESPN,” he said. “And we will win.”
Dominic Zamponi, an alumni who majored in drama and is working offshore, said he’s saving money to go to New York or California to be discovered, and came to the game because of the ESPN broadcast.
“That’s why I’m here. I just want to make a fool of myself and dance in front of the cameras,” he said.
Zamponi and his Theta Xi fraternity brother, Mikie Credeur, said they had faith in the game’s outcome.
“I gotta love my Cajuns. They’re almost like the Saints, and you gotta have faith. You gotta have heart,” Credeur said. “The Cajuns will come through.”
“Yes — the Cajuns shall prevail,” added Zamponi.
The students weren’t disappointed since the Cajuns did prevail, beating the Aggies 26-24 and moving up to second from the bottom in the conference.
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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Cajuns notch comeback win over Aggies.</b>
LOUISIANA La. — This time, the shoe was on the other foot.
Louisiana, a loser to New Mexico State on last-minute field goals the last two seasons, turned the tables Thursday night when sophomore Sean Comiskey’s 21-yard field goal with 7 seconds to play lifted the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 26-24 victory before 12,308 fans at Cajun Field.
The dramatic victory was the first of the season for coach Rickey Bustle’s squad, and provided a wild finish for a regional television audience.
It was also sweet redemption for Comiskey, whose misfired extra point was blocked at the start of the fourth period to prevent the Cajuns from tying the Aggies at 24 apiece.
“I can’t put into words what it feels like,” said Comiskey, who rushed to hug younger brother Brian on the field at game’s end. “It (the kick) only lasts one to three seconds, and I savored it while I could.
“I missed the extra point. I take full responsibility for it. I was hurt (by the miss), but I knew I would get the chance to win it. I wish it had been a 50-yarder, instead of a 21-yarder. That was nerve-wracking.
“I was more worried about the kickoff.”
The final kickoff saw the Aggies try several laterals trying to break a return, with the Cajuns making sure of the victory.
“I feel incredible right now,” Comiskey said. “I was on such a high out there. I’m trying to get back to normal, but it’s hard.”
It was also a rebirth for redshirt freshman quarterback Jerry Babb, who took over when senior Eric Rekieta broke his collarbone on a first-down scramble in the first half.
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
Babb hit 17-of-29 passes for 177 yards and his first college touchdown, a 12-yarder to Fred Stamps, and rushed for 65 yards and a pair of scores on 11 attempts.
“It felt really good to get back in there and get the ball moving,” said Babb, benched for Rekieta four games ago for the North Texas game. “I’ve got to give it to Eric for getting us started and getting us in a rhythm.
“At the half, he told me, ‘Let’s go. You know what you’re doing. Just play hard.’ ”
Most of all, though, it was sweet confirmation for months of previously fruitless hard work.
“I’m just so extremely happy for our players,” Bustle said. “I’ve been in this a long time, and I’ve been in a lot of games. They haven’t.
“It wanted the opportunity for these guys. I’m really proud of these players. They worked hard and never quit.”
“You have no idea how much this means,” Comiskey said. “We’ve played so hard. Tonight we found a way to win.”
Sophomore defensive back Terryl Fenton provided a chance to win, intercepting NMSU’s Paul Dombrowski on his 35 and returning to the Aggies’ 44 with 2:21 to play.
Babb hit passes of 5 yards to Chester Johnson and 4 to Dwight Lindon, and a 2-yard Johnson plunge got a first down at the 33. Babb then ran for 14, 9 and 7 yards, the last reaching the NMSU 4 to set up the game-winner.
“I knew we were going to win the game,” Babb said of his huddle message following Fenton’s pickoff. “There was nothing stopping us. We were going to find a way to win. We’ve just got to go and do it.
“We didn’t need that many yards. All we had to do was give Sean a chance to win it.”
Rekieta drove the Cajuns to a 3-0 lead on the opening drive, a 38-yard Comiskey hit, and the game soon turned into the type of see-saw affair the two teams had in 2001 and 2002.
Dombrowski capped a 13-play, 68-yard march with a 12-yard run to make it 7-3, but the Cajuns answered by going 65 yards in 10 snaps for a 10-7 edge. That was Rekieta’s exit march, as he landed badly on his right shoulder on a 12-yard scramble to the NMSU 27.
Babb went right to senior Fred Stamps (6-64-1) for a 17-yard gain, then scored on a draw from the Aggies’ 4-yard line.
NMSU responded with a 52-yard Gill Byrd kickoff return to the Cajun 48, and Eric Higgins rumbled 47 yards for a touchdown.
A 9-yard fake punt pass from Matt Lane to Stamps helped propel a 12-play, 68-yard march for a 17-14 halftime lead, with Babb hitting Stamps for the score.
Dario Aguiniga, the kicker who had nailed the Cajuns the last two years, tied it at 17-17 on a 33-yard field goal starting the third period. Then Dombrowski hit Ronshay Jenkins for an 8-yard TD and a 24-17 lead.
Babb was ready with an answer, though, with his 47-yard strike to a wide-open B.J. Crist to the NMSU 3 setting up his own 3-yard score on the first snap of the fourth period. But Comiskey’s PAT was blocked and the Cajuns were still short.
Babb suffered interceptions on his next two chances, once glancing a pass of Stamps’ hands and once making a bad decision — both times in field goal range.
Somehow, the Cajuns needed one more defensive stop, and Fenton was up to the challenge.
“I feel like a 100-pound weight has been lifted off my chest,” Stamps said. “I’m much lighter now, so I’m happy.
“All we needed was a big win. You could see it in the guys’ eyes. They feel much better.”
“Before the game, Coach told me I’d have to kick a field goal to win it,” Comiskey said. “I said, ‘Cool. I can do it.’ ”
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