Bustle pleased with ULL's play
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. -- Rickey Bustle wishes he could turn back the hands of time.
If he could, his University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, winners of two of their last three games, would be preparing to start the 2003 season instead of approaching the end of it.
In particular, he wishes his team had second chances at teams like South Carolina and Houston. The Cajuns had opportunities to win each of those games before losing by seven points to both.
"To be honest with you, I'd like to take this team I have right now and go back to those two games," Bustle said Monday at his weekly news luncheon. "We weren't playing quite well enough to win then.
"Maybe the way we're playing right now and not having a couple of guys injured like we do, we ... We're a much better football team today."
The Cajuns opened the season losing their first seven games and since have beaten New Mexico State (26-24) and Idaho (31-20) in back-to-back outings. They also came within a field goal of defeating the University of Louisiana at Monroe (45-42), another game Bustle wouldn't mind getting to play over again.
Unfortunately for the Cajuns, the season is winding down to a close. Road games at Southern Mississippi (this Saturday) and Middle Tennessee, along with a home game Nov. 8 against Florida International are all the Cajuns have remaining and Bustle is hoping his team can at least go 2-1 in the final stretch.
Such a finish would leave his team 4-8 for a season that once was tough to get up for each week.
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By GLENN QUEBEDEAUX
Special to The Advocate <!--
"We would have won four of the last five and that's what I had said back when we started this stretch against Monroe," Bustle said. "I said we'd have a chance to win some games. Obviously on paper, there are some you think you have a 50-50 chance at winning and Southern Miss...well, there's probably nobody in Vegas that's going to put money on us this weekend.
"But there are and were some games that I felt like we could feel a lot better about this football team, this football season, this football program if we could win some of those (games) coming down the stretch."
Bustle said the pair of victories over New Mexico State and Idaho has rejuvenated not only the team, his coaches and the community, but also himself.
"There's a couple of Sundays where I didn't want to get out of the bed (after losses), to be honest with you. I didn't know what I was going to say," he said. "In my situation, I don't have anyone to really talk to but my wife and she's great. That's why she has the Phd, she's smarter than I am. She can come up with a few things.
"I felt like I had to find silver linings in the what we were doing because, like I said, these young players could be beat down just so much. And that wasn't going to be my approach.
"And then there were a couple of days when I felt like I had to come in and pump the coaches up too. And that was tough. But I have a resilient staff and football team and we had to find something positive to build on. And we did."
The last three games -- UL-Monroe, New Mexico State and Idaho -- give the Cajuns momentum heading into this week's game at South Mississippi, a place that has seen them lose 20 of 21 games.
But Bustle is optimistic.
"Coming off two wins really helps," he said. "The thing about it is we've had three close football games. We didn't find a way to win the first one -- we found a way to come back and win the second game and, in the third game, we actually had a chance to distance ourselves a little and not let it be so close, but when it got down to crunch time, we came back and made the plays to win.
"And that's all part of believing you can do that. Lord knows those guys are tired of hearing me preaching about taking steps toward winning and making plays to win. But for three games, there's been a lot of plays made in that stadium out there."
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Cajuns Announce Hooters Wk. 9 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 UL coaching staff would like to thank Hooters for sponsoring the Cajuns weekly and spring football awards.
This week, running back Chester Johnson was named Hooters Offensive Player of the Game. Johnson ran for 153 yards on 31 attempts with three touchdowns.
C.C. Brown was selected Hooters Defensive Player of the Game. Brown finished the game with three tackles, three assisted tackles, one quarterback pressure, one pass break-up, two interceptions and went the extra mile twice. It was the second time Brown received the award. Brown was also honored as the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Acadiana native Justin Venable was named Hooters Special Forces Player of the Game for his effort on special teams during Saturday’s win over Idaho.
David Schexnayder and Julian Harris were named Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Players of the Week, respectively. It was the second time Harris received the award.
Per player vote, Kemmie Lewis received the Thumper Award for the biggest hit on offense.
Derace James collected the Hammer Award for the biggest hit on defense.
Tony Hills received the Kuhuna Award for the biggest hit on special teams.
Lewis and Venable will serve as offensive captains for the Cajuns next week, while Brown and James will serve as defensive captains.
Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Mississippi in a 2 p.m. kickoff at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
<B><I>LOUISIANA SI
PREVIOUS HOOTERS WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Game 1 at South Carolina
Offensive: Travis Smothers
Defensive: Pat Lamy
Special Forces: Michael Adams
O-Scout: Butch Roussel
D-Scout: Mark Risher
Game 2 vs. Louisiana Tech
Offensive: No Award Given
Defensive: Ross Brupbacher
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Mike Moore
D-Scout: Kade Wildbur
Game 3 vs. Houston
Offensive: Ronnie Harvey
Defensive: Antonio Floyd
Special Forces: Grant Autrey
O-Scout: Bruce Taylor
D-Scout: Hershell Robinson
Game 4 at Minnesota
Offensive: Eric Rekieta
Defensive: No Award Given
Special Forces: Eric Bartel
O-Scout: Jordan Jackson
D-Scout: Jacob Junkin
Game 5 at North Texas
Offensive: Josh Joerg
Defensive: C.C. Brown
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Bruce Taylor
D-Scout: Derek Morel
Game 6 at Oklahoma State
Offensive: Fred Stamps
Defensive: Daniel Taylor
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Jordan Jackson
D-Scout: Julian Harris
Game 7 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Offensive: Eric Rekieta
Defensive: Antonio Floyd
Special Forces: David Prater
O-Scout: Butch Roussel
D-Scout: Mark Risher
Game 8 vs. New Mexico State
Offensive: Jerry Babb
Defensive: Terryl Fenton
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Ronald Vaughn
D-Scout: Johnny Felders
Game 9 vs. Idaho
Offensive: Chester Johnson
Defensive: C.C. Brown
Special Forces: Justin Venable
O-Scout: David Schexnayder
D-Scout: Julian Harris
<B><I>LOUISIANA SI
Cajuns' Stamps seals legacy
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Former Carver star nearing end to record career at Louisiana</b>
LOUISIANA La. -- Carver graduate Fred Stamps has been turning heads during his Louisiana-Lafayette career.
Stamps has more than 2,500 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. He is third in school history in touchdowns and receptions, and second in career yards. This season he has caught 41 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite the senior's big numbers, the Ragin' Cajuns (2-7, 2-3) are struggling.
"I just want to keep playing hard, and prepare these young guys for next year," Stamps said. "We can't give up. We have to just keep playing hard."
Stamps currently is tied for fourth nationally with at least one reception in 41 consecutive games.
"I just go out and try to play hard every day," he said. "All that other stuff just falls in place."
His play has been a source of motivation for his teammates.
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By Kody Thompson
Contributing Writer <!--
"He's a heck of a leader for us," Coach Rickey Bustle said. "He loves to practice, he loves to play games, and he keeps everybody motivated out here."
The work ethic that Stamps brings to practice can be traced to his prep days at Carver, where Coach Jack Philli helped mold him into the player he is today.
"My high school days were lovely," Stamps said. "My coaches looked out for me and helped me out a lot. They prepared me for college.
"I was recruited by a lot of people. But I chose to come here, and it's been a blessing ever since. I really love being a Ragin' Cajun."
The Cajuns are hoping to give the senior every opportunity to showcase his talents in the last games of his college career, beginning Saturday at Southern Mississippi.
"He really wanted to have a good senior year," Bustle said. "We probably haven't gotten the ball to him early in the year like we would have liked to, but we've been able to get it to him here in the last three or four weeks. He's just a great impact on our players."
Stamps, who played quarterback in middle school, almost had a dream come true two weeks ago against New Mexico State when, on a fake reverse, he fired a pass just over the outstretched hands of receiver Kemmie Lewis.
But if he has any chance to play in the NFL, it will be because of his pass-catching skills.
Last year two ULL players, Charles Tillman and Ivan Taylor, were drafted. Stamps believes that he could be the next Cajun to have that honor.
"I'm feeling pretty good, after seeing the guys from here go last year," he said. "Hopefully everything will go good for the rest of the season, and I'll be ready for the draft and the combine." -->
Jerry Babb was just on SportsNote
He sure is getting comfortable in his leadership role.
Cajun defense making plays
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — The first few minutes of Saturday’s road game at Southern Mississippi will be crucial for Louisiana.
The Golden Eagles are celebrating homecoming at M.M. Roberts Stadium, and they’ve lost only once in series history at home to the Ragin’ Cajuns.
The Cajuns, who have won two in a row at home, are aiming to come up with something that will swing momentum their way.
“We need to make a play or two,” Cajun defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. “We need to challenge them — have a couple of 3-and-outs, or make a play that can turn the tide like we did against Idaho.”
Last week at Cajun Field, Idaho marched quickly downfield after the opening kickoff and threatened right away, only to be turned away by an end zone interception by safety C.C. Brown.
“We want to continue to build on that confidence,” Pry said. “Even when things have been tough this year, we’ve been able to regroup, line up again and go after them. They’re able to fight and claw back in it.
“We’ve taken our lumps with the newcomers, but they’re quality and they’re getting better.”
It’s no accident that Brown picked off a pair of Idaho passes, or that fellow safety Lamar Morgan also intercepted one before being felled for the season by a knee injury.
“We’ve really emphasized the back row breaking on the ball and making plays,” Pry said. “Three or four big plays killed us against North Texas and UL Monroe. Other than those plays, we played well enough to win.
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
“The last couple of weeks, we’ve made more big plays. We played with a lot of confidence, and you make big plays when you’re confident. You’re more aggressive. You fly to the football.
“We’ve got to play great defense and build on that momentum, like we played at South Carolina.”
The Cajuns, who have three games remaining, will be challenged to carry on without Morgan, whose knee injury is a serious one that may keep him out of action for a year.
“The loss of Lamar sets us back,” Pry said. “But we’ll challenge David Prater and Wendall Williams to pick up the slack. We won the (Idaho) game with those guys.”
Southern Miss averages a modest 15.4 points and 287.9 yards per game, and has scored just 10 offensive touchdowns in seven contests. But playing at home could lift the Golden Eagles’ performance.
Dustin Almond has hit 46-of-114 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns, Marvin Young has 351 yards on 20 catches and Tim Blackwell leads the physical ground game with 274 yards and three TDs.
“That No. 88 (Young) is one of the better receivers I’ve seen this year,” Pry said. “He’s got size, he’s fast and a good route-runner. He’s got great field presence. He scored on an 80-yard post cut last week to set the tone against South Florida.
“I really like the Almond kid. He’s a flat-out competitor who’s not afraid to throw it in there.
“They’re a physical football team, but they had a 100-yard receiver and 100-yard rusher last week. They’ll balance you up and do a lot of formations. They have six personnel groups, so you really spread your time out preparing for them.
“They give you a lot to cover, a lot to defend. They want to run the football. But, like everybody else, they’ll give you a lot of zone, draws and misdirections with the counter.”
The best way to counter the USM offense is to set the Eagles back on their heels before they find a rhythm.
“When you’re having problems, your play-calling gets a little more conservative,” Pry said. “Now we’re building back up to it. We’re getting back to where we feel we can be more aggressive.”
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Cajuns’ Brown adjusts to changes
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Life can be a series of adjustments — some large, others small — and junior safety C.C. Brown knows what that’s like.
He came to Louisiana from Mississippi Delta Community College, a late arrival who hit the ground running and hasn’t slowed down since.
His role in the Cajun defense is different from his duties in junior college. His surroundings are vastly different. The people talk differently here than those he’s used to back home.
When there’s that much that’s new, there’s no time to slow down.
“Here, there are fraternities and there are more things to do,” said Brown, a former prep star in Greenwood, Miss. “My junior college was back out in the woods, and there wasn’t anything going on.
“There’s more to do here.”
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
It hasn’t always been easy making connections, though.
“The language is different,” Brown said. “It’s kind of awkward. There’s the Cajun accent. But, also, the kids from New Orleans have more of a Haitian accent.”
Small wonder that Brown relied on familiarity when selecting roommates.
“I’m mainly close to my roommates — Antwain Spann and James Roberts,” he said. “All three of us are from Mississippi.”
No matter the background, a necessary part of student life is academic, and Brown’s late entry to the Cajun training camp this fall was caused in part by such paperwork. Now, though, his routine is clear.
“If you’re a junior or senior in the program, or a junior college signee, you have four to six hours of mandatory study hall,” said Brown, who is carrying 12 hours this fall. “It helps you focus on studying hard.”
When the Cajuns take on Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Brown and his roommates will be back on familiar ground. But that won’t change his pregame routine.
“I try to take my mind off of the game,” Brown said. “I’ll watch other games on TV and try to relax my mind, so I won’t be so stressed out. I wait ’til I get to the stadium, then when I get there I know I’ve got to concentrate because I’ve got to make plays.”
That ability is becoming more and more evident, especially last week when Brown intercepted two Idaho passes in a 31-20 victory to earn Defensive Player of the Week in the Sun Belt Conference.
The first theft halted the Vandals’ impressive opening drive, while the second one sealed the deal.
“I give credit to my defense on that first one,” Brown said. “They put the quarterback in a bad situation and made him throw a pass he didn’t want to throw. I just took advantage of it.
“That set the tempo for the first half, because they were draining all the momentum. We were able to turn it around.”
Brown has 46 tackles, tied with David Prater for second on the team behind the 51 of leader Ross Brupbacher, and has made great strides lately.
“C.C. has progressed more than anybody on our defense,” defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. “He’s been playing well.”
There’s little question why Pry and his staff wanted Brown. He had 89 tackles, an interception, two sacks, three forced fumbles and 10 pass break-ups at Mississippi Delta. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he has the rangy build and the speed to be a force at his position.
“I was used to starting 7 or 8 yards off the line,” Brown said. “In this defense, I’m closer to the line and I’m playing the run more than in the past. In junior college, I was balanced. I could do both.”
Judging from his performance so far for the Cajuns, Brown is adjusting well to living and playing in the Acadiana area — both on and off the field.
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Louisiana vs USM Series info.
<p align=justify>All-time series information (USM leads 37-11-1)
Today's game will mark the 50th all-time meeting between the two schools. The first meeting dates back to 1923. The Cajuns have won just once in 21 trips to Hattiesburg. That victory came on Oct. 21, 1989 when Brian Mitchell ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 313 yards and one touchdown. The 24-21 victory gave the Cajuns their second victory over USM’s Brett Favre. Louisiana has scored just 10 points in the last three meetings combined, allowing 138 points. USM has allowed just six points in two of their three home games this season.
The last time these teams met (Sept. 22, 2001) The Cajuns were held to only seven yards rushing and eight first downs in a 35-10 loss at Cajun Field. Fred Stamps led Louisiana with three catches for 76 yards. USM controlled the ball, running 78 plays to the Cajuns 56. The Golden Eagles held the ball for 40:26.
<B><i>LOUISIANA SI
Re: We needed that. Thanks
Quote:
Originally posted by eaglefever
Good luck with the rebuilding. . . . I don't want to seem arrogant, but it will be intersting to see if you guys can continue to play in Div 1A.
Thanks for the well wishes. We will make it.
Hey on a brighter note this is the best UL has looked in Hattiesburg since losing 27-52 Jake Delhommes senior year.
I think this is the first time we have scored in Hattiesburg since then.
Hope you do well the rest of the year.
USM Stuns Cajuns With First-Quarter Barrage
<blockquote><p align=justify>HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns were shell-shocked early on Saturday afternoon in falling to Southern Mississippi by a final score of 48-3.
An early turnover snowballed into a 21-0 deficit just 9:36 into the game. The Cajuns (2-8) gave up a total of 38 points at the beginning of each half and were unable to regroup.
The Cajuns first drive saw Jerry Babb intercepted by Greg Brooks at the Cajuns 31-yard line. Southern Miss pounded the ball into the end zone on five runs by Anthony Harris. USM led 7-0 with 11:07 left to play in the first quarter.
USM (5-3) needed 1:58 to travel 40 yards into the end zone on their second possession. Almond connected on a nine-yard strike to Anthony Perine to appease the homecoming crowd with a quick 14-0 lead.
A flea-flicker on the Golden Eagles third play of their third possession hit paydirt. Almond found a wide open Marvin Young for a 51-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
Fred Stamps reception in the first quarter extended his receiving streak to 42 consecutive games with a catch.
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USM continued to pile on points. A second quarter drive spanning eight plays covered 58 yards, ended in a 43-yard field goal by Darren McCaleb. The hosts enjoyed a 24-0 lead with 9:52 to play in the first half.
A double dose of Dwight Lindon sparked a Cajuns drive late in the second quarter. Lindon started with a career-long 17-yard rush, and then followed on the next play with a career-best 24-yard reception. Babb connected on consecutive third downs with Bill Sampy and Fred Stamps down to the USM 13-yard line. The Cajuns elected for a field goal facing a fourth-and-two from the five-yard line. Sean Comiskey connected on his ninth triple of the season to conclude the 12-play, 80-yard drive which consumed 6:26 of the clock.
Southern Miss responded with a scoring drive in 1:37. Almond hit Antwon Courington on a 23-yard strike to put USM up 31-3 at the half.
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Good Morning I have a running back question.
How many yards did Dwight Lindon have?
