I don't know who she is, but every player should have a fan like her, she has been pushing for Josh Harrison all year.
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I don't know who she is, but every player should have a fan like her, she has been pushing for Josh Harrison all year.
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — The good thing is, Josh Harrison is small enough to hide behind offensive linemen until it’s time to burst through a hole.
The bad news is, he’s so small you might miss him if you’re scouting for running back talent.
Either way, he’s a good fit for UL Lafayette’s backfield.
Harrison became the sixth player this season to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns in rushing in a game when he compiled 63 yards and scored twice in last Saturday’s 43-10 victory over Florida International.
“Technically,” Harrison said, “I’m 5-7 (his program height). Honestly, I’m 5-5.”
Despite those diminutive dimensions, Harrison came to the Cajuns with solid credentials from Copperas Cove, Texas. He rushed for 3,583 career yards, including 1,915 and 21 touchdowns as a senior, and had a 301-yard effort in a state playoff game.
“You look at the program he comes from, and he comes from a winner,” said Cajun coach Rickey Bustle, who just this past year sent Copperas Cove product Charles Tillman to the NFL as a cornerback.
“His grades were in order, and you look at his film and you see someone who could play. We tried to make a receiver out of him last year, but he’s a lot more comfortable with the ball in his hands.
“With someone is his size, you wonder if he can take on that linebacker. Josh will stick his nose right in there, and he’ll usually have leverage on him.”
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com
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It might be harder to gain leverage in the Cajuns’ ongoing battle at running back.
Chester Johnson continues to lead the team with 373 yards, while Travis Smothers has 269 and Dwight Lindon 198. Quarterback Jerry Babb has 193, and then there’s Harrison’s 148.
Fittingly, Harrison’s role model is pocket-sized Atlanta Falcons star Warrick Dunn, the older brother of teammate Smothers.
“Warrick Dunn is my favorite running back,” Harrison said. “I’ve always looked up to him.
“I just try to run as hard as I can, read my blocks and find the holes. I am able to hide on plays like draws and the quick dive. It helps a lot. Plus, sometimes I’m able to get under tacklers.”
As for getting more action, each of the backs will return in 2004, so the challenge is ongoing.
“It is a little difficult to get into a rhythm with so many backs, but we’ve been doing it all year,” Harrison said. “We’re not promised a certain number of carries. We all know what we’ve got to do when we get in there.”
Against Florida International, Harrison scored from a yard out for a 28-7 Cajun lead and later finished the scoring with a 23-yard dash to the pylon.
He actually appeared to have been standing in the end zone one snap before his 1-yard TD, but had to wait a play to get his first UL touchdown.
“I think I got in, also, but that’s a referee’s judgment call,” Harrison said.“We saw on film that a lot of teams had been getting good yards against them. Our game plan was to run a lot of zone blocking. Their linebackers were
filling so fast, that our linemen just had to wash them across and we were able to make our cutbacks.
“The line did a great job up front all night.”
That line opened the door to a season-high 236 yards on the ground for the Cajuns, who are 3-8 heading into this week’s season finale at Middle Tennessee.
“They’re a good team,” Harrison said of the Blue Raiders. “They’re good on offense. I don’t know much about their defense, but we’ll be looking at film of that today.
“I believe we have what it takes to beat them. It will be a dogfight, but we’re going out there to win.”
With Harrison added to the list of Cajun offensive weapons, the Blue Raiders have something additional to scout — if they can find him.
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Yikes :eek: who is the face over her left shoulder?
Looking forward to this weeks contest and our guests.
Let us know if we can assist you with details re: accomodations, tailgating, directions, etc.
Thanks BLUEBUCKEYE I wish I could make it. I am sure some will use your offer as the week progresses.
One of our mods is a big Cajun fan and will be available to provide info also.
Thx for the return post and sorry you can't make the trip.
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — By this time next week, Louisiana football coach Rickey Bustle and President Dr. Ray Authement will have taken sledge hammers to walls in the athletic complex as a symbolic beginning to a major remodeling at UL.
“We’re going to start knocking holes in the wall on Monday,” Bustle said. “We’re going to have to find a place to have team meetings, because we won’t have a wall, but that’s all right. I don’t care. I’ll go out and meet in the stadium.”
Bustle and his Ragin’ Cajun coaching staff are eager to hit the recruiting trail and bring in more talent to help his reclamation project, and revamped and new facilities are aces to flash in that process.
“Those are things that you can take into recruiting with you,” Bustle said.
It will also help when Bustle can tell prospects just where the Cajuns are going to play in the future.
“Most of the questions we’ve gotten have been about the conference,” said Bustle, whose squad currently competes in the Sun Belt Conference but has been rumored to be considering other options.
“It will help when we solidify that.”
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It also wouldn’t hurt the Cajun cause to finish the season with a victory at Middle Tennessee this Saturday, producing a winning mark in the Sun Belt (4-3) and taking four of their last five contests.
The Cajuns thumped Florida International 43-10 last Saturday to improve to 3-8, in a game that was a dangerous one to anticipate.
FIU is a still-developing Division 1-AA program, and much of the pregame talk centered on a UL victory.
“What I fought last week was that assumption from the team,” Bustle said. “We talked to the team every day about it. I know what they’re hearing, because I know what I’m hearing — ‘Oh, you guys are going to kill them.’
“That’s not the way we approach a game. And, why would we assume we would do that to any team?
“I was proud because we did come out and play (jumping to a 36-7 halftime lead). I felt we were ready in warmups.”
The second half was a different story, as both teams endured a flurry of penalty flags and miscues.
“We played a good football game,” Bustle said, “but we got sloppy in the third quarter and there was a lot of pushing and shoving and talking out there.
“I was not happy. We had way too many penalties, and that’s not the kind of team we put out there.”
Middle Tennessee, which is 3-7 after holding off Troy State 27-20 last week, is sure to offer more resistance than FIU did. The Raiders can be explosive at home.
It will be a vital game for Cajun postseason — and recruiting — momentum.
“What I’ve told the team all year is that every game is important,” Bustle said. “You have to be practicing well and concentrating every week. Somewhere, that will register with them and we’ll approach this game the same way.
“If we do, we’ll feel better about what we’re trying to teach.”
CAJUN CLIPPINGS — UL is 32nd in the country in turnover margin at plus 0.45 per game ... Middle Tennessee’s Andrico Hines has hit 130-of-212 passes for 1,436 yards and 6 touchdowns and has a 124.7 passer rating, while Kerry Wright (59-1,065-8) is No. 5 in the country in receiving yards per game (106.5) and is tied for 24th in receptions at 5.9.
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<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, junior wide receiver and Carencro native Bill Sampy was named Hooters Offensive Player of the Game. Sampy had four receptions for 71 yards and caught a two-point conversion from Jerry Babb.
Senior Derace James was named Hooters Defensive Player of the Week. James had three assisted tackles, five quarterback pressures and blocked a field goal at the end of the second quarter which led to an Antwain Spann touchdown return.
For the second week in a row, senior punter Grant Autrey was named Hooters Special Forces Player of the Game. Autrey booted three punts inside the 20-yard line, including one punt which was downed at the 1-yard line.
Chad Wisler and Clay Rudick were named Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Players of the Week, respectively.
Per player vote, D’Anthony Batiste received the Thumper Award for the biggest hit on offense.
Stanley Smith, Travis Bass and Jamal Smith shared the Hammer Award honors for the biggest hit of defense.
David Prater received the Kuhuna Award for the biggest hit on special teams.
Batiste and Josh Joerg will serve as offensive captains for the Cajuns next week, while Darryl Blappert and Ross Brupbacher will serve as defensive captains.
Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team will close out the 2003 season Saturday when they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to face Middle Tennessee in a Sun Belt Conference game. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Floyd Stadium.<hr>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
Game 10 at Southern Mississippi
Offensive-Dwight Lindon
Defensive-No Award Given
Special Forces-Grant Autrey
O-Scout-Butch Roussel
D-Scout-Mark Risher
Game 11 vs. Florida International
Offensive-Bill Sampy
Defensive-Derace James
Special Forces-Grant Autrey
O-Scout-Chad Wisler
D-Scout-Clay Rudick
I see that Mark Risher has earned the scout award a few times. He should be able to help at linebacker next year. He was a wild man at STM. Can't wait to see him play again. (Mark played at St. Cecilia in 6th, 7th, & 8th grade. Go Blue Jays!!)
I'll make the trip but I'll be with my friend so I think he will be my guide.:) ..O..
I always enjoy Murfreesboro.
I love your stadium.
Go Blue Jays! HAHAHA. How about GO CCS TIGERS!!! (I graduated from CCS many years ago, just had to mess with you!)
GEAUX CAJUNS!!!
<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — Patrick Lamy had seen this act before, and the encore brought a smile to his face.
When Louisiana’s Derace James blocked a Florida International field goal and teammate Antwain Spann returned it 45 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half last Saturday, it sent Lamy back to the Cajuns’ season opener.
On the last play of the first half at South Carolina, Michael Adams dashed in to re-direct a Gamecocks field goal to Lamy’s waiting arms and the senior safety took it 89 yards to a touchdown and a 7-7 halftime tie.
The main difference between the two was that Spann’s score boosted UL’s lead at the break to 36-7 in a 43-10 victory.
“It was a good feeling, a good way to end the half,” Lamy said. “It was a big play for us. I was running behind Antwain, trying to get him to throw me the ball.”
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Bruce Brown
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The visiting Panthers figured they got a break when the game clock showed just under a second left before intermission, so they lined up a 53-yard field goal try. But instead of drawing FIU closer, it just drove the Panthers deeper in a hole.
Beating FIU gave the Cajuns a third win in their last four games, coming after a brutal 7-game losing streak that included three straight road games against teams that won bowl games last season.
If UL can knock off Middle Tennessee this Saturday, coach Rickey Bustle’s team would finish 4-8 with a 4-1 stretch run.
“A win would give us a 4-3 record in the (Sun Belt) conference and give us our first road win under coach Bustle,” Lamy said. “So, we have a lot of things to play for — especially for the seniors. This is our last game ever.”
“We have a lot to build on,” Bustle said. “It’s all right there for us. This is their last game together as a group. I really hope we can make it a special one.”
Despite that rugged start, Lamy maintained the value of playing schools like South Carolina, Houston, Minnesota and Oklahoma State.
“I like playing the bigger teams,” Lamy said. “Definitely in the beginning, when you lose to those teams, it definitely hurts your morale. If you play them, you’d like to have a better chance. It would help if we could space them out.
“But, I still believe if we play up to our capabilities we could have been in most of our games. As a player, you don’t have any say in it. You’ve just got to play.”
Lamy, who is fourth on the Cajun squad with 44 tackles along with three pass breakups and three fumble recoveries, won’t have any trouble focusing on Middle Tennessee.
In 2002, the Cajuns visited UL Monroe in the finale, one week after a near-miss 24-17 loss at SEC member Arkansas. They played like they were still thinking about that thriller, dropping a 34-10 decision to finish 3-9.
“Last year,” Lamy said, “we had just played Arkansas and we overlooked UL Monroe. Nine times out of 10, if you overlook a team that’s at your level, you’re going to lose.
“We know Middle Tennessee is a good team. I think you’ve got two evenly-matched teams. Hopefully, things will work out for us.”
Just to be sure, the Cajuns might want to concoct a third blocked field goal and touchdown return.
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I want a home/away with Houston until the end of time because it's a fun matchup. I also want to tune in to those clowns on your radio broadcast that show us no respect when we finally win one against you guys. I'm sure losing to a "hyphenated" school, as they call it, would be the worst thing that has ever happened to them. Houston fans are great, but those clowns on the radio are as unprofessional as they come.
Can any of you "locals" post a picture every now and then regarding the improvements? Would be nice to see the progress.
I have to agree with her. Josh was the standout in the spring scrimage. He ran all over our defense. That was when we had a healthy defense & the same defense that stopped South Carolina.
No doubt raginpagin.com will be on top of any of the new construction/improvement. This is an excellent place to get the goods on UL.
Actually, the UNA game was under Stokley. And they are Division II, not Division I-AA.Quote:
Originally posted by RedBug58
The difference is......Bustle's team plays a 1-AA and wins 43 to 10 and it could have been a larger margin.
The previous coach loses to 1-AA North Alabama and we were lucky that it was close.
We are moving in the right direction.....
This sounds rather generic but in order to be successful, I think next years defense needs to improve. Actually I would like to see the defense from last week carry over to this week and next year.
I know this won't stand but right now Louisiana leads the SunBelt in scoring with 168 points in conference.
This also won't stand but we have given up the second most points in conference 177
Next year I think the team will be OK on offense if it either improves slightly or at least holds its own. The defense however must improve if we want to challenge for the New Orleans Bowl.
How many of the 17-18 redshirts will be able to help on defense?
Richard Conner is also a St. Cecilia alumn at STM. Maybe we can get him next year!
Do definitly need improvement on pass defense.
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Louisiana has chance to finish strong in SBC</b>
LOUISIANA La. — UL coach Rickey Bustle kept the routine the same for the Ragin’ Cajuns on Wednesday as they hit the mid-week point in their preparations for the season finale at Middle Tennessee.
“We’ve talked about having a winning conference record, a chance to finish second in the conference, winning four of the last five and having the most wins since 1996,” Bustle said after Wednesday’s drill.
“When it comes down to it, I want the guys to win this game for themselves. I told them at practice that all of those other things are good for program, but when it comes right down to it, I want them to feel victory not for the coaches, but for themselves.”
The Cajuns have not been able to feel victories on the road under Bustle, and Middle Tennessee won’t make it easy to break that string.
“I believe that road win is going to come somewhere,” Bustle said. “It’s going to take a great game to do.
“Middle Tennessee’s offense is going to spread the field to open up room for the quarterback (Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Andric Hines). I look for them to run some no-huddle offense and make calls at the line, which in turn forces you to make quick calls.
If the Cajuns can approach the 443-yard output (including a season-high 236 rushing) they had in last week’s 43-10 win over Florida International, that might be the best antidote for Hines.
“We have to get a beat on what they are going to bring at us defensively,” Bustle said. “They have changed their front from week to week the past couple of games. I’ve seen them in a 3-3, then move to four down lineman. I expect them to mix it up.”
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The Middle Tennessee staff has a good idea of what to expect from the Cajuns, especially with former UL assistant coach Carey Bailey handling the Blue Raiders defensive line.
“Carey is a good coach,” Bustle said. “He was a good coach for us and he’s doing a good job with the Blue Raiders. We need to be ready to play.”
UL seniors bowed out at home with the win over FIU, and MT’s senior class will try to do the same on Saturday in its home finale.
“I’m really glad that they won their final home game,” Bustle said of his senior group. “They have a lot invested in our program and I’d love to see them go out with a win. I want a happier locker room than we had at the end of last season.”
That 2002 closer was a 34-10 loss at UL Monroe.
“We are going to spend a lot of time on recruiting,” said Bustle. “I’ll have a team meeting and then individual conferences with each player. We’ll stress to our athletes the importance of going to class and finishing up the semester strong.”
Injury Update
Jamal Smith, ankle surgery (out for season), David Kirkley, knee surgery (out for season), Greg Hodges, knee (out for season), Ricky Thomas, foot (out for season), Eric Rekieta, collarbone (out for season), Lamar Morgan, knee surgery (out for season), Jarvis Murchison, wrist surgery (out for season), Wes Simon, shoulder surgery (out for season). There are no other significant injuries.
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<blockquote><p align=justify>MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Andy McCollum knows the pain that accompanied Louisiana’s 0-7 football start.
The Middle Tennessee coach also knows the good feelings that now surround a Ragin’ Cajun program that has won three of its last four games.
His Blue Raider team’s in a similar boat, and they’d like nothing better than to match the performance that the Cajuns had in their home finale last weekend when MT hosts UL Lafayette Saturday.
Middle Tennessee started the season 0-5, but has since won three out of five heading into Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest at Floyd Field. The Raiders also started 0-5 last year but won four of their last seven.
“We all get loaded up front on our schedules with tough teams,” said McCollum, whose squad is 3-7 overall but 3-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
“We’re all playing them well, but most of the time they’re still losses. When we get into conference, we’re 1-4 or 0-5, and it’s tough getting the kids to have confidence in themselves.
“Lafayette goes through the same thing. It’s tough on the kids when they go out and battle and battle and battle and record-wise it still doesn’t look very good.”
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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com <!--
Despite the record, last Saturday’s 27-20 win over Troy State in a designated conference game still kept the Raiders’ fleeting hopes alive to share the Sun Belt title. Should front-running North Texas lose its last two and MTSU beat the Cajuns and win at Arkansas State in the finale, the Raiders would tie for the championship.
That’s as far as the hopes go, though. Even though the New Orleans Bowl committee would choose a Sun Belt representative in the event of a tie, the Raiders’ losing overall record and attendance woes would preclude their selection.
Middle hasn’t hit the 10,000 mark in any of its last three home games and drew only 6,563 for the win over Troy.
The fans who have been in attendance have seen the Raiders go only 2-3 at home this year, and many have laid much of the blame on senior quarterback Andrico Hines for a lack of consistency.
For his part, all Hines has done is be named the Sun Belt’s offensive player of the week three times this season. Hines (130-212-3, 1,436 yds., 6 TD passing; 279 yds. & 6 TD rushing) completed 15-of-22 passes for one score and rushed for 90 yards on nine carries and another TD in the win over Troy.
He also did that with an injured hand that has him listed as day-to-day, but he’s expected to play in his home finale this week.
“The team believes in him and he’s a leader,” McCollum said. “We know what he brings. He’s taken way too much criticism at times, but I couldn’t be more proud of how he handles it.”
Hines was a one-man wrecking crew against the Cajuns last year in Murfreesboro, hitting 17-of-24 passes for 347 yards and rushing for a team-high 75 yards and three scores in a 48-35 win.
“I coached a guy a lot like him, so I know how hard a guy he is to prepare for,” said Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle, referring to his former tutoring of Virginia Tech and Atlanta Falcon star Michael Vick. “He hurt us throwing the ball, and then he got them out of trouble a lot of times running the ball. He’s such a good athlete that he presents a lot of problems for you.”
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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Middle Tennessee also struggles to attract fans at home.</b>
LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns finished their 2003 home schedule on a high note with last Saturday’s 43-10 pasting of Florida International, but they’re still having trouble drawing fans to Cajun Field.
On a clear, mild day with no scheduling conflict from nearby LSU, coach Rickey Bustle’s team attracted just 13,571 backers to the 31,000-seat stadium.
In theory, a better record might have boosted that number — UL entered the game 2-8 on the season and Division 1-AA member FIU was 2-7 — but that’s not necessarily so.
This is a market in which the finest player in school history, Brian Mitchell, played before an average of just 16,089 fans when his Cajuns were 4-1 here in his senior season of 1989, so the answers to attendance woes are unclear.
The 2003 Cajuns averaged 13,995 fans at home for six dates, with a high of 24,211 coming in the home opener against Louisiana Tech a week after UL’s well-played 14-7 loss at SEC member South Carolina to start the campaign.
That represents a drop from Bustle’s first year, when an average of 15,056 watched the Cajuns go 3-2 at home.
In fact, it has been seven years since UL has had Cajun Field even half-filled, averaging 14,560 in 1997 and an all-time low of 8,798 in 1998 in Nelson Stokley’s final two years at the helm, as well as 15,289 in 1999, 14,624 in 2000 and 13,323 in 2001 under Jerry Baldwin.
In 1996, a record 38,783 fans watched the Cajuns stun Texas A&M 29-22, helping that year’s average reach 21,710.
The 1997 (0-6) and 2000 (0-5) teams were winless at home, while this year’s Cajuns were 3-3 at Cajun Field despite low attendance.
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Without the Tech contest, this year’s average dipped to 11,952, with a low of 9,213 for Idaho on Oct. 25.
If it’s any consolation, the Cajuns are not alone among fellow Sun Belt Conference schools in the problem.
Middle Tennessee, which hosts UL on Saturday, is currently averaging 12,363 fans for five games at home in 30,788-seat Floyd Stadium.
The Blue Raiders attracted 23,261 fans for the season opener against Florida Atlantic, then saw the bubble burst when Atlantic’s Roosevelt Bynes scored a 62-yard TD on the final play for a 20-19 upset win.
By the time MT was home again, the Raiders were 0-4 and drew 13,829 for Temple. After losing to the Owls, MT opened Sun Belt Conference play with a loss to New Mexico State before a paltry 9,114 fans.
They brought a 2-5 overall mark back home against North Texas in a battle of Sun Belt unbeatens, yet saw just 9,049 fans in the stands.
Last week against future Sun Belt rival Troy State and with a 2-7 record in hand, the Blue Raiders counted 6,563 faithful followers on hand for that 27-20 victory.
Without the opener against Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee’s home attendance average dips to 9,639.
This Saturday will be the Raiders’ home finale, before finishing at Arkansas State next Thursday, so their seniors will be in the same position as the Cajun seniors were last week.
“Every game’s important to them,” MT coach Andy McCollum said, “but any time you play your last home game it’s important. In their four years, the seniors have played 18 or 19 BCS teams and had a chance to win a few of those.
“They’ve been a group that’s gone through adversity. They wanted to do things better this year, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort. They’ll be excited about playing this last home game.”
Apparently, fans in Mufreesboro don’t share that fervor.
Bustle’s Cajuns can identify with the problem.
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<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. -- Shawn Williams would probably feel comfortable in an earlier era, when college football players went both ways.
That's been the case during most of Williams' career at the University of Louisiana.
Williams came to ULL in 2000 as a defensive lineman, but found himself as a blocker on offense.
When Rickey Bustle became coach in 2002, Williams was moved back to defense, where he played until recently.
Since midseason, Williams has been back at offensive tackle, where he is scheduled to play his final game when ULL (3-8, 3-3) meets Middle Tennessee (3-7, 3-2) at 2 p.m. today at Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. It's the final game of the season for the Cajuns.
Williams, a 6-foot-1, 313-pounder who played at St. Martinville High School, came to ULL as a walk-on, after failing to qualify academically as a freshman.
Under former Cajuns coach Jerry Baldwin, Williams played on the defensive line, a spot where he had his most success at St. Martinville.
"I like playing defense best and when I saw there were two seniors and two juniors in front of me at defensive tackle, I figured that's where I could get the most playing time," Williams said.
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Special to The Advocate <!--
It looked that way in 2001, when Williams played in six games and appeared as though he would move up the depth chart.
When Bustle was hired as coach, he moved Williams to the offensive line during spring practice.
When the season started, Williams was moved back to defense and last year he played in four games as a reserve.
He stayed there for most of this year and eventually became a starter at tackle.
This season, Williams has played eight games at defensive lineman, getting three tackles.
Recently, Williams experienced his fifth position change and was moved to left guard behind freshman starter Marshall Delesdernier.
"Overall, I think the defensive line is the better position for me, but the coaches who have been here have always asked me to help out when there have been shortages on either side," Williams said.
"I think I've accomplished a lot here, since I can say that I've been able to help out both the offense and the defense."
Williams, a physical education major, said learning techniques associated with both sides of the ball will provide advantages for his coaching career.
"I don't regret that things turned out that way, since I can now better teach players what to do on either offense and defense. I think that's a positive," he said.
Williams said his preference is defense, where there is a chance to make a play on almost every snap.
"I don't know how to put this, but offense to me first seemed kind of boring," he said. "You take care of the man you block, but you don't make that many plays there.
"On defense, that's completely different. You can be a playmaker and it seems you get into the game more. The one thing that I've come to appreciate about offense is that you can get just as big a thrill blocking for a running back that scores."
Bustle said Williams' nomadic career along the line of scrimmage has worked to everyone's advantage.
"The thing about Shawn is that he has always wanted to help the team and has done whatever we asked of him," Bustle said. "I don't think he ever once questioned what we've asked of him. As coaches, we always tried to put him in situations where he could play the most minutes.
"Sometimes things don't always work out like we want them to, but with Shawn, that really hasn't mattered."
The game will also be the last for ULL senior wide receiver Fred Stamps, who has at least one reception in his last 43 straight games.
Three players rank ahead of him with catches in 44 consecutive games.
In his ULL career, Stamps has 167 receptions in 2,588 games. He has 16 touchdown catches.
Middle Tennessee started the season 0-5. Three of those defeats were at No. 8 Georgia (29-10), Clemson (37-14) and No. 23 Missouri (41-40) in overtime.
MT quarterback Andrico Hines ranks No. 3 in SBC total offense. Hines has passed for 1,436 yards and rushed for 279 off 95 attempts. Hines' favorite receiver is Kerry Wright (59 receptions, 1,065 yards, 8 touchdowns).
The Cajuns have lost four straight season-ending road games, including the 2002 contest at Louisiana-Monroe (34-10).
Since coming to ULL, Bustle's teams have also not won a road game in 12 tries.
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