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For your info, I havent pressed the button yet, and I don't want to. But im very concerned about this offense. I think our D is good enough to win some games, but if we want to win some we are going to have to do much better on offense. No question about it.
I don't blame the refs for the loss, but they did break our back early on. If they hadn't made those early calls, it would have been a much closer game.
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Bustle pleads with fans to hang tough with Cajuns.</b>
LOUISIANA La. — Remaining patient is hard for fans to do.
<b>It’'s not easy for coaches, either.</b>
Ragin’ Cajun backers want Louisiana to get in gear and make 2003 a successful season, and after a 0-2 start the Cajuns will have to hurry to make that happen.
No one knows that better than head coach Rickey Bustle.
“I would ask the fans to hang with us,” said Bustle, whose squad fell 34-3 to Louisiana Tech in last Saturday’s home opener before 24,221 fans at Cajun Field.
“I know they’ve heard that 1,000 times before, but if they like any part of the positive things that are going on with the program, I’d ask them to stick with us. We’re going to make this thing right.”
The Cajuns host 1-1 Houston on Saturday before encountering a grueling three-week stretch of road games at Minnesota, North Texas and Oklahoma State, so positive reinforcement is crucial this week.
“Coaches have to be patient, too,” Bustle said. “We want to win now, because you never know when that chemistry will be right and things will start clicking.”
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/16DFF37F-8981-4973-994E-38CC66586167.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
The Cajun offense remains stuck in neutral, with just one field goal in two losses. Turnovers and miscues have thwarted the attack, and a combined 8:13 of clock time with the ball in the fourth quarter means the defense is on the field too long.
“They do feel the pressure of getting in the end zone,” Bustle said. “We’ve had nine-play drives, moved it down the field in both games and just don’t get it in.
“It’s frustrating for the players. I don’t doubt that they’re trying a little too hard and are making mistakes.”
Bustle, a successful offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech before taking over the Cajuns in 2002, is looking for ways to find the end zone.
“I met with my offensive staff all day yesterday (Sunday),” Bustle said. “The first two games, I’ve been sort of letting them run with it. Now I want us to look at what we’ve done well, and look at different ways to do certain things.
“We drive, but we don’t finish it. I won’t dwell on it, because I don’t want us to start pressing.”
Freshman Jerry Babb has hit 36-of-64 passes for 331 yards. He has had his moments, but hasn’t chalked up a touchdown yet. He twice missed deep connections with Fred Stamps against Tech.
“That’s the youth part of being a young quarterback,” Bustle said. “On those deep balls, he’s got to hold on to the ball let the guy work. He threw just as the guy began his break, so he didn’t know what angle he would be taking.
“He’s just got to slow up a little bit. Jerry’s been one of the more solid ones out there. Really, it’s a group effort right now.”
Also, the defense was seemingly overmatched against veteran LT quarterback Luke McCown. The Cajuns had four pass interference penalties, late hits and out-of-bounds calls that made the Bulldogs’ task easier.
“Their screen passes, we were awful with,” Bustle said. “And when we weren’t giving up long ones, we had eight penalties on defense. That’s not characteristic of this team.
“We can look at what Houston is doing, but we’ve got to take care of our own business. We may have asked them to do too much. We don’t know what our strengths and weaknesses are right now.”
The sooner the Cajuns figure that out, the sooner they can start reassuring fans with their performance and some victories.
“We had a great college atmosphere Saturday night,” Bustle said. “The fans did their part; we didn’t do ours.
“We’ve been sort of slapped in the face, punched in the nose. We let the people down, and let each other down.
“But if we approach this thing with the determination to be a better team, it will take care of itself.”
CAJUN CLIPPINGS — UL has not won the third game of the season since 1993. Included in that drought is a 36-17 loss at Houston last season ... Cajun foes have converted just 26 percent (7-of-27) of third down plays ... last Saturday’s crowd was the 17th largest in Cajun Field history. -->
I guess you think you are pretty funny. As I stated in a previous post, I quit coaching because my family liked to eat every once in a while. My quitting doesn't mean I forgot everything about the game.
I know I know more than you. Reality speaking, the cajuns win 3 games maybe 4. You live in a fantasy world if you believe they will do any better. The bad thing is Bustle will leave if he doesn't win. The man isn't God. He can't work miracles. He is a good coach.
By the way, where's your rash, hopefully not on your tiny _______.
I was kinda thinking the same thing, but not exactly.Quote:
Coach Bustle on Babb' passing
“That’s the youth part of being a young quarterback,” Bustle said. “On those deep balls, he’s got to hold on to the ball let the guy work. He threw just as the guy began his break, so he didn’t know what angle he would be taking.
“He’s just got to slow up a little bit. Jerry’s been one of the more solid ones out there. Really, it’s a group effort right now.”
I thought I saw the overthrown balls all land the same distance in front of Stamps. Even the one where he would have been if he hadn't cut.
What this was telling me (and I am no expert) is that however long it took Fred to cover this distance (about 7 yards) is how much longer Babb should have held on to the ball.
I have seen them do it in practice, so I think what is happening is the game seems to be speeded up for Babb. As soon as the game appears to slow down for Jerry I think we will see some excellent QB-WR connections.
Nice Pics. Is ULL sponsored by Chili's? I keep seeing that pepper logo and it's making me hungry.
I want my baby-back-baby-back-baby-back Chili's baby-back ribs. (as sung by Fat B@st@rd in The Spy Who Shagged Me).
I was listening to KPEL and I heard a discussion about experience vs. talent. For me you want to go up against experience because you can't each talent, and you can't fight talent. Except with talent. They were talking about Louisiana-Tech's 4 seniors not being as good as recievers ULL will face later in the season. I agree talent beats experience every time.
This is to UH1990: I don't know where the pepper came from, I think it was stray pepper ULL adopted. We are still the Ragin Cajuns. Question: Do you have a son of one of our oaches playing for Houston?
Turbine: "They would not face a more experienced wide reciever quarterback combination than the techies all year. 4 seniors"
Jay said: "UL will face more talented groups than La. Tech. Minnesota, OK state etc."
I don't know how I feel, I thought tech was talented. I also think Senior recievers can act out the part of being interferred with. I don't think the Cajuns were guilty on all those penalties agaisnt the techies.
I am going to revise a bit
1.Aug.30 at South Carolina*14 3(L)
2.Sept.6 LOUISIANA TECH * 34 3(L)
3.Sept.13 HOUSTON * 15 14(W)
4.Sept.20 at Minnesota Minneapolis *38 14(L)
5.Sept.27 at North Texas Denton *33 17(L)
6.Oct.4 at Oklahoma State *28 24(L)
7.Oct.11 LOUISIANA-MONROE *31 7 (W)
8.Oct.18 NEW MEXICO STATE *28 14(W)
9.Oct.25 IDAHO *35 24 (W)
10.Nov.1 at Southern Mississippi *24 20 (W)
11.Nov.8 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL *42 10 (W)
12.Nov.16 at Middle Tennessee *30 17 (W)
Minnesota or Oklahoma State? With all the excitement built up early this season, would a victory propel this program to a new level?
Mind blowing.
I can't think of anything better.