That was you? Good call, it makes even more sense with your post. Thanks
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That was you? Good call, it makes even more sense with your post. Thanks
It will be great to get Ross Brupbacher back as Linebacker.
Ross is ranked #43 in the nation by Phil Steele in his top 60 list for the nations best Linbackers.
Phil Steele's college football magazine ranks #1 over the last 5 years in picking the rank of teams. <a href="http://www.preseason.stassen.com">proof</a>
Geaux Phil Steele
I wonder how those weights rank historically.
Right now it seems to be a good combination, their strength will determine if they will be good or not.
The world according to Phil . . .
Louisiana's special team ratings (as a unit) came in as the 45th best in the country for 2002.
Not counting the Juco transfers Louisiana had the 3rd best reruiting 2003 class in the SunBelt. Devin Williams is the top ranked quarterback recruited to the SunBelt and ranks 41st in the country.
Louisiana will finish 5th because they lost 39.3% of their letterman. Most in the conference. UL lost 24 letterman and return just 37. Only 11 starters are returning least in conference.
In terms of class status (2002) Louisiana had the 8th oldest preseason team in the country. Logically UL would be one of the youngest this year, but with the return of Ross Brupacker and Justin Venable, and the Juco transfers, UL ranks 12th in the country in terms of experience ratings. <i>(this rating doesn't not take into consideration if they have ever played together.) </i>
Good news 19 of the projected starters are upper classmen and 5 of the conference games are at home.
<b>PRESEASON SUNBELT</b>
<b>1st Team </b>
WR: Fred Stamps
DL: Derace James
<b>2nd Team </b>
LB: Ross Brupacker
CB: Ricky Thomas
<b>3rd Team </b>
TE: Josh Jeorge
Phil has a number I could not find locally. UL sold 4500 season tickets in 2002. This was double what was sold in 2001.
"Phil has a number I could not find locally. UL sold 4500 season tickets in 2002. This was double what was sold in 2001."
It'd be kind of nice if we could maybe TRIPLE that amount this season!!!! :cool:
Thanks, Chuck. I wanted to compare the height/weight of this group to last years starting lineman at Va Tech to see if Coach Bustle is trying to copy what he used there but I am having computer problems and keep getting kicked off the internet. I think he (Bustle)is going for size, strength and speed (vs. just size under the former head coach)IMHO.
"Thanks, Chuck. I wanted to compare the height/weight of this group to last years starting lineman at Va Tech to see if Coach Bustle is trying to copy what he used there but I am having computer problems and keep getting kicked off the internet. I think he (Bustle)is going for size, strength and speed (vs. just size under the former head coach)IMHO."
That's what has me concerned Eric, we are very young at the tackle position. Any def. cordinator worth his money will expoit those two kids on the edge. This is why I believe the offense will struggle again early in the season. You can have size, but technique is the most important skill on the line.
I know Glover did not play last season, did he get any playing time prior to last season? If not, we have two young men playing tackle going into the season without any D-1A college experience. That is going to be tough when you add in our RS-FR QB and an early schedule which includes South Carolina, Minnesota and Oklahoma State, :( We as fans need to be patient and remember the long term and not have unrealistic expectations. With that said, by the time we hit that three game home stretch against ULM, NMSU and Idaho- Glover, Cox and Babb should all three be the better for this tough early schedule. I have no doubt we have the talent to win as many as 6 games but it all depends on how quickly the team comes together. Win or lose, my son and I will be there for every home game.Quote:
Originally posted by CAJUNGURU
That's what has me concerned Eric, we are very young at the tackle position. Any def. cordinator worth his money will expoit those two kids on the edge. This is why I believe the offense will struggle again early in the season. You can have size, but technique is the most important skill on the line.
GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!
4500 football season tickets. That is pitiful. UL needs to get its alumni involve and do much better than that.
<blockquote><p align=justify><i>Fans being offered an opportunity to meet and greet the 2003 University of Louisiana football squad and coaching staff.</i>
LOUISIANA La. - The 2003 college football season is rapidly approaching and to start the year off right Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns football staff would like to invite everyone to "Hustle Up" and join them for Fan Day 2003. It will be held at Cajun Field on Sunday, August 10, 2003.
Fans are asked to arrive at 6 p.m., entering the field through the tunnel located behind the athletics complex building. All festivities will take place on the playing field.
Louisiana's Cheerleaders and Ragin' Jazz will perform while fans enjoy music and Ragin' Cajun highlights on the jumbotron. The Ragin' Cajuns football players will be on hand for autographs and photos.
Parking will be available in the stadium parking lot via the Gate 5 entrance, which is adjacent to the practice fields off of Cajundome Blvd., and located behind the visiting team side of the football field. <center><i>LOUISIANA SI</i>
I think a LOT of what happens with this team this season is going to depend a lot on LEADERSHIP on both sides of the ball. On offense, obviously the quarterback has to be the leader. Eric Rekeita showed real leadership qualities last year when he got to play. I believe Jerry Babb also has what it takes to lead. On the line, Brooks needs to step up and pull these guys together in short order. On defense, I think Ross Brupbacher can step up and make that unit his. If that happens, I think we can compete with more than a few teams on our schedule this year. :D
I'm wondering if anyone realizes that it is only 6 weeks, to game week.......I see nothing shaking, scary.
I hope there will be a lot of noise after the Saints game. That should be about a month away by now.
You are right Oldman if I am right that only leaves 2 weeks for noise on the Cajuns.
It is kinda quiet, ain't it? You'd think we weren't playing football this season.
Oh! in my haste I failed to mention, "THE RAIN." I hope I'm wrong,but, here we go again. Everyone be quiet......shssssssss.:confused:
I had better not hear any more agricultural complaints about "lack of rain" for the rest of the year!!
You don't hear to many farmers in this area complaining about the weather. I hear a lot of grumbling from the golfers. I don't know why they just add it to their handicap.:rolleyes:
<blockquote><p align=justify><center><i>
Bustle’s Cajuns re-focus for 2003 campaign test</i></center>LOUISIANA La. — Rickey Bustle woke fans up in 2002. The plan now is to give them more to cheer about in 2003. Bustle went 3-9 in his first season as Louisiana’s head football coach, hardly a breakthrough for a program which hasn’t had a winning campaign since 1995.
But the 2002 Cajuns attracted the most fans at home since 1999 and had a winning season in five games at Cajun Field for the first time since 1996.
An impressive recruiting class will be added to the mix this fall, but the most important ingredient for improvement has been the hum of summer activity by returning varsity members.
“We probably have 38 to 40 kids in summer school,” Bustle said, “and around 50 to 60 working out. The guys have been working really hard, and (strength coach) Brad Ohrt has been bustin’ ’em.”
As with any new coaching staff, Bustle’s coaches needed a shakedown cruise in their first season, which saw the Cajuns finish 2-4 in Sun Belt Conference play. Now comes the acceleration stage.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/html/D280EC2B-7E15-4904-9772-4DF5FE0BD78A.shtml">The rest of the story</a>
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com <!--
“The biggest thing we did in that first year was to know the players a lot better,” Bustle said. “And, the players know the coaches now. They know better what we expect of them, and that was true even going into spring practice.
“We had a transition year where we were motivating the guys. Then, once the UL Monroe game was over and the seniors were finished, I told the others that we wanted to create a chemistry and that they were going to make the biggest commitment they’ve ever made to the program.”
Cajun quarterbacks like Jerry Babb and Matt Lane have been throwing frequently this summer to receivers Fred Stamps and Bill Sampy, working against defensive backs eager to take up where NFL draftees Charles Tillman and Ivan Taylor left off.
Defensive linemen have been going through individual drills, and all have been under Ohrt’s watchful direction.
“We put together a video for the defensive linemen with some drills we wanted them to do,” Bustle said.
“All the things the players are doing are things that will help them this fall, and that’s something they hadn’t done before.”
The Cajuns report back on Aug. 3, one day after the NFL’s New Orleans Saints stage their annual Black-Gold Scrimmage at Cajun Field for the first time. And, in a change from the past, varsity and newcomers will report together.
“You can’t bring the freshmen in early like we have in the past,” Bustle said. “That’s something new. There are five days before you can go full-contact — I think the first two days is helmets and shorts, then shoulder pads and then full pads, until they get acclimated.
“You can still separate them, like have the freshmen practice in the morning and the varsity in the afternoon. In fact, most of the coaches I’ve talked to are going to separate them for maybe three days.
“It’s a different teaching situation for the freshmen and the varsity. You’re doing different things. The varsity is actually in earlier than they have been in the past.”
Bustle, who hosts next Saturday’s 2nd annual Rickey Bustle Women’s Football Clinic, is taking one last weekend with the family in Destin, Fla. before returning to begin serious season preparations.
“The latter part of June, and into July, is a flex time for the staff,” Bustle said. “We try to take some time off. But we’ve all been doing a lot of film work on ourselves and on South Carolina (the Aug. 30 opening foe). And, we’re always continuing to recruit. “Everybody will be going full tilt next week.”
-->
Date Opponent Time
09-06 Louisiana Tech* 7:00pm
09-13 Houston* 7:00pm
10-11 ULM 4:00pm (HC)
10-16 NMSU 7:00pm (TV)
10-25 Idaho 4:00pm
11-08 FIU 4:00pm
* subject to change
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>The Offense</b>
<i>One in a series of articles previewing each 2003 USC opponent.</I>
<b>Head Coach:</b> Rickey Bustle (2nd year)
<b>2002 Record:</b> 3-9
<b>Returning Starters:</b> 9 (5 Offense, 4 Defense)
<b>Strengths:</b> WR
<b>Weaknesses:</b> RB, CB
<b>Fun Facts:</b><p><li>UL Lafayette is a state school with an enrollment of 16,000.
<li>Head Coach Rickey Bustle will be facing the Gamecocks for the first time since he was South Carolina's offensive coordinator for one season in 1994.
<li>The Ragin' Cajuns program has been Division I-A since its inception in 1908. (<i>1901</i>
<li>UL Lafayette has an all-time bowl record of 1-1. Its last post-season appearance was in 1970, and its last Sun Belt Conference championship was in 1994.
<li>The first quarter was not kind to UL Lafayette in 2002, with opponents out-scoring the Cajuns 113-26.
Don't call them Lafayette or ULL. My personal favorite, U La La, is out as well. The proper reference is either UL Lafayette-Lafayette or UL-Lafayette. They are the Ragin' Cajuns, and they're coming to Columbia for the Aug. 30 season opener.
<b>The Offense.</b> The Cajuns lived by the pass last season, finishing second in the SBC with 228 yards per game. But they may find the going much tougher this season.
<b>Quarterback.</b> Three-year starter Jon Van Cleave left school after setting several school passing records. His most experienced backup, senior Eric Rekieta, has missed the spring and summer with a broken hand and surgery on his elbow. Behind him is RS freshman Jerry Babb.
<center><p><a href="http://www.gamecockcentral.com/cgi-bin/article/read.pl?dir=fb&id=2820">The rest of the story</a>
Tim Covil
GameCock Central
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<b>Backs.</b> The unsettled situation under center has the Cajuns looking to improve a rushing game that lost its leading back and which was last in the Sun Belt last year with 61 yards per game.<p>"It's against my nature not to run the ball," Coach Bustle said. "We've recruited a couple of tailbacks that I'm excited about."<p>Abdule LeVier would be one of those recruits. First team All-State, he will try to compete as a true freshman against sophomore Chester Johnson (164 yds in 2002) and junior Dwight Lindon.<p><b>Wide Receivers.</b> If UL-Lafayette has a strength, this is it. 6-0 senior Fred Stamps has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games, a stat that puts him in the Top 10 nationally. He had five 100-yard receiving games in 2002. He's been used as both an inside and outside receiver, but Coach Bustle said he would be more of an outside receiver this season.<p><b>Offensive Line.</b> LT Demetrios Brooks, C Ronnie Harvey, and LG Greg Hodges are the returning starters on the line. A key newcomer will be true freshman Brandon Cox (6-7, 295), already penciled in as a starter at RT. A couple of JUCO newcomers will add to depth. But the line will have its work cut out with inexperienced signal-callers and a renewed emphasis on the running game after averaging just 1.9 yards per rush in 2002. <p><b>Starting Eleven</b><p>WR - Fred Stamps Sr. 6-0 184<br>WR - Eric Bartel Sr. 5-8 172<br>TE - Josh Joerg Sr. 6-4 237<br>LT - Corey Glover So. 6-4 295<br>LG - Greg Hodges Jr. 6-2 305<br>C - Ronnie Harvey Jr. 6-1 285<br>RG - Demetrios Brooks Jr. 6-3 290<br>RT - Brandon Cox Fr. 6-7 295<br>QB - Jerry Babb Fr.-RS 6-3 215<br>FB - Wayne Stein Sr. 5-10 214<br>RB - Dwight Lindon Jr. 5-9 210<p><b>The Bottom Line.</b> UL-Lafayette's offense will struggle mightily in 2003. That's what happens when a unit that finished last in scoring offense in 2002 (17 points per game) loses its quarterback and its top rusher. The main job of the Gamecock defense will be to keep its eye on WR Fred Stamps, who made eight TD grabs last season and is likely to be the only offensive threat for the Cajuns in Game 1.<p><b>Next:</b> Special teams and defense.
Speaking of Levier, I saw in the Advertiser that he is still rehabbing. He will not play in the LHSAA all-star game. Any word when he will be ready, if he will be ready this season?
I think this is going to be typical of most "oustide" previews that we will see. Most are going to assume that we will lose a lot on offense with JVC gone. I tend to think that we'll be just fine with Rekeita if he's healthy. I'm not as sure with Babb, but I think Jerry will bring some things that Jon just didn't have.
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>One in a series of articles previewing each 2003 USC opponent.</b> Today we look at the UL-Lafayette defense and special teams. For an overview and offensive preview of the Ragin' Cajuns,
From 2001 to 2002, UL-Lafayette went from sixth in the conference in penalties to first.
<li>The Cajuns turned the ball over 10 times in their 2002 season opener.
<li>UL-Lafayette limited its opponents to 36.6 percent on third-down conversions (South Carolina's stat: 47 percent).
<li>The Cajuns have not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 1998.
<li>The Cajuns blocked seven kicks last season, third-best nationally. But six of those seven blocks came from two players who are no longer with the team.
<b>The Defense</b>
<b>Backs and Safeties.</b> <p align=justify>UL-Lafayette is having to re-work its defensive backfield after losing two starters to the NFL and two others to graduation. Senior rover safety Jamal Smith is the only player on two-deep with more than a year of experience at either cornerback or safety.
<b>Defensive Line.</b> It gets just a bit better along the defensive line. The two starting defensive tackles must be replaced, but former backups Daniel and Justin Taylor do have several years of experience between them. Among the 11 JUCO transfers Bustle has recruited, three are in the interior of the line. Darryl Blappert, Travis Bass, and George Benson will be counted on to get up to speed quickly, but whether they're ready in time for the season opener is a big question.
<b>Linebackers.</b> Things are most solid for the Cajuns defense at linebacker. The leader of the unit is sixth-year senior Ross Brupbacher, who missed all but three games in 2002 after being on the pre-season Butkus Award watch list.
<b>Starting Eleven</b><p>LE - Antonio Floyd Sr. 6-1 237
RE - Eugene Kwarteng So. 6-4 235
LT - Darryl Blappert Jr.-JC 6-7 275
RT - Daniel Taylor Sr. 6-1 281
LB - Stanley Smith So. 6-1 234
LB - Ross Brupbacher Sr. 6-1 231
S - Patrick Lamy Sr. 5-10 195
Whip - Wes Simon Fr.-RS 6-0 200
S - Jamal Smith St. 5-10 190
Rover - C.C. Brown Jr.-JC 6-2 205
S - David Prater Jr.-RS 5-11 205
<center><p><a href="http://www.gamecockcentral.com/cgi-bin/article/read.pl?dir=fb&id=2824">The rest of the story</a>
Tim Covil
Gamecock Central
<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Special Teams</b>
The Cajuns started a true freshman field goal specialist last season. Sean Comiskey was 9-of-18 with one 50-yarder, missing just three kicks under 45 yards.
When you're UL-Lafayette, you punt... a lot. Grant Autrey booted it 78 times in 2002 for a decent 39.8 average. The Cajuns will need to find someone new to handle kick-off duties. They'll also be looking for better production in the kick return department, as they managed just 18.8 yards per return. Bill Sampy, Fred Stamps and Chester Johnson are likely to resume their kick-off return duties unless Bustle wants to experiment with the newcomers. In the punt return department, Jerrell Carter is the only returning player with any experience in that area, as he returned six punts for 44 yards.
<b>Starting Specialists</b>
P - Grant Autrey Sr. 6-2 192
K - Sean Comiskey So. 5-9 168
HLD - Matt Lane Jr. 6-0 191
SNP - Jacob Junkin Fr. 6-4 210
PR - Fred Stamps Sr. 6-0 184<br>KR - Jerrell Carter Jr. 5-8 185<p><b>The Bottom Line</b>
With just four starters returning on defense, UL-Lafayette will be looking for a lot of young players to grow up quickly in the backfield. Since it takes time to develop the discipline to play the corners, The Cajuns should be very susceptible through the air on August 30. Gamecock QB Dondrial Pinkins couldn't ask for a better opportunity. And if Skip Holtz is truly free to do things his way, Pinkins may take to the air early and often, at least until a comfortable lead is established and the running game can take over.
<b>Next:</b> The keys to victory.
<center><p><a href="http://www.gamecockcentral.com/cgi-bin/article/read.pl?dir=fb&id=2824">The rest of the story</a>
Tim Covil
Gamecock Central