<table bgcolor=#eaeaea> <td> <font color=#000000> <blockquote><p align=justify>
Once his first season was done in 2003, Charlie Weatherbie sized up his UL Monroe football team and concocted a formula.
If the Indians could cut back on their turnovers, increase their takeaways, and show some gumption at the end of those close games, the pendulum would tilt in ULM's favor.
Fast forward to today, and you finally have a ULM football team that plays football the Weatherbie way. The Indians have more takeaways than turnovers and they can win close games.
As simple as it sounds, the man's mantra has taken root with this football team. And because of that, ULM will beat UL Lafayette on Saturday, win the Sun Belt Conference championship and go to the New Orleans Bowl in Lafayette.
These are heady days for ULM fans. Just two seasons ago, their team was 1-11. The program was covered with the stink of losing. But, little did they know, their championship team was taking root that season.
We take you back to a winnable game for ULM against North Texas during that horrific 2003 season - the first under Weatherbie.
This was when UNT was still the big dog in the Sun Belt, riding a 15-game winning streak at the time. The Indians lost 28-26, but could have won it with a credible two-minute drive.
Instead, the Indians mounted a lurching effort that ended with a turnover on downs at the ULM 42.
ULM looked as shaky as a newborn colt trying for the late heroics.
This year, things are different. Five of ULM's six Sun Belt games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The two-minute drill is now as second nature as breathing.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051125/SPORTS/511250348/1006">The rest of the story</a>
News-Star
Paul Letlow
(318) 362-0267
pletlow@thenewsstar.com
<!--
Four of those five close Sun Belt games have gone ULM's way. It's the biggest reason the Indians are in first place.
Give Jyles the rock in a close ball game today and he hardly bats an eye. The unflappable gunslinger will work the sidelines and milk the clock until he's in striking distance. He'll nickel and dime you, then suddenly he's gunning for the end zone and another Sun Belt win.
Better look out UL Lafayette.
Of course, the late show isn't all about Jyles. ULM put forth an unforgettable fourth-quarter effort to beat Florida Atlantic in its Sun Belt opener. A huge interception and return by Chaz Williams let Calvin "Taz" Dawson punch in the go-ahead score. Kevin Payne's interception at the goal line preserved the win.
These same Indians moved the chains late against Arkansas State to pull out a fourth-quarter thriller. Jyles crafted a six-play, 48-second drive and scored the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard run with 36 seconds to go.
Sure, there was that ridiculous and inexcusable two-point loss to Florida International, but that came after three weeks without playing. And Jyles moved his team into position to win that one before the Indians missed a short field goal.
However, this team was unfazed a week later at Middle Tennessee. The Indians surrendered a lead only to reclaim it on a touchdown pass from Jyles to Drouzon Quillen with less than a minute remaining.
Clutch all the way.
History says this will be close game with UL Lafayette. Of the last five meetings, four have been decided by five points or less. Three of those games were three-point margins of victory. A winner of three straight in the series, ULM was a 13-10 victor a year ago at Malone Stadium.
So here's how we see it in Monroe. Nothing is decided going into the fourth quarter. Sometime in the waning minutes, the time comes to seize control and ULM's offense takes the field. Playing his last home game, the senior quarterback Jyles trots out, cool as a late November night.
Give him six or seven plays, one timeout to burn, a flurry of passes to Joey Trappey, Marty Humphrey and Quillen. Mix in a Calvin Dawson run. Maybe add a scramble by Jyles, who has gained more than 10,000 yards of total offense in his record-breaking career.
Then with about a minute left or so, Jyles finds a way to get it in the end zone - probably on a jump ball to his 6-6 receiver Quillen.
ULM scores. ULM wins the game. ULM goes bowling.
Stick around and enjoy the drama. The celebration at the end will be worth it.
-->
</td></table>
