Sun Belt Coaches Select Cajuns to Take the Title, Babb Tabbed Top Offensive Player

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LOUISIANA La. - The Ragin’ Cajuns were the “talk of the town” here on Monday as the Sun Belt Conference kicked off its annual Football Media Days at the Pan American Life Building. What was the buzz? Louisiana was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the 2006 Sun Belt Conference championship and represent the league in the New Orleans Bowl, four Ragin’ Cajuns were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team and senior standout quarterback Jerry Babb was the honored as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Following suit with the preseason magazines released in June, the Ragin’ Cajuns were picked to finish first in the Sun Belt’s preseason coaches poll. UL received three first place votes and a total of 58 points besting Arkansas State (50 points) and Troy (48 points) who each received two first place votes and were second and third respectively. Louisiana ended the 2005 season with five consecutive wins and a share of the conference title. With a seasoned veteran quarterback Jerry Babb guiding the offense and eight starters returning on defense, head coach Rickey Bustle and the Cajuns will look to ride the momentum they have built in search of the school’s first bowl bid since 1970. The rest of the story LOUISIANA SI

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NEW ORLEANS - It wasn't any surprise, considering that the University of Louisiana was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference football title by nearly every preseason magazine. Head coach Rickey Bustle, though, said being tabbed by his peers means more. The Ragin' Cajuns were picked first in the Sun Belt's preseason coaches poll, announced Monday at the league's Football Media Day. "That means a lot, because that comes from guys that now a lot about football," Bustle said. "It shows some respect for the program, and that's important. The last 10 years or so, there hasn't been a lot of respect thrown our way." The Cajuns got three of the eight first-place votes from the coaches, but finished with 58 total points to stand well ahead of runner-up and returning New Orleans Bowl participant Arkansas State (50). Coaches could vote for their own team, and all the coaches except one that didn't pick UL first had the Cajuns as runners-up. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com