There is No quarterback controversy for UL

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In a sport where starters receive all the glory and fame, while backups invest hours at their craft hoping to earn one opportunity to prove themselves, competition is fierce. But, at the University of Louisiana, two dynamic quarterbacks have found a way to not only coexist, but flourish as leaders of the Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns’ football team. “Ya know, we’re really best friends,” said a smiling Jerry Babb, starting quarterback for the Cajuns, about backup Michael Desormeaux. “It’s funny,” said Desormeaux, “Jerry (Babb) got an opportunity to go up to the Manning Passing Camp this summer, and he told me that so many quarterbacks don’t get along with their backups. We’re definitely the opposite.” Last season, the duo combined for a total of 2,343 yards of the Cajuns’ total 4,253, Babb picking up most of them with 859 passing and 400 running. After Babb suffered an injury in game four, Desormeaux captained the team to a 2-1 record, showing flashes of his brilliance on the ground by rushing for 487 yards and three touchdowns as well as in the air with 597. The rest of the story The Vermilion Author: Grant Alexander

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There's no quarterback controversy on the UL football team. Despite Jerry Babb's struggles during the Ragin' Cajuns' first two games, outings in which UL's offense has been virtually nonexistent in losses at LSU and Texas A&M, the senior and Sun Belt Conference's preseason Offensive Player of the Year is still under center. "I'm the backup," sophomore Michael Desormeaux said Monday. "Jerry's the starter. That's where he should be. He's earned that, and one or two games shouldn't change that." Babb, a product of St. Thomas More, entered the year as the most accurate career passer in UL history and ranking in the top five in every career passing category. But against the Tigers and the Aggies, he has been limited to 8-of-25 completions for 73 yards and to a net of seven yards rushing. Much of that can be attributed to the competition. LSU leads the nation in total defense this week, and A&M ranks first nationally in pass defense. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com