The Book: 2002-03 Louisiana Football season

[NewsCopy]

Advertiser October 2, 2002
LAFAYETTE - Rickey Bustle knows it's not business as usual for his UL Ragin' Cajuns this week.

The Cajuns play the LSU Tigers on Saturday for the first time in 64 years, so there's no way it's just another game. But that's how he has to structure the week.

"We're approaching it the same way we did the first four games," Bustle said. "We've been preaching from Day One that every game is important, no matter who we play or where we play.

"The LSU game is this week, and we all understand the hype that goes along with playing LSU. But, the bigger the game, the smaller you think. You focus on the details of the game.

"Whoever is anybody in this state will be at the game. But we don't want to get out of kilter. This game is still business to us."

LSU is coming off a 31-13 whipping of Mississippi State last weekend, and the Cajuns are sandwiched between SEC foes on the schedule. The 3-1 Tigers visit Florida next week.

"Without question, they're the best team we've played this year," Bustle said. "And, they've improved. When you watch them decide to stick it to Mississippi State with their running game, that's impressive.

"Mississippi State is a good team, a very physical team."

There's a fine line between respect and intimidation, and Bustle's Cajuns have to keep focused on the things they can control this weekend.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

The Monroe News-Star, a Gannett publication

BATON ROUGE - Just as University of Louisiana at Lafayette officials want their school to be known as UL, while others continue to refer to it as ULL or even USL, there are a number of ways No. 21 LSU is looking at its homecoming football game with the Ragin' Cajuns at 7 o'clock Saturday.

"I probably couldn't go back to Lafayette if we lost this game," said LSU senior place-kicker and Lafayette native John Corbello. "I definitely want to win this game."

A graduate of St. Thomas More High School with several friends at ULL, Corbello said he'll have plenty of family at the game, as well.

"I want to be very busy Saturday," he said. Corbello said he always wanted to attend LSU but is still hurt by the fact that ULL never sent him a recruiting letter.

While he referred to his hometown university as UL, as opposed to LSU coach

Nick Saban, who said ULL, Corbello said he "always wants to call them USL. That's what they were my whole life."

ULL of the Sun Belt Conference went by the University of Southwestern Louisiana before its name change. The teams last met in 1938, with LSU claiming a 32-0 victory.

Growing up in nearby Breaux Bridge, LSU senior tailback Domanick Davis said he developed a fondness for ULL.

Davis said, as a high school sophomore, he even considered attending ULL before he began going to LSU games.

"I kind of liked it (ULL)," he said after practice Tuesday, "but then I started coming to LSU games. Hey, there's a big difference."

LSU sophomore defensive end Marcus Spears spent some time in Lafayette, but it was for another reason.

"They've got a nice place to play basketball," said Spears, who guided Baton Rouge Southern Lab to the Class 1A state basketball inside the Cajun Dome.

When Corbello and Davis look at ULL (1-3), they may see numerous friends, but for LSU (3-1) junior defensive tackle Chad Lavalais to see even one is a surprise in itself. Marksville doesn't put out many Division I-A football players, let alone two that will face each other in the same game.

That's what will happen, though, when Lavalais lines up across from ULL junior left offensive guard D'Anthony Batiste. Both played at Marksville High, and both considered taking a recruiting visit together to Louisiana Tech before signing with their respective schools.

"I'm excited to play against a high school teammate," Lavalais. Beyond that, he said, "It's just another oppnent to me."

LSU and ULL will play football again on the heels of the Tigers' decision to discontinue their baseball and softball series with the Ragin' Cajuns for the time being. LSU, the defending Southeastern Conference football champion, made the move after some emotionally charged incidents between the teams in regional play.

Saban said what happened last spring in other sports should have no bearing on his players Saturday.

"I'm concerned about our team," he said. "I couldn't care less about that. I would hope our players would compete in the game the way they're supposed to."

The source of the story web page removed by Gannett

[Cajun1997]

for me they are the same as every Saturday. I expect the team and coaching staff to a give 110% effort for the entire 60 minutes. I also expect us to win. We should not/cannot go into any game expecting less or the team giving less.

Swampfox

GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!

[red55]

LSU - 42
The Artists formerly known as talented - 6

Cajuns will throw, Tigers will run. 4th ranked Tiger defense is the key to the win. Saban will back off and play 3rd string in the 4th.

Seriously, I expect a good game from the Cajuns. And I'm hoping for NO PERSONAL FOULS from both teams.

[RyChat]

Originally posted by red55
LSU - 42
The Artists formerly known as talented - 6

Oh, are you guys doing an intrasquad scrimmage today, too?

[lsua&m@br]

Can we all just get along now? You knew it would be a stretch to win the game. Bustle is probably a good coach and will build you into a respectable program. I truly don't see ULL as a D1 contender, but I could be wrong. It is just so hard to move up, seems like you either are there or you'll never get there. Few programs have been able to make the leap. the good D1 programs have already created the base in $$$ that it takes to compete. Good luck the rest of the year.

[Cajun1997]

Originally posted by lsua&m@br
Can we all just get along now? You knew it would be a stretch to win the game. Bustle is probably a good coach and will build you into a respectable program. I truly don't see ULL as a D1 contender, but I could be wrong. It is just so hard to move up, seems like you either are there or you'll never get there. Few programs have been able to make the leap. the good D1 programs have already created the base in $$$ that it takes to compete. Good luck the rest of the year.

Glad to see a Tiger fan that knows how to win with class. One thing, If by moving up you mean in classification, we have never been 1-AA in football. If by moving up in level of competition then we do have a long way to go to compete with LSU and like schools on the football field. I hope our next game in 2006 shows we have improved greatly. The only good news for us coming out of this game was it appears no player was seriously hurt and that we are still 0-0 in SBC play with a shot a going to the New Orleans Bowl. Disappointed with the outcome of the game but still have to say

GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!

[Cajun1997]

117 ULM (0-5)
116 Tulsa (0-5)
115 UTEP (1-5)
114 Army (0-5)
113 Rutgers (1-3)
112 Buffalo (1-5)
111 Ohio (1-5)
110 MTSU (0-5)
109 Akron (0-6)
108 Eastern Michigan (3-3)

[Cajun1997]

31 Air Force (5-0)
34 Southern Miss (4-1)
35 Bowling Green (4-0)
41 Colorado State (4-2)
42 Louisville (3-2)
44 Miami University (4-2)
49 Marshall (3-1)
51 Utah (2-3)
57 Boise State (4-1)
58 TCU (4-1)

SBC Teams
84 NMSU
90 North Texas
101 Idaho
104 Utah State
105 Arkansas St
106 Louisiana
110 MTSU
117 ULM

[red55]

but I'll take any win. My take:

1. Glad there were no personal fouls, this petty animosity has to stop. But it was pretty bush league for the ULL captain to refuse to shake hands at the toss. It sure fired the Tigers up though!

2. Cajuns came to play. I saw no slacking off from the coaches or the players. They should have brought the band, that's what big schools do in big games.

2. The Cajuns just don't have the horses. I have never seen a more outclassed team in Tiger Stadium since the Rice Owls in 1977 (77-0). Too early to tell about the ULL coach, he doesn't have much to work with. This team needs to be in AA (Sorry, Swampfox).

3. There was a major injury, Toefield broke an arm and is out for the season.

4. Cajuns have a damn good punter, he never gave LSU returners a shot and still averaged 35 yards. Damn good punter!

5. Saban backed off at halftime and played the third string. He has much more style than Spurrier who would have run it up.

6. LSU's defense is going to stop a lot of teams this year.