The Book: 2002-03 Louisiana Football season

[NewsCopy]

Advertisers-Bruce Brown

LAFAYETTE - It was the best missed field goal Rickey Bustle has ever seen.

Bustle had seen his Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns fight back from a 21-7 deficit to lead the Idaho Vandals 31-28 last Saturday at Cajun Field, only to watch the Vandals march into range for a field goal attempt that could have sent the game into overtime.

But Keith Stamps was wide on a 46-yard try as time expired, and the Cajuns had halted a four-game losing streak.

"I've been on both sides of that kick," Bustle said. "I like this side a lot better."

Four games ago, Bustle's Cajuns had come back from a halftime deficit and tied New Mexico State 28-28 on a furious final drive with 41 seconds to play. But the Aggies got a big kickoff return, picked up 27 crucial yards and won with a 41-yard field goal on the last play.

"It was the same script as at New Mexico State," Bustle said. "We had a sky kick. We had done that all game, to the right side, and done a good job. A couple of times they had trouble handling it.

"But Jon (Jonathan Knott) must have had a muscle cramp, because all of a sudden he jacked that thing down the field. No. 2 (Idaho's Cedric Thompson) called the others off. There was no way he was going to let anyone else return that thing."

Thompson got to the Vandals' 40, and two first downs later they were at the Cajun 28, calling a timeout with 1.3 seconds to go. But this time, a late kick went the Cajuns' way.

"It was an emotional week for us," Bustle said. "We had G.W. Rudick in the hospital (with a lacerated kidney) sending messages to the team. And (injured defenders) Justin Venable and Ross Brupbacher came in and spoke to the team before the game.

"It was very emotional. There's great togetherness on this team. I've never been so excited about win No. 2."

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[NewsCopy]

Advertisers-Bruce Brown

LAFAYETTE - Someone had to do something.

UL Lafayette's Ragin' Cajuns were getting shredded by the Idaho Vandals in front of a disappointed homecoming crowd at Cajun Field last Saturday.

The score was 21-7, with only a long bomb from Jon Van Cleave to Andre' George as relief. Idaho had run 16 plays, gained 150 yards and scored three times through the air in three all-too-easy drives.

It was shaping up as a long evening.

But senior linebacker Ricky Calais stepped in front of a Brian Lindgren pass and returned it to the Cajun 47-yard line on the fourth possession by the Vandals. Six plays later, Van Cleave hit Eric Bartel for a 41-yard touchdown to get within 21-14.

Idaho scored on its opening drive of the third period, but never again did the Vandals cruise through the Cajun defense with such ease.

The Cajuns eventually won 31-28, their first win in 16 games after trailing at halftime, but it was a scary start.

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[Turbine]

Arkansas State Univerisity is coming into town at 4pm on Saturday and a win by Louisiana will lock up the coveted winning record at home for first year head coach Rickey Bustle.

14,000 fans in the stands will lay fantastic groundwork two years prior to the (soon to be) NCAA mandated 15,000 required average. 14,000 will have maintained the average above 15,000 for the entire rain soaked year.

This will be the last game for all the Seniors who will see their last home game in pads as a Ragin' Cajuns.

Any unused tickets from earlier in the season can be traded in at the CAJUN DOME, and used at the game.

Bring a friend.

[NewsCopy]

Advertisers-Bruce Brown
LAFAYETTE - His initials - ER - could stand for emergency room.

Eric Rekieta entered the game because of a medical emergency of sorts - an injury to starting quarterback Jon Van Cleave - with UL trailing Idaho 28-17 in the fourth quarter last Saturday at Cajun Field.

It wasn't exactly an emergency, but it was time for action.

Rekieta came through, hitting 6-of-8 passes for 81 yards and a 34-yard touchdown pass to Fred Stamps and engineering a 14-play, 87-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown in a 31-28 victory.

Now, with Van Cleave still nursing a sprained ankle, Rekieta could get the start for Saturday's home finale against Arkansas State.

"Jon is doubtful," coach Rickey Bustle said. "We plan to go with Eric this week.

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[CAJUNDOG]

Why do you think Bustle hasn't used him more in pass games?

[Cajun1997]

If I had to guess I would say not to hurt the young qb's confidence. Do not get me wrong, I believe that Coach feels that JVC is his best qb or he would not be starting. That said, in games like A&M, Houston, LSU, UAB, or UNT, I think ER should have been put in (or in some cases put in earlier). As I stated in an above post sometimes a change at qb gets the offense jump started. Also, ER could have used the reps in case a situation like this one came up. This is his first season playing 1-A football and I would imagine it is quite different from playing on the JC level. It never hurts to have a good (experienced) backup qb.

[Cajun1997]

Following the ankle injury to starter Jon Van Cleave, junior-college transfer Eric Rekieta has the opportunity to lead a late-season surge for Louisiana-Lafayette. Rekieta, who had thrown just 18 passes this year, was the hero in relief against Idaho, completing 6 of 8 passes for 81 yards and leading two scoring drives for a 31-28 comeback win. "He did a fantastic job and we found a way to win at the end," coach Rickey Bustle said. "That's something we haven't been able to do." With Van Cleave doubtful this week against Arkansas State, Rekieta probably will get his first Division I start.

[Turbine]

Louisiana is moving up and will break the top 100 after this week.

[Cajun1997]

in the Advocate today

LINK

[Turbine]

Originally posted by SwampFox
"Sometimes in high school it was frustrating because at Carencro we ran the ball so much," he said.

I suspect there are a lot of Sampy type players in the world who don't give the next level a try.

I'm glad UL has him.