The Book: 2003 Football

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana rover safety C.C. Brown was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his effort this past Saturday versus Idaho.

Brown led the Cajuns with three solo stops and two interceptions, while adding a pass break-up. His first interception came in the Cajuns endzone on the first drive of the game, stopping a Vandals scoring bid and creating a score for Louisiana (the Cajuns went 80 yards to score following the INT, taking a 7-0 lead). Brown's second pick came late in the fourth quarter to stop IU's comeback attempt.

The two interceptions mark the first picks of Brown's career. It is the first multi-interception game by a Cajun since Charles Tillman collected a pair of INT's at Central Florida on Nov. 24, 2001.

The individual Sun Belt weekly honor is the 12th for Louisiana and the first defensive player of the week won by the Cajuns.

LOUISIANA SI

[BrilesBall]

Tuffguy...

UH is fine...we got our butts kicked against Memphis...many speculate that they were stealing our hand signals on incoming plays...because it was literally like we were playing the best team in the country...no joke...

We lost to TCU 62-55...our defense was horrid...has been for the majority of the year with the exception of the game against you guys and maybe Rice...

As far as Kolb goes, heck no...this guy is a budding star...he got a helmet sticker on the ESPN College show for his performance against TCU...Kolb threw for 440 yards with 4 Touchdowns and he rushed for 144 yards and a TD...only the 4th player in NCAA history to pass for 400 rush for 100...

On the season Kolb has passed for 1920 yards, 60% passing, 17 Touchdowns to 3 interceptions and rushed for over 300 yards with 3 tds...over 500 but the sacks kill ya...

He's arguably the best true freshman QB in the country

[Turbine]

Originally posted by BrilesBall
As far as Kolb goes, heck no...this guy is a budding star...he got a helmet sticker on the ESPN College show for his performance against TCU...Kolb threw for 440 yards with 4 Touchdowns and he rushed for 144 yards and a TD...only the 4th player in NCAA history to pass for 400 rush for 100...

On the season Kolb has passed for 1920 yards, 60% passing, 17 Touchdowns to 3 interceptions and rushed for over 300 yards with 3 tds...

He's arguably the best true freshman QB in the country

WOW, I'll say!

[NewsCopy]

ORLANDO (FWAA) – Fifteen athletes, a student manager and an assistant coach – each with a special story of accomplishment in the face of difficult circumstances – are the nominees for the 2003 FWAA/ESPN The Magazine Courage Award.

Nominees include San Jose State special teams player Neil Parry, who returned to college football with a prosthetic leg after an on-field injury led to an amputation in 2001, and Oklahoma's Lynn McGruder and Mark Clayton, who barely escaped a fatal car accident, then helped others who were caught in it.

Southern California assistant coach Chris Carlisle and Georgia Tech punter/holder Hal Higgin survived Hodgkin's disease. And Louisiana-Lafayette defensive end Justin Venable was awarded three medical hardship seasons – his career could span an unprecedented eight years – because of a series of injuries.

In alphabetical order, the nominees are:

C.J. Ah You, Sophomore, Brigham Young (Defensive End)
Chris Carlisle, USC (Assistant Coach)
Mark Clayton, Junior, Oklahoma (Wide Receiver)
Emmanuel Franklin, Junior, Arizona State (Cornerback)
Travis Freeman, Senior, Kentucky (Student Manager)
Hal Higgins, Senior, Georgia Tech (Punter/Holder)
Norm Lewis, Junior, Central Florida (Offensive Lineman)
Lynn McGruder, Junior, Oklahoma (Defensive Tackle)
Medford Moorer, Senior, Colorado (Free Safety)
Tez Morris, Sophomore, Pittsburgh (Free Safety)
Neil Parry, Junior, San Jose State (Special Teams)
Rayshun Reed, Senior, Troy State (Defensive Back)
Alan Reuber, Senior, Texas A&M (Offensive Tackle)
Keith Robinson, Junior, UTEP (Kicker)
Jeff Smoker, Senior, Michigan State (Quarterback)
Justin Venable, Graduate Student, Louisiana Lafayette (Defensive End)
Chad Wangerin, Senior, Western Michigan (Offensive Tackle)

The award honors someone in college football who shows great courage in the face of adversity. Requirements for candidacy include displaying a courageous act on or off the field, overcoming any injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through a lifetime of hardship. Toledo running back William Bratton, who endured a blood disorder and great pain but still played football, won the inaugural award last season.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Rickey Bustle wishes he could turn back the hands of time.

If he could, his University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, winners of two of their last three games, would be preparing to start the 2003 season instead of approaching the end of it.

In particular, he wishes his team had second chances at teams like South Carolina and Houston. The Cajuns had opportunities to win each of those games before losing by seven points to both.

"To be honest with you, I'd like to take this team I have right now and go back to those two games," Bustle said Monday at his weekly news luncheon. "We weren't playing quite well enough to win then.

"Maybe the way we're playing right now and not having a couple of guys injured like we do, we ... We're a much better football team today."

The Cajuns opened the season losing their first seven games and since have beaten New Mexico State (26-24) and Idaho (31-20) in back-to-back outings. They also came within a field goal of defeating the University of Louisiana at Monroe (45-42), another game Bustle wouldn't mind getting to play over again.

Unfortunately for the Cajuns, the season is winding down to a close. Road games at Southern Mississippi (this Saturday) and Middle Tennessee, along with a home game Nov. 8 against Florida International are all the Cajuns have remaining and Bustle is hoping his team can at least go 2-1 in the final stretch.

Such a finish would leave his team 4-8 for a season that once was tough to get up for each week.

The rest of the story

By GLENN QUEBEDEAUX
Special to The Advocate

[CajunCharlie]

DITTO!!!!!

[1stTake]

I wonder what our Baton Rouge-Lafayette trade deficit is.

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LOUISIANA La. – Each week Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football coaching staff honors players for their individual effort in game performances. The UL coaching staff would like to thank Hooters for sponsoring the Cajuns weekly and spring football awards.

This week, running back Chester Johnson was named Hooters Offensive Player of the Game. Johnson ran for 153 yards on 31 attempts with three touchdowns.

C.C. Brown was selected Hooters Defensive Player of the Game. Brown finished the game with three tackles, three assisted tackles, one quarterback pressure, one pass break-up, two interceptions and went the extra mile twice. It was the second time Brown received the award. Brown was also honored as the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Acadiana native Justin Venable was named Hooters Special Forces Player of the Game for his effort on special teams during Saturday’s win over Idaho.

David Schexnayder and Julian Harris were named Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Players of the Week, respectively. It was the second time Harris received the award.

Per player vote, Kemmie Lewis received the Thumper Award for the biggest hit on offense.

Derace James collected the Hammer Award for the biggest hit on defense.

Tony Hills received the Kuhuna Award for the biggest hit on special teams.

Lewis and Venable will serve as offensive captains for the Cajuns next week, while Brown and James will serve as defensive captains.

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Mississippi in a 2 p.m. kickoff at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

LOUISIANA SI

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Game 1 at South Carolina
Offensive: Travis Smothers
Defensive: Pat Lamy
Special Forces: Michael Adams
O-Scout: Butch Roussel
D-Scout: Mark Risher

Game 2 vs. Louisiana Tech
Offensive: No Award Given
Defensive: Ross Brupbacher
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Mike Moore
D-Scout: Kade Wildbur

Game 3 vs. Houston
Offensive: Ronnie Harvey
Defensive: Antonio Floyd
Special Forces: Grant Autrey
O-Scout: Bruce Taylor
D-Scout: Hershell Robinson

Game 4 at Minnesota
Offensive: Eric Rekieta
Defensive: No Award Given
Special Forces: Eric Bartel
O-Scout: Jordan Jackson
D-Scout: Jacob Junkin

Game 5 at North Texas
Offensive: Josh Joerg
Defensive: C.C. Brown
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Bruce Taylor
D-Scout: Derek Morel

Game 6 at Oklahoma State
Offensive: Fred Stamps
Defensive: Daniel Taylor
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Jordan Jackson
D-Scout: Julian Harris

Game 7 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Offensive: Eric Rekieta
Defensive: Antonio Floyd
Special Forces: David Prater
O-Scout: Butch Roussel
D-Scout: Mark Risher

Game 8 vs. New Mexico State
Offensive: Jerry Babb
Defensive: Terryl Fenton
Special Forces: Sean Comiskey
O-Scout: Ronald Vaughn
D-Scout: Johnny Felders

Game 9 vs. Idaho
Offensive: Chester Johnson
Defensive: C.C. Brown
Special Forces: Justin Venable
O-Scout: David Schexnayder
D-Scout: Julian Harris

LOUISIANA SI

[NewsCopy]

Former Carver star nearing end to record career at Louisiana

LOUISIANA La. -- Carver graduate Fred Stamps has been turning heads during his Louisiana-Lafayette career.

Stamps has more than 2,500 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. He is third in school history in touchdowns and receptions, and second in career yards. This season he has caught 41 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns.

Despite the senior's big numbers, the Ragin' Cajuns (2-7, 2-3) are struggling.

"I just want to keep playing hard, and prepare these young guys for next year," Stamps said. "We can't give up. We have to just keep playing hard."

Stamps currently is tied for fourth nationally with at least one reception in 41 consecutive games.

"I just go out and try to play hard every day," he said. "All that other stuff just falls in place."

His play has been a source of motivation for his teammates.

The rest of the story

By Kody Thompson
Contributing Writer

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Punishing Southern Mississippi always physical with opponents

LOUISISNA La. — Win, lose or draw, you’d better keep pain killers handy when you play Southern Mississippi.

Ask any football player whose team has faced the Golden Eagles in the last 30 years, and he’ll tell you there are few teams in college football that play with as much hard-hitting zeal as USM.

If you beat the Eagles, you’re still aching. If you lose, the losing hurts even worse. If you tie, you’re not sure who feels worse.

Like death and taxes, it hurts to play Southern Miss.

That presents a daunting task for Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns this Saturday as they visit USM for the Eagles’ homecoming.

“They’re the most athletic team that maybe we’ve faced this year,” UL coach Rickey Bustle said. “They’re strong, they run and they can jump. You may block them, but you have to stay with it because they don’t stay blocked long.

“Oklahoma State may be as physical as Southern Miss of the teams we’ve played so far. People remember them for being physical, and they’ll remember them for that after this game, too, I’m sure.”

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[Turbine]

He sure is getting comfortable in his leadership role.