The Book: 2003 Football

[ATXCajun]

We're using the grapevine for no huddle?
Center to LG: "I asked Betty out and she said 'maybe'."
LG to LT: "I knocked Betty up and she's having a baby."
:-)

[WebWatchDog]

"But I don't think its over yet. "

That's the attitude! What I can't believe is that $100,000,000 was raised and no one asked for any of it to go to athletics.

[NewsCopy]

The Sun Belt Conference’s own version of “Separation Saturday” comes this weekend.

ABC and ESPN may have already celebrated that event, but two games scheduled for this Saturday will go a long way in clearing up the league race. Of the five teams that are either unbeaten or holding only one loss in Sun Belt play, four of them are in action in Saturday’s two league games.

Two-time champion North Texas (2-0) hosts surprising Utah State (1-0) and Middle Tennessee (1-0) heads for Idaho (1-1) in a pair of afternoon clashes.

Utah State coach Mick Dennehy knows the importance of his team’s meeting with the Mean Green.

“The road to the conference championship goes right through Denton, as it should. They’re the team to beat,” Dennehy said. “We know we’ve got a big challenge ahead of us.”

UNT remained perfect in league play and extended its conference winning streak to 13 games — the second-longest in the nation behind Miami (Fla.) — with a comeback 24-14 win on the road at Idaho.

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

Both teams trying to salvage subpar seasons.

LOUISIANA La.— The Chicago Cubs aren’t the only team that’s been defying logic lately.

We give you the New Mexico State Aggies, UL Lafayette’s opponent for today’s 6 p.m. Sun Belt Conference game at Cajun Field.

For the last two weeks, coach Tony Samuel’s squad has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, falling to 1-5 on the year and an unexpected 0-2 in SBC play.

First there was a 35-31 home loss to Idaho, when the Aggies watched in dismay as a 28-0 lead melted steadily away.

Then there was last week’s 35-18 loss at Middle Tennessee which was even more bizarre, as MT was outgained 525-293 but outscored NMSU 21-0 on turnovers.

New Mexico State has gained 1,113 yards the last two weeks — 620 of that on the ground — but has still managed to lose both contests.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana faces SBC foe New Mexico State tonight 6.p.m.

LOUISIANA La. -- Despite catching 2,400 yards worth of passes in his University of Louisiana career, Fred Stamps still feels a bit unfilled.

Before his eligibility ends in five games, Stamps would like to throw for a touchdown instead of catching one.

"It's something I've always dreamed of, throwing a touchdown in college. I've talked to the coaches about it a bunch of times.

"All they've said about it so far is they would see what they can do," Stamps said.

The moment to showcase Stamps' passing skills might come true at 6 p.m. today at Cajun Field when ULL plays host to New Mexico State in a televised Sun Belt Conference game.

ESPN's regional network will televise the game in Louisiana on all Cox cable affiliates, according to ULL officials.

Stamps, who has caught at least one pass in every college game he's played since his freshman season, has 150 career ULL receptions and 15 touchdowns.

Occasionally Stamps said his mind drifts back to his middle school days in New Orleans, a time when he played quarterback.

"All throughout my middle school years I was at quarterback, but then my coach saw me catch the ball and I was moved to receiver," said Stamps.

As it's turned out, the coach's decision has worked out well for Stamps, who has receptions in 39 straight college game.

Currently Stamps is tied for fourth in consecutive game receptions behind leader Kunie Patrick of Northwestern University (41), Wes Welker of Texas Tech and Roy Williams of Texas (40 each).

Kentucky's Derek Abney has also caught passes in 39 straight games.

Stamps is also second on the Cajuns' career list in yardage and third in receptions and TD's.

The rest of the story

By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate

[ATXCajun]

Stamps said he once considered transferring to LSU early in his ULL career, but he eventually decided to stay in Lafayette.

He said one reason was the hiring of Rickey Bustle as ULL's coach in January of 2002.

"I think I've really improved as a receiver the last two years since coach Bustle and his staff have been here.

"Now I've learned how to watch tape and study tape to make the adjustments that I need.

"I can look over the defense now and learn how to attack. Before coach Bustle came, I never did study tape," said Stamps.

Wow. File that in the Baldwin case. They are all just now learning how to play college football.

[Oldman]

you need to get your facts straight, come to the quarterback luncheons, get the facts, and ask questions and find out what is actually going on, get involved, the question "YOU," want to ask is, why?

[TuffGuy84]

CAJUNS PULL OFF A WIN IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE GAME, REVERSING THE TREND THAT NMSU HAD DONE TO US. Huge win for us against a pretty good team, this could lead to better things in the next few weeks.

Tuffguy

[1stTake]

That is awesome we just got back from Houma, I can't catch 1420 over there. The Cajuns deserved to win.

[CajunKate]

Well, he threw it tonight against NMSU, and he almost pulled it off. Right off of the fingetips of Kemmie Lewis. Bummer! Would of been a beauty!