The Book: 2003 Football

[Turbine]

[rwcajun]

Those are Great. Thank You

[Cajun1997]

Those are some great pictures. I have some but they suck so bad I did not bother to post them. I think you have a better camera than I do and I know you have a better "eye." Great job

[RaginRash]

Originally posted by rwcajun
Those are Great. Thank You

Same. Same!

[Turbine]

When John Van Cleave suddenly left the program taking his 3 years of experience with him and when that surprise was followed by Eric Rekieta having Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm, I was real worried about the quarterback position for 2003-04. What it did though was it opened the door for RS freshman Jerry Babb to get the bulk of the snaps in spring drills. This experience enabled him to start the fall drills #1 on the depth chart.

Amazingly Eric has made it back from a surgery that some say takes two years to recover from. He did it in a mere five months just in time for the 2003-04 football season. This is good because now the Cajuns have a proven winner on the depth chart at quarterback. But with fall drills and two-a-days basically finished, the lead that Jerry achieved in the spring is his to hold.

While it wasn't an official announcement, a public statement was made on the SportsNote this morning when Louisiana’s offensive coordinator Rob Christophel stated that Jerry Babb would be the starter against South Carolina. If any of you have been to practices you have seen flashes of what we hoped Jerry could do. And even though the defense has had the upper hand all fall, his completion percentage is actually better than I thought it would be.

As a fan I feel fortunate to have Rekieta ready to go at moments notice as I find he has a nose for the endzone. You should have seen the touch he showed placing the ball in the receiver’s hands for a TD in the last scrimmage. Also I am surprised at Matt Lanes athleticism, he blocked a punt in one practice and had a few successful series at the helm sometimes doing what I had previously thought only Jerry could do.

After we get past the inexperience level, I must say for the first time in years it feels pretty good when looking at the quarterback position top to bottom, and I only mentioned half of them.

I guess what it came down to is all the practice time Babb has had that made him named the starter.

Hopefully he will live up to his nickname; BaBB "Best at Bustle Ball"

[Cajun1997]

The ones who have visited our board and from what I have seen on their boards are some of the classiest fans I have seen from an SEC school (or any other school for that matter). Hope every Cajun fan who gets to go to Columbia encounters the same kind of people. I wish USC luck in their 2003 season after 8/30/03

[Oldman]

does anyone know, or heard anything about ticket sales? up, down, or about the same! Geaux Cajuns!

[EVCajun12]

Wow, bold move. He is being thrown into the fire. I hope this pays off, do you think Rekeita is just not ready yet? What do you think Turbine??

But I admit, the QB position is in good hands. You are right about that.

[Cajun1997]

I have mixed feelings about Babb starting over Rekieta. I think Babb brings the ability to move around more and with the running game in question (as of now) his presence on the field is a plus. Even though he has had a year in the system, this is his first college game action. Rekieta is a senior that played in 12 games last year and started the last 3. I hate to see Babb get "thrown to the wolves" as they say but if he clearly is our best QB then he must be the one to start. I have only been to 4 or 5 practices and have seen good things from both guys. I believe Coach Bustle and staff know what is best not only for Babb but for the team. I do think we will most certainly see both of them play and hope that one will step up and take the job alone. I do not care which one wins and wish both of them success this year.

[Cajun1997]

last I heard they were about 75% of last years and that was a few weeks ago. Have not heard anything else. I have read that this secretive practice about releasing ticket sales numbers is common, here anyway.