The Book: 2003 Football

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — When the heat index is over 100, it can be hard to remember what the weakside linebacker is supposed to do against a flare pass.

Simply recalling your name can be a challenge in those conditions.

So, if Louisiana's players can know what they’re doing two hours into drills, chances are good they can execute a fourth-quarter blitz when games arrive this season.

“I don’t want them to just try to survive practice,” Head Coach Rickey Bustle said. “When you do that, you cut too many corners. We want to practice to get better.

“Our practice schedule is set up to get the most out of them. There are sessions where they know they need to turn the wick up, and others where they can turn it down to more of a learning mode.

“I’ve been pleased with the focus and the competitiveness the players have shown.”

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Cajuns duo are veterans on field, in training room

LOUISIANA La. -- Under normal circumstances, the collegiate eligibility clocks for Justin Venable and Ross Brupbacher should have expired long ago.
Armed with University of Louisiana undergraduate degrees, the two could be moving on at this stage.

Instead, the defensive veterans are back as fixtures on the practice field, beneficiaries of careers extended perhaps beyond expectations.

For Venable, that longevity might as well be measured in light years and may be borrowed time.

Injured in similar fashion during the same half of ULL's 36-17 loss at Houston on Sept. 14, Venable and Brupbacher, then seniors, appeared to have played their last college games. But earlier this year, the NCAA thought otherwise.

Venable and Brupbacher, roommates since their freshman seasons in 1998, were each granted a sixth year of eligibility after appealing their medical situations.

Venable said Friday the NCAA has granted him two more seasons in addition to the sixth one that started this year.

"I talked to a guy from a national magazine about it and if I play all eight seasons, it would be some kind of NCAA record," Venable said. "The most anyone has played so far is seven."

The rest of the story

By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Louisiana hit the field in full pads for the first time this fall Friday, practicing for a little more than two hours.

The Cajuns will begin two-a-day practices today with a morning session from 8-10:15 a.m. and an afternoon slate from 4-6:15 p.m. The practice is open to the public.

"The players have to learn how to run all over again," said Cajuns wide receivers coach Brian Crist. "When you're not in full pads you just catch the ball and run untouched. Now after you catch the ball you have to turn, protect it and lower your shoulder in preparation for a hit."

Crist was happy with the way the defense played against his receivers.

"Our defense is not shy about hitting anyone," Crist added. "We need to learn how to compete a little more. When the offense goes against the defense there has to be a pressure to succeed and make plays."

With nearly a full week of practice in the books, the coaching staff is impressed with the ability of the older players within specific schemes and their aptitude in helping to progress the newcomers at an accelerated rate.

"There has been a lot of retention from the spring," said Crist. "We are working so many more things this fall as compared to last. The ability to adjust is much better.

"The younger players have elevated the competition. Fred Stamps and Eric Bartel are the hardest working receivers on the team and now the only thing the young guys know is to work hard.

"The new players are all playing well enough that the coaches feel the team wouldn't miss a beat if they went in."

LOUISIANA SI

[RaginRash]

Takes alot to keep coming back like that.

[Turner]

"The line on both sides of the ball is more lean, faster, yet still has adequate size."

That sounds a lot like a Virginia Tech team. Last I saw they were in the top 10

[Crawfish]

Thanks for the correction Swampfox, Kendrick Haynes is number 5.

[OldBullDog]

"The following year, Venable again ended his season early after suffering a broken jaw against Southern Mississippi."

That's not right is it?

[Crawfish]

Just a quick note from this afternoon's practice.

Reiketa got several reps. today in the skeleton (7 on 7) drills and he made good use of his time. He was on fire throwing the ball. Who was he throwing to? Mostly # 2, the ball vacuum! In the scrimmage type drills Babb again got most of the reps. He has a really nice long pass play to (surprise) # 2. The running back corps really looked good today. There are several players who could start, but I still believe it will be "running back by committee." In this case that might not be such a bad thing, as several players have unique strengths that could help in different ways. The punting games looks to be in pretty good shape this year. There were several nice punts today of 40+ yards. It was good to see Swampfox, and Zee among other friends at today's practice. I plan on going out again tomorrow afternoon.

[cajun037]

DO YOU THINK BABB HAS AN EDGE ON REKITA? FROM WHAT I SEE AT PRACTICE BABB HAS THE EDGE, BUT I THINK REKITA HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN. I WATCHED THE PUNTERS AT PRACTICES AND IT LOOKS LIKE #16 HAS THE STRONGER LEG. IS HE A FRESHMAN. EVERY TIME HE PUNTED IT WAS A FAIR CATCH. WHERE DID HE COME FROM?

[SuperCajun13]

Last year at UNC Chapel Hill the whole marketing campaign for ticket sales was wraped around "Answer the Bell" (famous campus landmark), between the 3rd and 4th quarters the PA blasted away with AC/DC's "Hell's Bells"..Place goes nuts! Like the idea of "Born on the Bayou" or some such song and have long thought that playing some sort of cajun music before or during game would add something to the whole experience. REally, anything but the 2001 Space Odessey theme would work. BTW is the petting zoo a go for this year?

[Pirogue]

"We asking fans for input on the content of the board.. More replays..more scores... I Like... I Hate... good or bad we want to know. Our goal is to entertain you, the fans of Cajun Field."

Replays... that's it.
Graphics instead of replays are very annoying.
I dig intros and I like headshots... but we need replays... especially on controversial calls like they do in pro stadiums [not the superdome... they are the worst ever]

[Turbine]

Originally posted by cajun037
Do you think Babb has an edge on Rekita? From what i see at practice Babb has the edge, but i think Rekita has what it takes to win. I watched the punters at practices and it looks like #16 has the stronger leg. Is he a freshman. Every time he punted it was a fair catch. Where did he come from?

Isn't the Crawfish Report cool? I'm not he, but I though I might chime in.

#16 huh? With over 100 players out there some of those numbers are duplicated right now. I was thinking #16 was new quarterback Ross Corcoran. Perhaps he is one in the same and punts as well.

I agree with your assessment on Babb and Rekieta.

I think Rekieta has the better arm, more experience, and a game day rise to the occasion mentality. A question I heard brought up at practice and now have as well is this; how long does it really take to come back from Tommy John Surgery?