The Book: 2003 Football

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — The first true scrimmage won’t happen until Wednesday, but Louisiana head football coach Rickey Bustle wanted to give his squad a taste of what to expect.

Bustle and the Ragin’ Cajun staff put the squad through an 18-play mini-scrimmage at the end of Monday’s morning practice, and the staff liked what they saw.

“That was a pretty good session,” Bustle said. “The offensive kids worked hard and the defense flew to the ball. We didn’t have many snaps, and we just lined up in base offense and defense and got us something to look at on film.”

The Cajuns worked out for just over two hours in Monday’s morning session and just under two hours in the afternoon in their second two-a-day activity of fall drills. The squad is alternating two-a-days and once-daily workouts in accordance with NCAA rules.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[NewsCopy]

Bill Sampy is confident that he’s improved enough to make impact.

LOUISIANA La. — UL has the kind of receiver corps that can give defensive backs nightmares.

Senior Fred Stamps is clearly the leader of the Cajuns’ aerial attack, coming off a 1,000-yard season, but he’s not the only threat.

There’s also senior Bill Sampy of Carencro, a sleek, swift athlete who was third on the team with 30 catches for 327 yards in 2002 behind Stamps and Andre George.

There’s senior Eric Bartel (10-130-1), who has sneaky-fast speed, and dependable B.J. Crist.

Then there’s a group of newcomers that includes junior college transfer Kemmie Lewis, who had an excellent spring, and freshmen like Jarvis Murchison (4.29 40-yard dash) and 6-6 Jordan Jackson of Bunkie.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Cooler weather helps two-a-day

August 11, 2003
Monday was a rough, rugged, two-a-day practice. It would have been much rougher if it was not an overcast day. The cool weather was a blessing, and we enjoyed it.

When you get up in the morning for practice, one minute you are in the bed asleep and in the next hour, you are on the field stretching for practice. It happens very fast. We saw some cool weather this morning, so everyone’s legs and cardiovascular conditioning were not a problem.

Practice went by pretty fast, as some of the time was cut down to get in everything quicker before the lightning started. We finally got to the good part of the practice, which was a short scrimmage that everyone looked forward to.

The rest Lawrence Johnson's football practice report

[TuffGuy84]

is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the mood of most of the responses by players this year has been one to the effect that they are tired of losing and will do anything to win...I hope that translates in the W/L column, and I hope we keep paying bustle well and keep him here as a fixture with us. Laters.

Tuffguy

[Louisiana]

Head Coach: Rickey Bustle
Record: 3-8

Season note: Akron, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Stanford and UCLA are the only Division 1 schools without a bye this year.

[Louisiana]

[CDeb]

Thanks for the report. I wanted to go on Sunday, but got tied up.

[CajunRebel]

Get someone at cajunfield who is willing to eat a red hot jalapeno pepper for each point we score, much like i think Tex AM does pushups for each point they get. we score 30 points, and someones throats gonna be on fire.

Tuffguy,
That was really the funniest idea I have heard in a long time. I think it would be hillarious to watch someone try to stuff 7 red peppers in his mouth. Thats entertainment.

Also, I don't have a problem with some homer quotes at the game.

[NewsCopy]

Cajuns will hold 60-play scrimmage at 3 p.m. today.

LOUISIANA La. — Troy Wingerter’s only regret is that he doesn’t have more time to work with Darryl Blappert. The 6-foot-7, 275-pound junior college transfer has been shifted from defensive tackle to tight end as Louisiana continues its preparations for the 2003 season opener at South Carolina.

Judging from his tenacity and effort in Tuesday’s “middle drill,” the senior may have found a home.

“He’s a work in progress,” said Wingerter, the Cajuns’ tight end coach. “He’s a gifted athlete who’s a senior, and he’s exhibited a lot of the characteristics you like at tight end.

“We have a plethora of defensive line talent, guys who have girth. Darryl could have stayed there and seen some action, but he can help us in our two tight end sets as a backup for Lawrence Johnson.”

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Two-a-day practices winding down

August 12, 2003
We all marked our calendars today. Only two more rough two-a-days practices left. Camp does not end until this coming Saturday, but we still only have two more left.

They are good work days and they serve a great purpose, but everyone will be ready to get to the season.

As an offense and defense, we work against one another to improve every single day. Some days one side has the upper hand, and on other days it is dead even.

The rest Lawrence Johnson's football practice report