The Book: 2003 Football

[rwcajun]

I am pretty sure it was those six for this week. Brooks went out late in the game with cramps in both legs, he is ok today. I am sorry to Pirogue about being a student,made me feel younger too.

[parisdog]

Looking forward to the game this weekend against yall. Good game against the Cocks last Saturday. I was hoping we would play Miami better than we did, but they are a great team.

[NewsCopy]

New faces productive despite opening loss

LOUISIANA La. — New faces had a great deal to do with last Saturday’s solid showing by Louisiana at South Carolina.

Despite the 14-7 defeat, the Ragin’ Cajuns showed signs that they have taken steps to improve in coach Rickey Bustle’s second year.

First among those new faces was unheralded junior Travis Smothers, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons star Warrick Dunn who joined the program a week into fall camp.

Smothers gained 113 yards on 19 carries, including a 36-yard escape, to become just the sixth back in Cajun history to exceed 100 yards on opening day.

With his spark, the visitors rushed for 138 yards against their SEC foes. That’s more than double last season’s average of 61 per game and more than all but one game in 2002.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Great start, but now what?

That's the question facing Rickey Bustle and his University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns this week in the aftermath of their impressive showing in Saturday's season-opening loss to SEC member South Carolina.

The Cajuns, overwhelming underdogs, had Gamecock fans on the edge of their seats and the outcome of the game very much up in the air until the final play before South Carolina pulled out a 14-7 victory.

"We played hard, we played well," said Bustle, beginning his second season at Louisiana. "Moral victories, I'm not in to those. I told them (Cajuns) if we sit on what we did tonight and don't come out Monday ready to go (we're in trouble) because we're getting ready to play our first (designated) conference game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday."

For a few hours Saturday, Bustle nonetheless basked in the knowledge that his Cajuns stood up to the challenge and didn't fold under adversity.

The Cajuns suffered back-to-back turnovers on their first two possessions -- three overall -- conjuring up thoughts of 2002 when they committed 10 turnovers in losing their opener to Texas A&M.

But this time, the Cajuns didn't succumb.

The rest of the story

By GLENN QUEBEDEAUX
Special to The Advocate

[1stTake]

Don't feel bad Cock fans. This will prove to be the best UL team since 1996.

[Cajun1997]

3-Williams, Wendall
6-Rekieta, Eric
7-Lane, Matt
8-Calais, Ricky
10-Fair, Mack
11-Spann, Antwain
16-Smothers, Travis
18-Lewis, Kemmie
21-Adams, Michael
24-Lindon, Dwight
29-Thomas, Ricky
30-Norman, Tyler
32-Rix, Ross
33-Harrison, Josh
36-Simon, Wes
37-Comiskey, Sean
39-Autrey, Grant
40-Kwarteng, Eugene
41-Cones, Travis
43-Klock, Chris
45-Jones, Jarrett
48-Venable, Justin
49-Rudick, G.W.
65-Delesdernier, Marshall
80-Sampy, Bill
81-Murchison, Jarvis
83-Brown, Ty
88-Johnson, Lawrence
90-Bass, Travis
91-Hills, Anthony
92-Cutler, Chris
93-Blappert, Darryl
97-Ferguson, Travis
99-Benson, George

[big hurt]

Did you see when the cajuns tried to run option down the line of scrimmage. They couldn't. The defensive line blew the O-Line back into the option. As a former O-line coach, I know what to look for in an offense. This is the weakness of the cajuns. The strength is the D-fence and the special teams. If you disagree, you don't know football.

By the way, if you are wondering why I am not in coaching any more, it is because my family wanted to eat every once and a while.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by big hurt
Did you see when the cajuns tried to run option down the line of scrimmage. They couldn't. The defensive line blew the O-Line back into the option. As a former O-line coach, I know what to look for in an offense. This is the weakness of the cajuns. The strength is the D-fence and the special teams. If you disagree, you don't know football.

I didn't see the game so I can't argue with you.

What I do know is this, because several were out all fall, the O-Line did't get to pratice together as a unit till the week leading up to the game.

I also know it takes time for a line to gel so based on what I know and what you know. I still can't argue with you.

[EJ]

Where would be a good spot for us visiting Tech fans to tailgate?

[big hurt]

Turbine speaks the truth. The O-Line is a special unit. They must get the cadence right, know their assignments, etc. The USC game Saturday, they got out manned on several plays. When your O-Line gets blown back into the option, that says you are weak.

On the RB getting over a 120yds rushing on the night, if you watch the game, most of his big gains were cut backs. This is talent, not the O-Line blocking. He is a good back. It is not easy to change holes and go the opposite way the play was designed.

peace out

[TheScout307]

Oh and also #31 Starting F/S David Prater participated

[Cajun1997]

Nice catch Scout, I took that info off the official site but it appears they missed one as well as me.