The Book: 2003 Football

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — UL is currently implementing new procedures for football parking and gameday tailgating.

The new limestone areas on the west side of the stadium will be relegated to parking only. Tents and tailgating areas are being extended to the grassy areas along Reinhardt Drive.

All gates will be closed and locked at 7 p.m. on the Friday evenings which precede game days. Gate 1, at the corner of Reinhardt Drive and Bertrand Drive, will reopen Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. All other gates will open at noon.

These parking and tailgating changes are being implemented to improve safety and traffic flow while increasing utilization of the parking and tailgating areas.

The source of the story

[flanaganmike02]

Hello, Cajun fans! I have a few questions about this weekend's game, so if anyone can help me out, I greatly appreciate it.

How is the tailgating atmosphere? About what time should I arrive in order to avoid any traffic problems?

If I wait until Saturday to buy a ticket, will I be able to get a decent seat, or should I try to buy one as soon as possible?

What is ULL's average attendance? Doesn't Cajun Field seat about 30-35K?

Good luck to both teams. Hopefully it will be an exciting game.

Mike Flanagan
Louisiana Tech
Class of 1949

[Turbine]

Good afternoon, Mr. Flanagan.

1946-49 must have left you with a god feeling about the Bulldogs. Similar to the stretch run LA Tech is on now you won 4 straight against UL. The only difference between then and now besides the years was your 4 wins were in consecutive seasons.

The Tailgating atmosphere at Cajun Basin is very strong. Minnesota fans that made the trek raved about the atmosphere last year. Whether it stays as nice or not will depend on how the fans take to the tailgating arraignments. This year we can only set up tents around the perimeters.

I would arrive between 5-6 or sooner. There is a new parking arrangement as well so I really can't speak for this year. They are opening and closing entrances at certain times. I am not sure what effect this will have on traffic movement.

Personally I don't think there is a bad seat in the house, so naturally I think you will find a decent seat. But if you don't want to wait in line get your tickets as son as possible.

Cajun Field seats about 31,500 with an average attendance last year of just 15,000. Historically since opening in the early seventies the average has been around 19,000.

I hope you enjoy your self and that neither team comes away with injuries.

Ps do you have anything to do with the Orioles?

[Purecajun]

Ok, I heard that the past few weeks that some kind of construction or something is happening in the parking lot outside of Cajun Field. I'm not too sure about what's going on because I live in New Orleans. This coming Saturday, I'm making the trip to Lafayette to come see the football game. Does anyone know what's going to happen to the tailgating, the parking incident, and is this going to affect the attendance this weekend? If anyone has info. on this, please let me know.

[RedBug58]

This is what the crowd will look like Saturday.....

Believe me.....it's all good. Grassy areas have been left open for tailgaiting, the areas that have traditionally been muddy and sloppy now have limestone. Look for many other improvements also when you get here.

[RedBug58]

Mike,
Of course visitors are always welcome at Cajun Field. Just so you'll know what it will look like, the guy on the top right is you, and the pretty Cajun girl on the botton left has her eye on you. All of the rest are Cajun fans eating hot boudin. Have fun, see ya at the game!!

[Purecajun]

I appreciate the info. BTW, I hope each red face represents like 1000 cajun fans.

[Cajun1997]

Originally posted by Purecajun
I appreciate the info. BTW, I hope each red face represents like 1000 cajun fans.

You mean 31,000

[Turbine]

Practice Pictures from Tuesday (group 1)

Practice Pictures from Tuesday (group 2)

[RaginFan2]

Mr. Flanagan, hope you have a safe and enjoyable (except for the outcome) trip to Lafayette. Did you play football at Tech? My dad, John Fischer, was a freshman at Tech in '49. He played tackle on the FB team lettering all 4 years. Since I graduated from U(S)L, he & I used to go to a lot of the Cajun-Bulldog games. Since he passed away in 1999, I've really missed our little family rivalry. I went to HS in Minden, so a lot of my friends went to Tech. Naturally I've always enjoyed the traditional rivalry between our 2 schools. As always, I hope it is a well-played, entertaining game with no serious injuries for either squad. As you get to the stadium, take a walk around and check out the the various tailgating sites. I'm sure you'll be offered some good Cajun cookin' at most, if not all of them. Hope you have a pleasant visit!

Scott Fischer

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — Halfway to Saturday’s home opener against Louisiana Tech, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns were forced indoors by rain on Wednesday.

Coach Rickey Bustle and his staff used the practice at Blackham Coliseum as a mental preparation day.

“The pace is definitely quicker,” defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. “We had extra days to prepare for South Carolina. The newcomers aren’t used to the large amount of information thrown at them so quickly. They’ve been a little overwhelmed, but we’ll use Thursday and Friday to reassure them.”

Pry’s defense will be tested by a Tech offense sure to throw the ball in the battle of old rivals.

“With it being an in-state game, and then add on to it that it’s a conference game and our home opener, there is a lot of meaning in this game,” Pry said. “The guys are really looking forward to it and understand the weight and magnitude.

“South Carolina’s quarterback didn’t challenge us like Tech’s will. We are facing a great passing attack and a top-ranked offense. They have an arsenal of veteran receivers and a veteran quarterback.

“There is a lot of chemistry on their offense and they work well together.”

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Don't ask Travis Smothers to explain the circumstances that led to his arrival last month at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The story is complicated, much like the events that have impacted the fabric of Smothers' life.

In 1993, his mother, Baton Rouge police officer Betty Smothers, a single parent of six, was gunned down while helping a grocery store manager make a night deposit at a Jefferson Highway bank.

After Betty Smothers' death, the family eventually separated. The three youngest siblings moved to Tampa, Fla., to live with older brother Warrick Dunn, the former Catholic High and Florida State standout who was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dunn is now with the Atlanta Falcons.

Smothers said he attended Catholich High and Redemptorist before playing football and running track at Tampa Catholic High.

Stints at Hinds and Jones County Community Colleges in Mississippi followed. However, rules limiting the number of out-of-state football players made Smothers a track only competitor.

Last year Smothers attended Hillsborough Junior College in Tampa for a semester, but did not participate in athletics.

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By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate