The Book: 2003 Football

[Oldman]

i've said it time after time, the people here just don't get it, support your university and you help your the city and the area around it, they cry for a winning program, well, the coaches are working toward that, but guest what? they need your support to help get that done. they want better facilities, the admin is stepping up, what does it take, support which turn into dollars, how complicated is that. as for the students they want something for nothing, you know, they ought to go at other universities and ask the students what they are paying, they need to get a clue,,,,,,,"WAKE UP."

[CajunRebel]

I'll leave it to the rest of the guys on here know a lot more than I could ever tell you, but I have a few things to say.

We are in the middle of an 8 year long rebuilding year, so we feel your pain. I see the light at the end of the tunnel for this program. Bustle had an amazing recruiting class last year, and managing to win 2 or 3 games this season with what he has is not too shabby. We still have a LOOONG way to go though. I expect a loss this week, but our guys play hard so if you take us lightly we could win. Our D gives you all or nothing when it comes to stopping the run. It seems like they either stop you at the line or let you go for an 80 yard run. Our freshman QB Babb has been a nice suprise both passing and running. He won't hesitate to run if no one is open. And he isn't afraid to take a hit.

On special teams, our Kickoff coverage is just plain ugly, so if you have a good returner it could spell trouble for us.

A few questions for you:
What is your record?
" " vs. Sun Belt teams?
In your opinion (all pride aside), who will win and by how much?

[DaddyCajun]

Gerald told me as I walked into the game that he sold (3)three rooms that day a $25,000, $15,000, and a $10,000!!!! Not bad and that was prior to win # 2!!!!

[RedBug58]

I saw Gerald before the game and he handed me a four page list of all of the projects that were finished, in process, or proposed. It was truely amazing. I didn't even get it back. It was passed around a large part of section "E" during the game. I love this guy!!

I wish we could find a way "dome" Cajun Field. I've never seen rain at so many games as these last 2 years!! At least the parking lot will not turn into slush now.

[CajunKate]

Awesome! Thanks!

[BrilesBall]

Helluva job fellas...keep up the good work...2 and counting...rough up USM for us as much as possible...

their offense is horrible but their defense is astounding...so be prepared...we have em one week after you guys!...Best of luck and continue defying the critics in the media

[BrilesBall]

Indeed Tuff Guy..one for the ages...doubt ill ever be in anything like that again...

and our attendence was 3,000 more in a flat out downpour for 3 1/2 quarters...and a 45 minute delay

[CajunKate]

I must mention that some the basketball team and coaches, including Jesse Evans were in attendance on Saturday. It was nice to see them out there supporting the football team.

[TuffGuy84]

Thnx briles. Just wonderen, what happened to houston, yall were looken great, but yall have had a couple bad games and are on a skid. Is kolb still alright or has he lost some confidence or somethin? Thnx

Tuffguy

[NewsCopy]

Bustle on the Idaho game-
"It was a total team effort. The one play I was most disappointed in was the kick return for a touchdown. When I watched the film, we had a couple of guys that thought someone else was going to make the play. I thought the defense played with a lot of heart and played better in the second half than in the first half. Chester ran well and I thought our offensive line played well. Some other guys came in and they stepped up and played well. I enjoyed the blocked extra point and it will be on the highlight tape.”

On Southern Miss-
“I think they are the most athletic team we’ll play all year. They may not be as big in some areas, but they are athletic. After watching the film, our defense will have to play a heck of a game, get a couple of turnovers and keep the points down. They are an athletic defense that comes at you from both sides. I don’t know how they learn all of that. They make it from everywhere and they are really good at it and it presents a lot of problems for us offensively. If we can play an error free game, then we can keep it close."

On the Cajuns’ two-game winning streak-
“We’ve had three close football games. We didn’t find a way to win the first game. We found a way in the second game to win. In the third game, we came through in crunch time to win it. I know the guys are tired of me preaching on how to win.”

On Chester Johnson-
“I felt like he was running hard, picking good holes and then all of a sudden he puts one on the ground. I wasn’t about to take him out. I felt like he was working that night like a running back was supposed to, but I wasn’t afraid to put him back in the ball game.”

On a Balanced Attack-
“I think it is extremely important to have a balance between running the football and throwing the football. It took a lot a pressure off Jerry. We put in a couple of wrinkles that we thought could help us and it did. I just think there needs to be some sort of balance in your offense.”

On Southern Miss’ Defense-
“When you look at their film, you will see a nice run and then you will see three tackles for loss. You have to be very patient in order to have success. They have guys that play very physical. I think they are very aggressive and they live and die by the way they play. I think if you can be patient, I think you can make a couple of things happen for you offensively.”

On Saturday’s victory-
“I told them that I know you can’t forget what it feels like to win. You can’t assume anything. We don’t have a path of success that you can follow. We talk about it everyday and I challenge them everyday. We are finding ways to win football games. I didn’t feel like it should have been that close. We should have put some space between us, but we didn’t go the other way.”

On Keeping Things Positive-
“You have to manufacture things. I think that it’s not easy to be pumped up. It’s human nature. There were some Sundays where I didn’t want to get out of bed. I didn’t know what to say. I was trying to find several linings in the things we were doing. These young players can only be down so much."

LOUISIANA SI

[L.J.]

CajunRebel

Right now USM is 4-3, 4-0 in C-USA play. Our wins are over UAB, Memphis, Cincinnati and South Florida. Our losses were to Cal, Alabama and Nebraska.

I really don't know our record against Sunbelt teams. I think the only Sunbelt teams we've player with any regularity are you guys and ULM. I know we lost to Idaho back in 98 in the H-Bowl.

I think we have a very good chance to win this game. But, we have been hot and cold this year. If we play the way we did against Cal, we will lose to you guys. If we play the way we did against USF or Memphis we should win. I don't do score predictions, because I am terrible at them.

If we play well we should win by a nice margin. If we are not ready to play, and it's happened before, we are very capible of losing. We do have a very good kick-off returner, Johnny Eubanks is ranked the #4 guy in the nation.

[Cajunfever]

Jesse has been to all of the home football games.