Campus 1976 - 77

[Turbine]

Louisiana Campus 1976-77

[LaCajunsFan]

When Cajun Field and the athletic complex were new....and in the middle of nowhere. The changes in the area since then are nothing less than amazing.

[Big Buds]

That's crazy! What year were all the live oaks planted surrounding Cajun Field?

[RaginFan2]

That's crazy! What year were all the live oaks planted surrounding Cajun Field?

I think they were planted during the Terry Don Phillips (AD) era, sometime around the early-to-mid 80's. Also, I think this picture was a little earlier than 76-77, probably in the early 70's.

[RaginScotsman]

Very cool. That's a lot of grass to cut.

[RaginFan2]

Very cool. That's a lot of grass to cut.

Word was that Gov. Edwards (Edwin) went to a game where it rained. His limo apparently got stuck & the next week we got an asphalt parking lot. At least that's the story I heard a longtime ago.

[HelmutVII]

Word was that Gov. Edwards (Edwin) went to a game where it rained. His limo apparently got stuck & the next week we got an asphalt parking lot. At least that's the story I heard a longtime ago.

He was running for re election and spoke at a football game. He made an election year promise to pave the parking lot (I was there when he said it) during his speech. Asphalt didn't happen the next week, I think it took a tear or two. They used Evangeline Downs revenue to finance the stadium. They extended the time they were to use those revenues to pay off the debt.

[BeauCajun]

He was running for re election and spoke at a football game. He made an election year promise to pave the parking lot (I was there when he said it) during his speech. Asphalt didn't happen the next week, I think it took a tear or two. They used Evangeline Downs revenue to finance the stadium. They extended the time they were to use those revenues to pay off the debt.

I actually thought it was at the campaign rally held at Cajun Field in 1984. That was when he was running for his 3rd term.

[LaCajunsFan]

I think they were planted during the Terry Don Phillips (AD) era, sometime around the early-to-mid 80's. Also, I think this picture was a little earlier than 76-77, probably in the early 70's.

I got the pic from Facebook. The guy who posted it said he had taken it in 1976. I wonder how we could date it? For instance, if we could verify when the parking lot(s) were paved, houses built, etc. And when was the Tigue built?

[Turbine]

I got the pic from Facebook. The guy who posted it said he had taken it in 1976. I wonder how we could date it? For instance, if we could verify when the parking lot(s) were paved, houses built, etc. And when was the Tigue built?

Tigue Moore Field opened in 1978.

ps Thanks for the pic

[California Cajun]

When Cajun Field and the athletic complex were new....and in the middle of nowhere. The changes in the area since then are nothing less than amazing.

My senior year. Lookin at that photo makes me feel 60 years old.

[Bankruptcyman]

This was the way the stadium area looked when I was at U(S)L. No tennis courts. I think they were the first improvements made to the complex with baseball and track added in 1977-78. Athletic website says tennis courts were built in 1975 so the picture has to be before 1975.

[HelmutVII]

I started at USL in the Fall of 1972. Played in the Pride of Acadiana all four years and all of the games were played at Cajun Field in the Fall of 1972. I am thinking 1972 Season was the first football season played at Cajun Field. I think the Edwin Edwards promise to pave the Cajun Field parking lot was after 1976 because I was sitting in the stands during halftime when he made his promise (there is something else that is vivid in my memory about that night but I won't get into that now).

I will go through my year books tonight to see if I can get an accurate handle on the dates.

[LaCajunsFan]

Well, here is the direct quote on FB from the guy who took the pic:

"When I captured this image of Cajun Field while tooling around in a Cessna 150 back in the mid 70's, (who knew) it would intrigue so many people 40+ years later. I am excited to share with all. Enjoy!"

BTW, the pic has generated a bunch of excitement on the 'Lafayette Memories' FB page. There has been over 221 new members to the group since it was posted at 8pm last night, lol.

[HelmutVII]

I started at USL in the Fall of 1972. Played in the Pride of Acadiana all four years and all of the games were played at Cajun Field in the Fall of 1972. I am thinking 1972 Season was the first football season played at Cajun Field. I think the Edwin Edwards promise to pave the Cajun Field parking lot was after 1976 because I was sitting in the stands during halftime when he made his promise (there is something else that is vivid in my memory about that night but I won't get into that now).

I will go through my year books tonight to see if I can get an accurate handle on the dates.

The 1971 yearbook had a photo of the stadium finished but it was not finished in time for the 1971 football season. The first season was 1972. This was Russ Failkenberrys last season.