USM played McNeese in 2005 and won 48-20. It would have been closer last year, but I doubt we would have lost to them, but who knows.Originally Posted by AstroCajun
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Go Cajuns
Re: Southern Miss predictions
USM played McNeese in 2005 and won 48-20. It would have been closer last year, but I doubt we would have lost to them, but who knows.
Louisiana Fan
Go Cajuns
Re: USM Coach Fedora comments on UL.
"They were No. 4 in the country last year in rushing"
No. 7 but it you tryng to get your guys attenton every bit helps
.
Head Coach Rickey Bustle’s Weekly Press Conference Transcript
Coach Ricky Bustle’s opening comments:
RB- “We are glad to be getting ready to play a football game, we have hit each other all pre-season. It is time to go play again. Thank goodness that we have a couple more days to prepare and that is what we’ll do.
“In my 31 years this has been the best pre-season camp I have ever been associated with. The players have taken it upon themselves to raise the bar. They did that this pre-season, and I think our coaches have done the same thing. It has been a great attitude (at camp) and I know those of you who have seen our practices have seen us getting after it.They police themselves more than anything, and that tells you that you have great leadership on your football team.
“We have 14 great seniors, but I think we have some great underclassman who bought into the way the seniors are leading and what the coach is saying, all because this team wants to win awfully bad. They have put in a great summer and they know they have. They have policed themselves, as you know we can’t look and see what they are doing in the summer. We have done a lot of team building activities in preseason camp. We have done a couple things in past years, but this year we have done an activity every night, and it is something that our players have really got into. I think you build the chemistry in the pre-season and I have seen the same enthusiasm that I have seen in the spring.
On players taking responsibility for themselves:
RB- “Well the seniors that we have, Michael Desormeaux and that whole group, are taking responsibility of the things that I have talked to them about. As a result, it’s easier to sell to the younger players and they have done the same things. The young team was excited when we went to spring practice. There was an exciting feeling, and it rolled over into the summer, and the players feel they created that feeling themselves.”
On game-week preparation by the players:
RB- “It is exciting for me as a coach to see them doing these things. They are taking ownership for what they have done and I am exciting to see this team play.”
On Southern Miss:
RB- “It is hard right not because we have no film on them. We have film on what the coaches do from watching film of other teams that they have coached. It is easy for them to get film of us and see what we do, and I know they have done that. I think that Larry [Fedora, SMU head coach] will run an offense similar to ours, where they spread the field and so forth, and we will adjust to things we are not ready for. They have some excellent personnel that we have looked at.
On the running back match-up:
RB- “They [Damian Fletcher and Tyrell Fenroy] are both class backs, but I wouldn’t trade Fenroy for a zillion dollars. [Southern Miss] will do a lot of one back formations. Both [Fenroy and Fletcher] will get a chance to run the ball quite a bit.
On stopping the run:
RB- “You need to be able to stop the run because they spread you out enough throwing the football and that is something we also need to do on offense. They spread you out to pass the football and to also run the ball. Our defense has worked on that by going up against our offense in practice.”
On getting ready to play:
RB- “You always think about what you want to tell your football team when you go out to play, but after what I have been through in this camp, I am going to tell them to go play like they practice.”
On facing the spread offense:
RB- “What they probably hurt you the most with when they spread you out is the run. You’re hoping you can slow the run down and tackle the guy at the line of scrimmage. We try to do the same thing and we have had some trouble getting people off us but we will do a better job of that this year. It helps the running backs and helps you run the football. Sometimes you get in the guessing game and you have to pick your poison.”
On facing [former Cajuns’ offensive coordinator] Blake Anderson:
RB- “Blake is a good coach and did a good job here, and I am sure some of the guys that were around him will be looking forward to playing him.”
On the Southern Miss defense:
RB- “We have worked against the 3-4 and we do that for every game. I have found out over the past couple years that some of these teams who are 4-3 all of a sudden turn into double eagle teams or 3-4 and it something that we will work against. That is the scheme that they run and we have worked against it.”
On getting off to a good start:
RB- “Taking care of the football is key, and I think we will be better than people give us credit for on defense. I have seen a great improvement from them already this pre-season. We just need to do the fundamentals. I preached to them yesterday to make sure that they get the fundamentals done. Fundamentals are the plays that will come up during the game, and we have to execute on those plays.”
. New attitude: Cajuns display improved focus, demeanor as season opener nears
In his first press conference of the upcoming 2008 football season, UL coach Rickey Bustle spoke highly of the recently completed preseason camp by the Ragin' Cajuns.
"In my 31 years (of coaching) it's been the finest preseason camp I've ever been associated with," Bustle said. "I think our players have finally taken it upon themselves to police themselves on some things and raise the bar.
"It's just been a great attitude."
The biggest contributor to a positive attitude coming off a 3-9 season? Bustle points to the leadership of a 16-member senior class as the Cajuns prepare to open the season at 6 Saturday night at Southern Miss. (Linebacker Antwyne Zanders and defensive tackle Seth Adams sat out as freshmen to become academically eligible. Both would gain another season of eligibility if they complete 80 percent of their degree requirements by the end of the academic year.)
The rest of the story
Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 26, 2008
. Opponent View: Fedora still undecided at quarterback heading into opener
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora says the Golden Eagles' no-huddle spread offense is ready for Saturday's season-opening game against Louisiana-Lafayette at Roberts Stadium.
Fedora, however, isn't ready to name the starting quarterback for the fast-paced attack.
"It is still up in the air," the first-year coach said Monday as USM heads into its final week of preparation. "We have not made a final decision on where we are. Obviously, we have to make a decision here pretty quick on who is going to go out there and take the first snap of the game."
The rest of the story
By KIM SHUGART
Sports Reporter
. Opponent View: Game day approaches for Eagles' new systems
HATTIESBURG — It's finally here.
Nine months of players hovering over an unfamiliar playbook and coaches trying to implement new systems on both sides of the ball is coming to a close as game week has arrived.
It's difficult for any staff to force-feed entire new schemes on offense and defense in that short period of time. But the Southern Miss coaching staff was able to put numbers on the success rate on the implementation on both sides of the ball.
Offense - 75-80 percent.
Defense - 60 percent.
The rest of the story
Patrick Magee • Hattiesburg American • August 26, 2008
. UL vs USM will be a RUSH
Active NCAA Career Rushing Leaders
1. 3,417 Ian Johnson (Boise State)
2. 3,271 Tyrell Fenroy (Louisiana)
3. 3,130 James Davis (Clemson)
4. 2,996 Tyrell Sutton (Northwestern)
5. 2,974 Damion Fletcher (Southern Miss)
6. 2,781 P.J. Hill (Wisconsin)
7. 2,761 Javon Ringer (Michigan State)
Louisiana Fan
Ragin' Cajuns #1 Fan
USM Tickdts
The CajunDome has sold all tickets they received from USM for Saturday's game. Call USM if you want to acquire tickets prior to arriving on Saturday.
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Ragin' Cajuns Fan for Sure
Re: Southern Miss predictions
No way Rice should have beaten So. Miss last season. No way at all but they did. Can you go back and find your pregame arguments and supporting facts as to why So Miss was going to win that game? Surely, you did not predict a Rice win.
Was it superior So Miss talent? The Golden Eagle fanbase? Homefield advantage? Your monster defense? Past game scores?
Didn't you predict that Michigan would beat Appalachian St.? So, who are you picking between them and LaState this Saturday? Remember now, just the facts.
Louisiana Fan
Ragin' Cajuns #1 Fan
Re: UL QB Club
Other significant thing said was there was a "dedication" night on Friday. At that point each player picked someone who they were dedicating their season to and why. It got very emotional, took awhile, and no further details would be provided as that is personal for the team._ First QB Club meeting of 2008 was today. Cach Bustle spoke about the leadership of guys like Des and Fenroy. He then covered the depth chart. I don't think there were any surprises other than maybe hi smention that Yobes Wlaker while starting off strong had "hit a wall" this past week and did not have a good week of practice. But Coach also said that he is not surprised as that happens to freshmen. When asked about improving field position with better kickoffs he stated that Drew Edmonston had really waorked hard with a kicking specialists this summer and was much improved. He stated that Drew was not putting them in the endzone but was getting good hangtime and dropping them inside the 10. Coach Forquier then spoke about the defense and said he felt the nutrition supplement program (funded by donors) paid off as the guys have put on muscle and maintained their weight throughout the summer and fall. And Coach stated he felt he had more talent to be able to put more pressure on the oppossing QBs. He also spoke about the addition of Coach Broussard and Coach Munoz and the shuffling of the defensive coaches responsibilities.
That is about all that I can recall. I was surprised that the coaches never mentioned how much they appreciated the non-support from the "I won't give a dime to the program" fans but then I might have missed that.
Maybe Mike or someone else that was there can fill in any gaps. _
The defensive coordinator said that when we tried to blitz last year we were unsuccessful. In fact, fans asked why we did not blitz more they did not recognize we were blitzing but did not get to the QB. We have the personnel to try it more this year. Defense knows they did not contribute like they should have last year and is eager to make amends. Finally, the team knows that Blake Anderson being at USM will cause them to have an idea of what we are trying to do. They will make adjustments accordingly. For one, the passing game is different. Note that the QB Club and media luncheon are generally the same day. Coach Bustle speaks at the QB Club and then leaves for the luncheon. That is what happened yesterday. He rarely says anything different between the two spots. A player generally goes to the press luncheon while an assistant coach goes to the QB Club with followup comments. This season they hope to get the assistant coaches even more involved in the QB Club
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Go Cajuns
Re: Southern Miss predictions
USM - 52
Ooh La La - 13
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Ragin' Cajuns Fan for Sure
Re: Southern Miss predictions
Oooooooh, lookie here, more "facts" from a Mississippi genius.
Hey Beaux, here's your shot.
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Ragin' Cajuns Fan for Sure
Re: UL QB Club Press Luncheon
"And Coach stated he felt he had more talent to be able to put more pressure on the oppossing QBs."
This is big.
Geaux Louisiana
Go Cajuns
Re: Cajuns Sell Out
We waited too long to get our tickets We had to call So. Miss. and they generously sold us 9. I know there are a bunch more that are buying their tickets at the stadium
Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana
Go Cajuns
Re: Southern Miss predictions
Rice beat USM because all three qb's were injured and a defense that took a game off. The starting qb broke his leg on the third play of the game. He was the only healthy qb. Our qb that played had to play with a severely pulled abdominal muscle and he threw like 6 interceptions. Still, it came down to a last play of the game two pt. conversion for USM to lose. Still I give credit to Rice. They did what it took to win. It was a bad loss and contributed to Bower's firing, but it was to a 1A school at that.
USM has never lost to a 1AA program and the odds are we wouldn't have last year. That being said, USM fans weren't going to settle for seven win seasons and no conference championships. They also weren't going to settle for losing to Rice. That is why a coaching change was made. Meanwhile your coach has had how many winning seasons and you gave him a contract extension? I don't even begin to understand that.
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