The Book 2008 Football

[NewsCopy]

 As a deep-snapper, Scott Hayes rarely finds himself in the spotlight. Players at his position rarely - if ever - get quoted in the local newspaper or earn face time on TV.

But before UL's third and final scrimmage of the preseason on Wednesday, the junior from Bossier City finally got his moment in the limelight.

"We're ready to play," Hayes said, pacing the sideline. "We're definitely tired of hitting each other."

The wait is almost over for the Ragin' Cajuns, who open the 2008 season at 6 Saturday night against Southern Miss at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 25, 2008

[NewsCopy]

  Last game: Season opener. USM lost to Cincinnati 31-21 in Papajohns.com Bowl in last game.

Saturday: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: USM Network (WJNT-1180 AM in Jackson)

On Offense
USM will have its hands full in the ground game as Louisiana-Lafayette returns its senior running back Tyrell Fenroy and senior left-handed quarterback Michael Desormeaux after both rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. The 5-foot-9, 186-pound Fenroy is trying to become the seventh running back in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons. The Cajuns depend heavily on the running game, but they return their top two receivers in seniors Derrick Smith and Jason Chery.

On Defense
The Cajuns may be able to run the ball well, but they had a very hard time stopping opponents' running games last season, giving up 228.4 yards a game on the ground. The defense was the obvious weakness as it gave up 35.8 points and 446.7 total yards a game. ULL returns all three linebackers from last season led by senior Antwyne Zanders. Fellow senior Brent Burkhalter (65 tackles) and sophomore Grant Fleming (71 tackles) round out the starting linebackers for the Cajuns.

The rest of the story

Patrick Magee

[DestinCajun]

Don't count on it. We will continue to build on the progress we have already made in recruiting. The talent level at Southern Miss will continue to rise. _

I won't but I won't discount it either. Just something to watch in the future. In terms of our own improvement, So. Miss is definitely the program we need to better compete against for south Louisiana talent.

[Zeebart21]

an amazingly fair and balanced analysis! Nice job!

Z

[billbeck451]

another intersting article in Sat or Sun Sun Herald (Biloxi, Ms) discussed how USM still has not made a decision on which quarterback will be the starter - two young untested quarterbacks

[billbeck451]

GOLDEN EAGLES UNSETTLED AT QB
Fedora hopes one distinguishes himself
By AL JONES - afjones@sunherald.com

E-Mail
Print
Text Size: tool nameclose
tool goes here HATTIESBURG -- Southern Miss has found itself in this position before and survived.

The Golden Eagles, entering game-week preparations for their first contest of the season, have yet to decide whether Austin Davis or Martavious Young will step behind center as the starting quarterback in the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

In the past, inexperienced quarterbacks such as Jeff Kelly, Lee Roberts, Long Beach's Mickey D'Angelo and Dustin Almond made initial starts before guiding the Golden Eagles to bowl games.


TIM ISBELL / SUN HERALD - Southern Miss quarterback Martevious Young broke his ankle on this play against Rice last season. He is currently battling for the starting position for the 2008 Golden Eagles.

Almond, D'Angelo and


the usm fans are talking big for having sucha a young defense and not being settled at QB - a new coach can only take a team so far.
I hope USM didn't shoot themselves in the foot by running off a proven coach to bring in a new one.

[HoustonCajun]

_ GOLDEN EAGLES UNSETTLED AT QB
Fedora hopes one distinguishes himself
By AL JONES - afjones@sunherald.com

E-Mail
Print
Text Size: tool nameclose
tool goes here HATTIESBURG -- Southern Miss has found itself in this position before and survived.

The Golden Eagles, entering game-week preparations for their first contest of the season, have yet to decide whether Austin Davis or Martavious Young will step behind center as the starting quarterback in the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

In the past, inexperienced quarterbacks such as Jeff Kelly, Lee Roberts, Long Beach's Mickey D'Angelo and Dustin Almond made initial starts before guiding the Golden Eagles to bowl games.


TIM ISBELL / SUN HERALD - Southern Miss quarterback Martevious Young broke his ankle on this play against Rice last season. He is currently battling for the starting position for the 2008 Golden Eagles.

Almond, D'Angelo and


the usm fans are talking big for having sucha a young defense and not being settled at QB - a new coach can only take a team so far.
I hope USM didn't shoot themselves in the foot by running off a proven coach to bring in a new one. _

In another article I read about USM, it looks like they are going to run the really fast offense like UL did last year. Their linemen are already talking about how taxing it is on them. At least we know what to expect from their offensive coordinator. Our defense will clearly be the key because I expect our offense to explode. USM has a new defensive line and an inexperienced QB. But, this is USM under a new coach and a newly renovated stadium. Should be a packed house, a great atmosphere, and a terrific ballgame. I wish I were going. Geaux Cajuns!!

[Just1More]

_ an amazingly fair and balanced analysis! Nice job!

Z _

I think the intangibles are in our favor! The young USM QB (either one) gives up two interceptions and he coughs one up in the backfield for a costly UL fumble recovery. Also look for a blocked punt by our special teams. We're going to rattle them early and they are going to shoot themselves in the foot attempting to save face in front of a large angry USM crowd.

Unfair and unbalanced... that's what I'm talking about! Geaux Cajuns!

[DestinCajun]

I don't know, why? _

I watched Rice put it to the SoMissers on TV last season after the Nicholls St Colonels put a hickey on Rice.

[ulforlife]

_ It was a home game... we didn't respect them... we consider them to be in a lesser league than us... we were overconfident... we forgot that they have talented, gutsy football players too... and we got burned for it._

we were a bad team.... dont sugar coat it

as for this year, we will see but i think we are much improved

[BrudaCajun]

_ I won't but I won't discount it either. Just something to watch in the future. In terms of our own improvement, So. Miss is definitely the program we need to better compete against for south Louisiana talent. _

My dad live in Mobile and work at South Al hospital prn, he said that in Alabama it is either Tide or Auburn, that is it. He goes often to watch South Al baseball games (because they are in the SBC not because he is a fan ) and the biggest crowd is when we go and play.

[SpreadEagle]

I watched Rice put it to the SoMissers on TV last season after the Nicholls St Colonels put a hickey on Rice.

Yep, thus a new coach.