The Book 2008 Football

[NewsCopy]

  Even with Hurricane Gustav threatening the Gulf Coast, UL's football team will take the field tonight for its season opener against Southern Miss.

The Ragin' Cajuns open the 2008 season at 6 tonight against the Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss.

"Everything is still set for 6 p.m., and we don't anticipate any changes," USM athletic director Richard Giannini told The Daily Advertiser on Friday. "We don't feel the need to change the game time after all the indications from talks we've had with weather and state officials."

Giannini insisted there has never been any consideration to reschedule the game - even after LSU moved up today's game against Appalachian State to 10 a.m. from 4 p.m.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 30, 2008

[NewsCopy]

 HATTIESBURG — Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz was always known as a guy who liked to talk up his opponents in over-the-top fashion.

When he finished a press conference, you would think the next game, no matter the opponent, would almost be insurmountable for his team.

Holtz has some close company in Southern Miss linebacker Gerald McRath. By the time game day has arrived, he believes the opponent has taken on almost mythic proportions.

That's just a part of the way he mentally readies himself for what's going to happen on Saturdays.

"You can't expect bad from a team because they're not expecting bad from themselves," McRath said. "They're expecting nothing but the best. So you have to expect nothing but the best. Just preparing and watching what teams are capable of doing, you really have to humble yourself. When you're looking at things that way, humbling yourself and just expecting the best, you prepare and work even harder."

The rest of the story

Patrick Magee • Hattiesburg American • August 30, 2008

[NewsCopy]

  As Larry Fedora goes into his first game as the head coach at Southern Miss today against Louisiana-Lafayette, he's not concerned about the no-huddle spread offense or an inexperienced defense.

Fedora is more interested in the Golden Eagles' frame of mind as they open their season against the Ragin' Ca juns at 6 p.m. in renovated Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg.

"I really believe you play the game hard, you play aggressive, and it doesn't matter when you play or who you play, or what the weather is like," said Fedora. "You should play the game one way and I don't care if people say it's a big game or not.

The rest of the story

By KIM SHUGART
Sports Reporter

[NewsCopy]

 JACKSON, Miss. -- Forget New Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora's search for a quarterback. If the Golden Eagles are going to win in the coach's debut, it'll be his successful search for four new defensive linemen that brings victory.

The school is set to open a new stadium expansion and fans bought a record number of season tickets in anticipation of Fedora's first win. But if the Golden Eagles can't stop Tyrell Fenroy and a Louisiana-Lafayette rushing attack that was seventh in the nation last season, it won't matter who runs his high-octane offense.

"We've got four guys on defense basically that have played," Fedora said. "And just a couple more on offense. You don't know how those guys are going to react when you have to adjust."

Fedora replaces longtime coach Jeff Bower, who guided the Golden Eagles to 14 straight winning seasons. If the former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator wants to continue that winning streak, he'll need fill several gaps left by departed players.

The most anticipated personnel decision might not be made till game time. The competition between Austin Davis and Martevious Young at quarterback has stretched into the final days before kickoff with Fedora unable to make a final decision.

The rest of the story

By CHRIS TALBOTT

[Turbine]

Don't forget to bring Fedora a Fedora Red Hat as a gift to commemorate his first USM football game (a loss) at the hands of the UL Vermilion and White.

[byxeagle]

Well ladies and gents the day has come. Time for both teams to go out and prove who wants it more. Will it be the young talented Damion Fletcher that pounds the ball on the ground and Gerald McRath destroying offensive players like it's second nature or will it be the young and hungry Cajuns looking for shades of 1989... Good Luck but not too good of luck. Hope to get to meet some Cajun fans today. If you are at all brave enough join us out in the District.

[byxeagle]

Kid is a heck of a player. I've heard he spends ridiculous amounts of time reviewing film.

[TravlnCajun]

Getting ready to top off the tank, the ice chest, & hit the road from P'cola. I try to make the season opener each year. Always love the anticipation. Had a great time @ USC last year. Can't wait to T.G. with the brave souls coming from LA. Geaux Cajuns.

[byxeagle]

Brave man making the trip from P'Cola. I honestly didn't realize how far (and indirect a drive) it is from Lafayette to Hattiesburg. Glad the fans are turning out. Ignore the few idiots that we will undoubtable have. Take a free beer if it's offered to you because after the final bell sounds, a free beer might be the best part of your day.

[Jacob81]

_ Well whatever it is that you are called. ULa-La is what I refer to you as just as some of your fans have refferred to us as SMU. _

Those fans are ignorant or just being _____holes, So which are you. By the way I have alot of respect for USM. They are in my top 5 non BCS programs. But just as we have down years (way more than we want) I think this year we have a better team and MAYBE USM is a little down????

[byxeagle]

I would have to go with ignorant. I'm aware of the name arguments that go around between the Cajuns and the other schools like LSU, but I don't really know much more about it than that. I know that I see your school often abbreviated as ULa-La so thats what I go with. Sorry for the confusion.

[CajunFun]

Well ladies and gents the day has come. Time for both teams to go out and prove who wants it more. Will it be the young talented Damion Fletcher that pounds the ball on the ground and Gerald McRath destroying offensive players like it's second nature or will it be the young and hungry Cajuns looking for shades of 1989... Good Luck but not too good of luck. Hope to get to meet some Cajun fans today. If you are at all brave enough join us out in the District.

Thanks, supposed to be leaving in about 45 minutes. Looking forward to the USM hospitality.

Hope Jindal holds off on contraflow until Sunday.