Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns followed Sunday’s day of rest with a good practice on Monday afternoon. The team worked for two hours in full pads under partly cloudy skies and cool, but humid, conditions.
Monday’s practice featured middle drill, a team period and a pair of two-minute drills.
The team had its worst practice of the fall last Monday, as some of the players hadn’t refocused following their day off. This Monday’s practice was much different, receiving high praise from the head coach.
“I thought it was a good practice,” head coach Rickey Bustle stated. “We came out focused and got better.
“Last Monday was the only day (of camp) that we didn’t get better. The coaches had to push (last Monday) and get after the players a little bit, but we didn’t have to do that (this Monday).”
The first team offense was able to covert their two-minute drill into a touchdown thanks to a deep pass by Michael Desormeaux to Jason Chery. The defense stymied the second team offense on downs before the offense could get into field goal range.
“(Monday) was the first time we’ve done the two-minute drill,” Bustle said. “We have to get better at it. We’ll work on it some Tuesday and do it live on Wednesday.”
Monday’s work in full pads was not planned by the coaches to motivate the players following their day off. The team followed its regular schedule and will do the same on Tuesday with a walk through in the morning followed by practice in shorts and shoulder pads at 3:30 p.m. The team will end camp with a scrimmage on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
When it comes to blocking kicks, the numbers don't lie at UL.
Since 2002 the Ragin' Cajuns have blocked 32 kicks - the third-most in the country during that time behind Texas (39) and Fresno State (38).
The program has never gone more than five games without blocking a kick since head coach Rickey Bustle took over in 2002.
"Our philosophy is to put your best players on special teams," said Bustle, who works closely with UL's special teams. "If a guy gets tired you rest him on offense and defense."
The Cajuns also have a potent weapon in senior kicker Drew Edmiston, who is a preseason all-Sun Belt selection this year. Edmiston has converted 21-of-27 field goals and 58-of-62 points-after attempts in the past two seasons.
The rest of the story
Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 19, 2008
There’s been little that’s gone according to Rickey Bustle’s rebuilding schedule at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Three seasons ago, the Ragin’ Cajuns took what appeared to be a significant step forward for the program, claiming a share of the Sun Belt Conference’s championship with a 6-5 record — the school’s first winning mark in 10 years.
Since then UL has gone 6-6 before stumbling to a 3-9 record after an 0-5 start a year ago — matching the same low mark Bustle endured in his first year at the school.
“We were probably a little ahead of schedule when we won the conference,” Bustle said. “There were other things that had to be changed in the program and they’re starting to change now and I’m excited about that.
The rest of the story
By WILLIAM WEATHERS
Advocate sportswriter
Folks on this board often get admonished for being "negative nancies," but what did people over there expect? Our job as fans is to bring unbridled optimism into the new season. It's why preseason is fun! Hope springs eternal!
For all golden eagle fans, here ya go:
"We have no chance to win this game, and if we do, it would be because of massive mistakes by your team. Why do we even play? We suck. I hate my team"
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -The Southern Miss football team took time out from its preparation for the upcoming season by participating in Freshmen Move-In Day Saturday morning.
The Golden Eagles helped by assisting first-year students unload their cars and take their belongings inside their respective dorms on the campus.
The Freshmen Move-In Day is an annual tradition on the Golden Eagle campus
I took this from the southern miss web site. What a great way to cement football into the minds of incoming freshman
Also a great way to check out the incoming freshmen girls!
Found out yesterday that my wonderful mom bought some tickets yesterday for us to make the trip. I'm still working on convincing some more people that they need to make the trip with us.
There are currently 85 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 85 guests)