The Book 2008 Football

[Opelousas Cajun]

I have a few diehard cajuns that are heading up there to Troy with me. We are staying at the Comfort Inn too so it shouldn't be that far.

See everyone in front of the Troy Library bright and early!!!

[Project10]

If that info is incorrect, please feel free to pass on anything you have.

I can't confirm or deny your info.

[KAjunRaider]

_ Sounds like a plan! _

I have tailgated at Troy twice. Have a few get there early and establish a Cajun tailgate, so you'll have a spot.

There is no need to walk 10 minutes to the stadium.

We have tailgated, turning on the road in between the RV lot and the football field, and making a right past the baseball stadium. Park in there and set up tents.

Also, one year they let us tailgate outside the outfield fence of the baseball stadium. I believe we had to park and walk our stuff over there, because the lot next to the football stadium was for donors (it was a dirt lot at that time). It started raining and we ended up getting mud everywhere after cleaning up our tailgating spot after the game.

So, I'd tailgate over on the first base side of the baseball stadium if I were you.

We have always stayed at the Holiday Inn, or Holiday Inn Express. There is a bar in the Holiday Inn that stays open late.

Don't forget about possibly staying in the Pensacola area before or after the game.

I'm surprised some of the Troy fans that have come by the Krewe de Chew, haven't helped ya'll out, or at least invited you guys to their tailgate.

When the Cajuns play in Murfreesboro, there's no doubt where the Cajun fans will be setting up

[CajunDreDog]

When is everyone heading out that way? I'm not leaving until Saturday morning, and should be in Troy early afternoon.

[TheFan]

_ _

Put Chery in the Wild Cajun Form.

[LSUConnMan]

I'm leaving Friday afternoon, with my luck I'd get stuck on a shutdown interstate Saturday morning.

[Just1More]

_ LSU can be 50 or 150 miles away; they are still going to be a thorn in all of our sides for attendance. I don't forsee ever seeing more than 25k at a game at Tech to be honest. Too many universities up there and one in particular needs to drop back down to 1aa.You definitely hold a slight attendance advantage over us for sure. I think if Tech had won at Army, the attendance would have been higher for Fresno. This week will tell if we actually see an attendance boost from winning more than one game in a row. _

You said it best when you compared the populations of the two metro areas; Lafayette and Ruston. In its worst years UL will have attendance figures comparable to Tech's best. I feel for you, but that's the truth. LSU home games have an affect on our attendance, but it is in no way a problem we cannot overcome via improving our program, a feat that we have never truly attempted. I'm not impressed with any of our past performances, nor attendance figures. We've only hinted at being good a few times and the stands fill up.

We have an thick UL population density within 45 miles of Lafayette, that with improved football product, will begin amazing all others in the state. We have never put our best foot forward in football... as a university... from top to bottom. We are turning that corner as we speak. I wouldn't ever again schedule us if I were Dooley... seriously. Tech hasn't a prayer of ever winning a football game against UL ever again... ever.

[RaginFan2]

_ When did she show up?

The Honors Tent was up at about 11:00 AM, they had GREAT jambalaya from Champagne's.

But they broke down about 3:00, everyone had other obligations... _

It was about 4:00, so that's why they didn't see anyone there. One of these days I'm gonna make it out of Mandeville in the morning! Unfortunately, my job with the Boy Scouts has a lot of Fall weekend events that I have to attend which causes my late starts.

[4LSU]

_ Seriously--I don't think that Tech comes close to 15k at their games --I have seen the actual numbers in the seats and unfortunately in the grass endzones at our games---How many are actually at Tech games??? _

The NCAA list the Tech attendance at 18,500 last year. I'm sure it's not as many as they would like, but for a city of bout 20,000 and enrollment of bout 10,000...not too bad. imo

[NewsCopy]

 Louisiana begins the stretch run of the Sun Belt Conference season Saturday at Florida Atlantic. The Cajuns will look to remain the lone unbeaten team in league play.

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football team returned to the practice field Sunday night focused on the stretch run of the 2008 Sun Belt Conference season. Coming off of a loss to UTEP, the team sought to regain the momentum that made them successful the previous four weeks.

The team returned to practice on Tuesday and spent Wednesday inside the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility. The Cajuns will practice on Thursday and walk-through on Friday prior to facing Florida Atlantic at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale.

The Ragin’ Cajuns are traveling for the first time in over a month – the last road contest was Oct. 11 at North Texas. The road team has won each game in the UL-FAU series.

RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

  Five questions for offensive coordinator Ron Hudson ...

How did practice go this week?
Hudson: “I thought we came out Sunday night and had a good focused practice. Overall I felt our tempo was good. We shortened things. We have a lot of guys with minor injuries, so we’re trying to keep it short and crisp and not beat them up too much. They handled it well. We moved around well, had some sharpness. I like the intensity we had...I thought we had a little fun.”

Do you think the team has put last Saturday’s game behind them?
Hudson: “I do. It stings a little bit, still. I hope we have from the standpoint of we don’t want to have a hangover and not perform well the next week. At the same time, I also hope they remember a little bit because we got on a roll and I’m not sure whether we forgot what got us on that roll and that was just focusing on the next play. Everybody is talking about bowl games and other things. We didn’t win the games we won because we thought about that. We knew every game was a dogfight and we had to go in and fight. When we started the game last Saturday we didn’t think that way and it wasn’t until the second half that we began to play that way. From that perspective I hope we remember.”

What’s the difference in FAU’s now vs. how they played earlier in the season?
Hudson: “I know the staff – I worked for Coach Schnellenberger. They do a great job and there’s not a better coaching staff around in my opinion. I think they read their clippings and thought they were pretty good and coach came in and said no we will be the same tough disciplined team that we were last year. Early on they weren’t tough and disciplined and that’s what they thought they would be. Coach Schnellenberger had to put his foot down and make some changes. Now you see their guys starting to regain their confidence because they’re regaining that toughness that they’ve earned based on how hard they’ve worked.”

How important will the offensive play line be in these next two weeks?
Hudson: "It’s going to be everything, for several reasons. No. 1, for us to have any type of success our guys have to play well. They have to be physical and smart because everybody’s trying to do unique things defensively to take away what we do. We have to be smart enough to see it and still be physical enough to do our job. Conversely, those other two teams (FAU and Troy) have extremely good offensive lines and our defensive line will put up a fight. If our defensive line can play well and cause problems that will help us because it gives us a chance to continue to play and be physical and not worry about the scoreboard, just focus on the next play.”

What’s the scouting report on FAU’s defense?
Hudson: "They’re a big physical team. They have one of the best linebackers in the country – they are really good. They are physical, sound and don’t give up big plays easily. You don’t see a lot of people running behind them. You have to play four quarters of sound football to defeat them. If you make a mistake they are going to make you pay. They are not going to give you a game...they won’t make a mistake.”

RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

  Official Louisiana Injury Report (as of Wednesday, Nov. 12):

Ian Burks, OL (back – probable);

Brad Bustle, OL (shoulder – probable);

Jeremy Cook, DL (knee – probable, upgraded from questionable);

Michael Desormeaux, QB (knee – probable);

Richie Falgout, WR (leg – will play, upgraded from probable);

Junior Jean, DL (shoulder – out);

Erik Jones, TE (knee – will play);

Derik Keyes, SS (shoulder – probable);

Daylon McCoy, LB (hamstring – doubtful);

Jaron Odom, OL (knee – out);

Chris Richard, LB (shoulder & back – out);

Maurice Rolle, FS (hip – will play, upgraded from doubtful);

Undrea Sails, RB (knee – out);

Derrick Smith, WR (ankle – questionable, downgraded from probable);

Phillip Walker, FB (toe – questionable, upgraded from doubtful).

RaginCajuns.com