The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[CDeb]

Yeah, whatchew talkin' 'bout Willis?

[Jason]

dont beat around the bush!! Spill.....

[CajunFanatic91]

Probably refering to the fact that LSu will complain about not getting enough coverage thanks to us.

[BabbForHeisman]

They finally got their national championship trophy, so they must be looking for something else to whine about now...

[bigearl]

Originally posted by BabbForHeisman
They finally got their national championship trophy, so they must be looking for something else to whine about now...

true, true...

[ATXCajun]

BR area athletes read this paper religiously. Glad to see that someone has presented them with an accurate picture of what is going on to the west, instead of the typical pessimistic stuff.

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Something was different in the attitudes of the 105 players reporting to Sunday's team meeting with University of Louisiana at Lafayette football coach Rickey Bustle.

"I think it was obvious that they feel good about themselves and they look more motivated," Bustle said.

Bustle said the Cajuns are experiencing some optimism and a carry-over effect from 2003 and the subsequent offseason conditioning.

Many of the returning players also saw ULL's expanded training room and lockerroom facilities for the first time, he said.

The Cajuns won four of five games to end last season and Bustle said he was cognizant of the players' regimented approach to spring training and summer workouts.

ULL is starting a third season under Bustle, whose teams are 7-17 overall.

In November construction began on expanding the athletic training room inside ULL's athletic complex to about three times its previous size. The larger lockerroom was also completed in time for Sunday's activities.

"I think a lot of their mood also had to do with the training room and the lockerroom," Bustle said. "The ones who hadn't seen it felt it was a really nice touch and a good way to start the season."

The Cajuns begin preseason workouts at 3:30 p.m. today. Practices start at 8 a.m. on days when ULL has two-a-day workouts, Bustle said.

None of the players expected to report Sunday were tardy and none will be joining the team at a later day, he said.

Of the players who reported for the team meeting and underwent late evening physical examinations, 38 are freshmen and 15 have been invited to walk on.

Bustle said visits by potential walk-on players have been brisk during the past two weeks.

"We've really had a slew of them, especially in the last 10 days," he said. "What we do is visit with them, take whatever film they have of themselves and evaluate that, just as we would any scholarship player."

He said about five more walk-ons could be added to the roster after ULL begins fall semester classes Aug. 23.

Bustle said he thinks ULL's direction in football is headed forward.

The rest of the story

By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate

[NewsCopy]

Kansas State 09-18 (at KS)

Big XII Champions. Kansas State has been so good for so long under head coach Bill Snyder that it's easy to forget that the program hadn't really won anything of note. Last year's 35-7 win over Oklahoma in the Big XII title game marked the culmination of the one of the best rags to riches stories in all of sports, and now Snyder and his team want to take things to another level and win it all again.

The term rebuilding takes on a different meaning now for Kansas State than it did 15 years ago, so reloading is a better term for what the Wildcats are looking to do. With the loss of several major stars, most notably QB Ell Roberson, WR James Terry, DE Andrew Shull and LB Josh Buhl, there are some big holes to fill.

But this is the 2004 version of Kansas State. There are still fantastic talents to build around, and relatively nameless players ready to rise up. The coaching staff does a good job of rotating players, so there's plenty of experience returning.

While this doesn't appear to be the juggernaut that it was last year, at least when Roberson was under center, there's no reason to think the Wildcats can't win the Big XII North again. After that, anything can happen as they proved last year.

The Schedule: Assuming Texas A&M isn't back to form yet, the Wildcats, even in their rebuilding mode, should 5-0 without a sweat before getting Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas Tech at home. Pivotal Big XII North road games at Missouri and Colorado came late enough to have most of the kinks worked out.

Best Offensive Player: Senior RB Darren Sproles. Maybe this is the year he finally gets the respect and credit he deserves. It's borderline criminal that he wasn't in New York for the Heisman presentation last year.

Best Defensive Player: Senior DT Jermaine Berry. He's a big bowling ball of a player who always finds a way to make the tackle. He'll be the anchor and rock of what'll be a very underrated, and very good, defensive line.

Key player to a successful season: Darren Sproles might have been the team's best player and the defense certainly did its job, but QB Ell Roberson was the team's heart and soul. The quarterback situation will be fine, but it remains to be seen if Dylan Meier or Allan Webb can be nearly as effective as #3 was.

The season will be a success if ... Kansas State wins the Big XII North. This should still be the strongest team in the division even with all the issues. However, this isn't nearly the team it was last year and isn't close to as good as Texas or Oklahoma. Yeah, anything can happen in the title game, but just getting there again would be an achievement.

Key game: Nov. 13 at Colorado. The Wildcats have to close out the year with two tough road games in the last three games going to Missouri and Colorado before finishing up at home against Iowa State. A slip against the Buffs could mean an end to their Big XII title reign.


Wildcats
Head coach: Bill Snyder
16th year: 127-55-1
Returning O Lettermen: 13
Returning D Lettermen: 17
Returning ST Lettermen: 2
Lettermen Lost: 30

Ten Best Players
1. RB Darren Sproles, Sr.
2. DT Jermaine Berry, Sr.
3. CB Cedrick Williams, Sr.
4. TE Brian Casey, Sr.
5. DE Scott Edmonds, Jr.
6. LB Marvin Simmons, Jr.
7. DE Kevin Huntley, Sr.
8. WR Antoine Polite, Sr.
9. OT Jon Doty, Sr.
10. DE Andrew Bulman, Sr.

2004 Schedule
9/4 W Kentucky
9/11 Fresno State
9/18 UL Lafayette
10/2 at Texas A&M
10/9 at Kansas
10/16 Oklahoma
10/23 Nebraska
10/30 Texas Tech
11/6 at Missouri
11/13 at Colorado
11/20 Iowa State

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns are back at work.

The Cajuns of coach Rickey Bustle checked in for meetings, physicals and equipment on Sunday and begin practice for the 2004 season today.

“We’re all very excited to get started,” Bustle said. “I’m excited because of the way that we finished strong last season and then had a good spring.

“I’m hoping there’s a carryover and our new players feed off our energy and excitement.”

Last season, the Cajuns finished with four wins in their last five contests to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference.

Freshmen will be first on the field at 2:30 p.m. today, to be joined by varsity members at 3:30.

Fan Day will be held at Cajun Field on Sunday, Aug. 15. The one-hour event is free and open to the public.

Fans are asked to arrive at 6 p.m., entering the field through the tunnel located behind the athletics complex building. All festivities will take place on the playing field.

Cajun pennants will be handed out to fans for use in autograph opportunities, with players and coaches on hand for autographs and photos. The volleyball and women’s soccer team’s players and coaches will also be in attendance.

Parking will be available in the stadium parking lot via the Gate 5 entrance (parking lot between Cajun Field and the Cajundome), which is adjacent to the practice fields off of Cajundome Blvd., and located behind the visiting team side of the football field.

The rest of the story

[bigearl]

I got a copy of the media guide (very well done I might add) this weekend and I noticed a few players were missing from it. Some I already knew about, others I didn't. Maybe some of you know why these guys aren't in the media guide:

LB James Roberts
LB G.W. Riddick
WR Ty Brown
TE T Briggs (I heard he quit)
TE Erik Jones

[BabbForHeisman]

I'm sure i should probably know this already, but what ended up happening to Sampy? Is he on the team?

[bigearl]

Originally posted by BabbForHeisman
I'm sure i should probably know this already, but what ended up happening to Sampy? Is he on the team?

according to the media guide, yes.