The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[Turbine]

Originally posted by Doug
"CC Brown demonstrating his trademark pose from 2003"

Can I get a reference?

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — This has been a big summer for quarterback Luke Sniewski.

The ankle injury that hampered his final season of junior college play and continued to bother him last spring at UL Lafayette is now healed.

He has added weight and gotten stronger.

He has a better grasp of the Ragin’ Cajun offense.

All this, and John Elway is a new member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This has been a big summer.

Elway went to Granada Hills High School before stardom at Stanford and supernova status with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, and that’s where Sniewski made his first impression in the game.

“John Elway was a great role model,” Sniewski said. “I watched all those NFL Films on him and tried to learn from him. You can’t go wrong following a guy like Elway.”

But Sniewski drew the line at wearing jersey No. 7. He’s got No. 11 at UL.

“No, I didn’t go with No. 7,” Sniewski said. “I’ve tried to create a name for myself.”

Sniewski has turned heads during Cajun practices with the velocity of his passes, with touch still developing, as Jerry Babb’s top backup.

“My arm has always been my signature,” Sniewski said. “I never played any sports until I was in the 10th grade. My older brother (Martin) told me I had a strong arm and that I should play football.

“So I tried out and started throwing the ball, and everybody sort of stopped what they were doing. From that point on I started to work on other aspects of my game.”

Sniewski threw for 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior in leading Grenada Hills to the state playoffs, then further honed his skills at Pasadena City College where he was a Junior College Gridwire Academic All-American and an All-Conference selection.

He passed for a school-record 443 yards against El Camino College and triggered a school-record 712-yard total offensive night against Santa Ana College. But the ankle limited Sniewski to just six games last fall.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

NSU's Pittman out 3-6 weeks

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State will be without Preseason All-America cornerback David Pittman for 3-6 weeks, head coach Scott Stoker said Sunday, a day after the junior from Lutcher suffered a dislocated elbow in preseason football practice.

His condition will be evaluated in 10 days with the outside chance that a rapid healing process could allow him to take the field for the Demons' Sept. 4 season debut at Louisiana-Lafayette. NSU, ranked as highly as No. 11 in Division I-AA preseason polls, plays at Jackson State Sept. 11, then hosts Texas Southern Sept. 18 and Appalachian State Sept. 25.

Stoker said Pittman will be replaced "by committee" as a group of three freshmen and converted receiver Prentis West will be the most likely candidates to step in his place at the left cornerback position. Redshirt freshmen Darrel Kitchen of Galveston, Tex.-Ball, and Travis Moore from Monroe-Neville along with true freshman Charles Grogan from Patterson High School are the first-year players in the mix.

The Demons went through a 90-minute workout Sunday afternoon in perfect conditions at Turpin Stadium, spending time on two-minute drill situations and late-game situations.

The source of the story
Town Talk

[bigearl]

fullback?

[bigearl]

I saw on Delphi that Bruce Taylor also left the team. I don't see that anywhere in the news paper. WTF?

[CajunNation]

Originally posted by bigearl
I saw on Delphi that Bruce Taylor also left the team. I don't see that anywhere in the news paper. WTF?

You can't be serious. Don't ever rely on that paper for your inside scoop about the Cajuns, especially if the news could be seen in any way as bad.

As for Taylor, I'm not sure this really matters that much. He was no Stamps, and was not going to play this season. Also he probably would have gotten lost in the shuffle over the next few seasons.

Fr. J.Jackson 6'6"
Fr. E.Brown 6'3"
Fr. R.Givens 6'3"
Fr. K.Robbins 6'3"

Taylor was 5'10", 170 lbs. You can see from the list above what Coach Bustle is going after.

[Swamp Hound]

Don't forget that Sampy (as well as Lindon, Carter, and Harvey) are all scheduled to graduate on time meaning they would gain their year of eligibility back that they lost their freshman year. So if Sampy keeps his act together, throw him into the mix

Fr. J.Jackson 6'6"
Fr. E.Brown 6'3"
Fr. R.Givens 6'3"
Fr. K.Robbins 6'3"

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — Every football team needs a Stanley Smith.

Louisiana happens to have Smith for one more season, and the senior middle linebacker is just what the Cajuns need in their shift to a 4-3 defense.

“I love the 4-3,” Smith said. “I get to run sideline-to-sideline. In the 4-4 (last year’s scheme), players were singled out. I couldn’t really make plays.”

The Ferriday High product battled through injuries to play in 10 of 12 games for UL in 2003, missing games at North Texas and Oklahoma State. He made six starts and finished with 24 tackles, 17 of those coming in home games at Cajun Field.

That was a drop-off for the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder, who recorded a career-high 49 tackles in 12 games in 2002 and had 33 as a true freshman in 2001.

But Smith’s value goes beyond numbers. His leadership is apparent both on and off the field.

“The Mike linebacker is our signal-caller,” defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. “He can call an audible for us on defense like the quarterback can on offense, and he helps us adjust when we need to.

“Stanley studies the game. He knows our opponent like I do. He’s on the same page as me.”

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Ragin'Cajuns´ WR Sampy primed for opportunity

LOUISIANA La. - After spending most of his college career in the shadows of Fred Stamps, Bill Sampy is ready for his turn in the spotlight.

He was second on the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns to Stamps, and Sampy said he is ready for his opportunity.

"I have been ready," the senior said, "Now that is it my turn, I want to be the number one receiver. I know I can´t stay average, I have to work for that."

"Billy has to decide for himself that he is going to be the guy," UL offensive coordinator Bob Christophel said of Sampy´s big-play potential. "He has a natural knack for making plays.

"Obviously, he stood in the shadows a little bit last year," Christophel stated. "I think he needs to step up and say `Now it is my turn´ and I think he is very capable of doing that."

In 2003, Sampy had 39 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns. He returned 25 kicks for 467 yards for a 18.7 yard average.

In 2002, Sampy recorded 30 catches for 327 yards with three scores and returned 20 kicks for 376 yards. He sat out the 2001 season to become academically eligible.

Among Sampy´s goals is the quest for 1,000 yards receiving and help the Cajuns win the Sun Belt Conference championship.

"I want to be the third guy to get 1,000 yards behind (Brandon) Stokley and Fred (Stamps)," Sampy said. "Jerry (Babb) and Luke (Sniewski) are both good quarterbacks and hopefully we can do that.

The rest of the story

[bigearl]

I thought Smith was a junior??????

[bigearl]

Originally posted by SwampHound
Don't forget that Sampy (as well as Lindon, Carter, and Harvey) are all scheduled to graduate on time meaning they would gain their year of eligibility back that they lost their freshman year. So if Sampy keeps his act together, throw him into the mix

Fr. J.Jackson 6'6"
Fr. E.Brown 6'3"
Fr. R.Givens 6'3"
Fr. K.Robbins 6'3"

I'm unfamiliar with this, can someone explain?????

[CajunNation]

I believe that if a prop makes his grades and makes sufficient progress toward a degree, he will get his prop year back if he's on track to graduate on time.


For instance, Lindon, Harvey, Carter, and Sampy are all listed as Sr players. All of them were prop guys(non-qualifiers). They lost their Fr. year of eligibilty. If they continue to make grades, they will all get that year back and be listed as SR players again next year.