The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — An enduring image of last Saturday’s 24-20 University of Louisiana loss at Louisiana Tech is sophomore Cajun quarterback Jerry Babb.

Babb, in the final moments of a dramatic 18-play march at game’s end, had just run for a first down at the Tech 13-yard line with 24 seconds remaining.

For a frantic few seconds, Babb called for the snap, needing to spike the ball to stop the clock. The spike didn’t occur until :14, and the final play found Babb hitting Dwight Lindon to the LT 8-yard line.

“There was a miscommunication with the ref and Ronnie (center Ronnie Harvey),” Babb said. “He told Ronnie not to snap it until he blew the whistle.

“I called ‘hike’ four or five times, and then looked to see if I was under the guard. After the play ran, we had a conversation with the ref, and he said there was nothing he could do about it.”

“We had at least two plays called,” coach Rickey Bustle said. “We were trying to get the ball into Jordan Jackson’s hands. We had a missed communication in the blocking, where the back released and his man came, after not rushing all night.

“We didn’t need a completed short ball there, but it was a reaction to the rush to try to get something with someone coming at him. I think Jerry has learned that.”

Babb remains the unquestioned leader of the Cajun attack. He hit 32-of-54 passes for 327 yards and a 59-yard touchdown to Bill Sampy, and also ran for a score just before halftime to breathe life into the Cajuns after a 17-0 deficit.

“Jerry competes for every inch,” Bustle said. “He was taking licks out there for the team. That’s the guy you want calling the shots out there.”

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

Befuddled by Saturday's 45-21 loss to Fresno State, Kansas State's coaches promised to address personnel. They backed up those words before the Wildcats even practiced Monday, making changes to the depth chart on offense, defense and special teams.

Middle linebacker Ted Sims was removed. He has not played this season due to a foot injury and is not expected back until October at the earliest. Matt Butler is now listed as the starter at middle linebacker.

On the strong side, Brandon Archer is on top after making his first start Saturday. Listed behind Archer are Sean Lowe and Marcus Perry, a redshirt freshman who cracked the depth chart for the first time.

Maurice Thurmond started at weak-side linebacker Saturday but injured his left ankle and could barely walk. He's listed behind Marvin Simmons.

The defensive line's two-deep remains intact, but things changed at each position in the secondary. At one cornerback, junior-college transfer Maurice Porter is now listed as the backup to David Rose. At the other corner, starter Cedrick Williams is listed as even with Louis Lavender. Byron Garvin, a redshirt freshman who has played in each of the first two games, is behind those two.

Sophomore Maurice Mack is listed as even at strong safety with senior Marcus Patton, who started the first two games.

The rest of the story

BY JEFFREY PARSON

The Wichita Eagle

[cajun4ever]

Joe Redding in the late 80's was very good. I believe he has or was close to the all time return yardage record.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by Sid
p.s.- Turbine,what's your prediction?

Sorry I missed this request. Back in April, I think I had UL 8-3 with a win vs Tech.

Now I am going with 7-4

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. – Each week Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football coaching staff honors players for their individual effort in game performances by handing out its weekly Hooters/Credeur’s Awards.

This week, senior wide receiver Bill Sampy was named Hooters/Credeur’s Offensive Player of the Week. Sampy caught eight passes for 107 yards. One of his catches was a 59-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jerry Babb that put the Cajuns back in the game.

Senior defensive back Antwain Spann was named the Defensive Player of the Game. Spann had 10 tackles and broke up two passes. He also returned a blocked kick 57 yards to set up a field goal that put the Cajuns in the lead.

Junior kicker Sean Comiskey was named the Special Forces Player of the Game. Comiskey had two field goals in the second half, the first a 41-yard blast that brought the Cajuns to within a touchdown. Comiskey’s second field goal, of 33 yards, gave the Cajuns the lead.

Caleb Rubin and Joseph Hadnot were named the Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Players of the week, respectively.

Per player vote, Chris Klock received the Hammer award for biggest hit on defense. There was no Kuhuna (Special Teams) or Thumper (Offensive) award this week.

The UL Lafayette coaching staff would like to thank Hooters and Credeur’s for sponsoring the Cajuns weekly and spring football awards.

LOUISIANA SI

[NewsCopy]

HOOTERS/CREDEUR’S WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

Week 1
Opponent: Northwestern State:
Offensive: Jerry Babb
Defensive: C.C. Brown
Special Forces: Mike Mayeaux
Offensive Scout: Caleb Rubin
Defensive Scout: Brenton Burkhalter

WEEK 2
Opponent LA Tech
Offensive Bill Sampy
Defensive Antwain Spann
Special Forces Sean Comiskey
Offensive Scout Caleb Rubin
Defensive Scout Joseph Hadnot

Up next Kansas State

Middle Tennessee
Florida International
New Mexico State
Idaho
Arkansas State
North Texas
Troy
Louisiana-Monroe

[Super 06]

THE CAJUN'S WILL BE 8-3 New Orleans Bowl

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Two days after his University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns' heartbreaking 24-20 loss to Louisiana Tech, Rickey Bustle still had difficulty dealing with the one that got away.

Asked Monday at his weekly news conference if the defeat was any easier to deal with after a few days, Bustle was emphatic.

"No, it's not," he replied. "I was ill (Sunday), and I was fussing at the dog and every other thing.

"But the good thing about it is you don't get to live with it either way for very long. Getting around these players again ... they get over it a little quicker than we do."

The Cajuns, who travel to Manhattan, Kan., on Saturday to meet Kansas State, rallied from an early 17-0 deficit Saturday and nearly pulled out a victory in the final minutes. But a drive that started at the ULL 11 was thwarted -- not by the Bulldogs but instead, the clock.

The drive ended when quarterback Jerry Babb connected with Dwight Lindon at the Tech 8-yard line. But before the Cajuns could get off another snap, time expired.

Babb, who hit on 32 of 54 passes for 327 yards and a TD, completed 10 passes in the drive.

"I just left the Quarterback Club, and they've got people congratulating me (about the game). And I appreciate their enthusiasm," Bustle said. "People don't know what to say because they know you played well and came up short.

"That (losing close) is not what our expectations are as a team, though. We wanted to win that game."

Bustle said he could tell by his players' reactions after the game that the team is maturing.

"They were hurting," he said. "I had a football player in my office this morning, and he said he felt bad all day yesterday ... and that's progress, believe it or not.

"Not that we didn't have players hurt (after a defeat) before, but I just think we're doing the right thing and headed in the right direction."

ULL players and coaches, Bustle said, felt Saturday's game was one they could have and should have won.

"I've seen us disappointed before, but they don't want to accept this today," he said. "They don't want to accept the way we played that first half, and the way that game turned out.

"This was one time where I think that time did run out on us," he said. "But I like what I see in this football team."

The Cajuns will have to quickly put the defeat behind them, however. This week, they have Big 12 power Kansas State waiting in the wings.

The rest of the story

By GLENN QUEBEDEAUX
Special to The Advocate

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- University of Louisiana’s football team is proceeding with plans to play at Kansas State on Saturday, pending further developments with Hurricane Ivan.

“We have discussed it internally,” Athletic Director Nelson Schexnayder said. “Based on the information we have, we are proceeding with our original plans.”

The Cajuns’ charter flight leaves Lafayette at 11 a.m. Friday, and the team is scheduled to return immediately after the contest in Manhattan, Kansas, arriving in Lafayette at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

“If something changes, then we’ll alter our plans,” Schexnayder said. “We’ll speak again this afternoon and tomorrow as we get more information and better information about the storm.”

The source of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[CAJUNJUDO]

Though I don't particularly care for the title of this poll, the Sun Belt is getting some recognition.

Troy gets recognized for big wins over Marshall and Missouri.


Week 1: North Texas was 6th
Week 2: Troy came into the poll at the 6th spot
North Texas dropped out
Week 3: Troy moves up to 4th

Mid-Major Six Pack