The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[NewsCopy]

Sampy emerges as top target for quarterback Jerry Babb

LOUISIANA La. – The sight of senior Bill Sampy sliding through an opponent’s secondary, getting a Jerry Babb pass on the move and dashing for a first down is a satisfying one for University of Louisiana fans.

They can expect more in the future too, as Sampy, Kimmie Lewis and B.J. Christ refine their pass routes in the Cajun offense.

“It took a little time for the offense to get going,” said Sampy, the team’s leading receiver after four games. “It’s usually that way early in the season.”

“It’s always been part of our plan to strike the defense, to use motion to try to get me open.”

Sampy, who left Kansas State defenders behind on a 59-yard touchdown catch two weeks ago, is the most likely candidate to wear the “go-to” label among UL receivers – a label Fred Stamps owned last season.

“We are doing more things on offense to open up the field,” receivers coach Brian Crist said. “We don’t have Fred anymore, which prevents defenses from focusing one guy.

“Any time someone gets hot and a defense gravitates toward them, somebody else gets free and makes plays. Jerry gets time to throw from the offensive line and has done a great job finding the open guy.

“We try to mix it up,” head coach Rickey Bustle said. We try to get it to our receivers on the outside and we try to get it downfield. We put them in different places so they can be more effective.”

“We run mostly the same thing each week,” said Sampy, who along with his Cajun teammates is working on the game plan for this week’s visit to Miami to play Florida International.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[waterboy]

I like the cold variety!!!!!!!

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. -- Travis Bass describes his college football career as one long road trip.

Maybe a map would also be helpful in locating the numerous addresses where Bass has played since leaving high school.

After digesting playbooks at schools on the West Coast, Midwest and in the South, Bass is finally coming home Saturday afternoon.

Bass and Miami native Ricky Thomas have been busy hoarding tickets to distribute to friends and family as they prepare their return to the Dade County area.

Both are starters on a University of Louisiana at Lafayette defense that meets Florida International at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Although Thomas' college career is not as nomadic as it has been for Bass, the ULL defensive back left Miami as a teenager, ended his high school career in Kansas and later played junior college there.

Bass played at Cape Coral High School in Ft. Myers, located about an hour from Miami.

Thomas was a starter at Miami Northwestern High School before leaving to play his senior year in Kansas.

Bass and Thomas said as youths, they wanted to play college football in Florida.

At FIU Stadium both will finally get their chance, but it won't be as starters for any of the Golden Panthers' state rivals.

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By BOBBY ARDOIN
The Advocate

[NewsCopy]

After Miami today, UL must travel to New Mexico St. and Idaho the next two weeks.

MIAMI — It didn’t take University of Louisiana long to come down from last Saturday’s 24-17 victory over Middle Tennessee.

Not that it wasn’t enjoyable to win a Sun Belt Conference opener for the first time in school history. It was a gratifying moment, especially with a robust crowd of 25,083 on hand at Cajun Field.

But if coach Rickey Bustle’s Ragin’ Cajuns are going to challenge for the Sun Belt title and host role in the New Orleans Bowl, they’ll have to win on the road.

Today’s 5 p.m. (CDT) game against Florida International will be a good test, as will following games the next two weeks at New Mexico State and Idaho that give UL an extended road swing of some 8,800 miles.

“We don’t talk about the miles,” receivers coach Brian Crist said. “The most important game is the next one.

“The biggest thing for us is winning on the road. We have to learn how to do that. It’s always going to be different on the road, and for us to realize our goals, we have to become a team that can overcome the various aspects of playing on the road.”

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Denice Broussard

[Cajun Express]

This is a channel that I get, and they list UL and FIU Starting at 5:00 PM.

[ATXCajun]

Originally posted by cajun_express
This is a channel that I get, and they list UL and FIU Starting at 5:00 PM.

Yep. I'm seeing it live on Fox Digital Pacific and tape delayed at 10pm cst on Fox Atlanta.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by cajun_express
This is a channel that I get, and they list UL and FIU Starting at 5:00 PM.

I knew I should have hooked up digital cable.

[EVCajun12]

Can you get it on cox digital?

[waterboy]

A good time was has by all. Nice to meet some of the Northshore Cajuns. RaginFan2 and his wife and the Zatarain's. Incluging the LSUAMBR boy that sat with us. GEAUX CAJUNS.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by waterboy
A good time was has by all. Nice to meet some of the Northshore Cajuns. RaginFan2 and his wife and the Zatarain's. Incluging the LSUAMBR boy that sat with us. GEAUX CAJUNS.

Jay reported in the 1st quarter that the game was blacked out in Louisiana. :confused: