The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — Rickey Bustle convinced his 2003 Ragin’ Cajuns that they had something worth fighting for after starting the season 0-7, so the chance to have the school’s first winning season since 1995 should be a motivational cakewalk.

Louisiana fell to 4-5 with last Friday’s 27-17 home loss to North Texas, the first Cajun Field setback of 2004 and UNT’s 23rd straight Sun Belt Conference triumph.

Now, in this week’s Senior Day home finale, the Cajuns will be facing the best defensive team in the league when Troy University hits town.

“We’ve got to rely on our seniors to help us, as we have in the past,” Bustle said. “We’re finishing the season against probably the three best defenses in the Sun Belt (including next week’s finale at UL Monroe), but the seniors have a chance to leave us with a winning season.

“Saturday will be the last time most of these guys are going to dress out for the Cajuns. I believe a lot in seniors.”

Bustle posted a 3-9 record in his first year at UL in 2002, then won four of his last five for a 4-8 mark last season. A winning mark would be a solid next step.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[littlebittyschool]

HEY! In case you haven't heard, there's a football game this Saturday! Why so quite Cajuns? Spit the crawfish out of your mouth and get with the program!

You got run over by the top running back in the Belt last week now get ready to get runover once again by #2 or should I say #9!

Come on guys! Get up, get crazy! You've got a chance to pull off a winning season if you win out.

TR-Whoop Whoop!OJ-Whoop Whoop-AAAAAaaaaaaNNNNNnS! WOO!

[Turbine]

Smack Time

Sunbelts # 1 offense vs #1 defense.

You may stop us, but you won't top us

[El Sidonio]

hey littlebitty,

I like your smack. it's positive and uplifting. Good quality smack. I got some for you too. We beat ASU, ASU beat you, so prepare to get beat! We are the Trojan Horse. Beware you funny little greek people. desTROY Troy!

Geaux UL Ragin Cajuns!

God Bless.

[El Sidonio]

p.s.- y'all would have alot more friends here in Cajun Country if y'all would have actually pulled off a W at LSU

[littlebittyschool]

Let's see, we beat FAU, which Beat North Texas which beat... YOU! We Beat Mizzou, which beat Baylor, which beat North Texas, which beat... YOU!

Craziness! Sunbelt is crazy. Trojans are crazy. Cajuns are crazy. We all be crazy! I really wish I could make it down to the game this year. Maybe next year when you come to Troy, we can all eat some gumbo and south alabama bar b q and go tip some cows over.

Oh and take back some home town officiating from LSWho and we would have beaten them. Amazing how mystery flags on illegal procedures come after the play scores a touchdown from SEC refs!

Your stadium looked good on TV. The professor in the mask and all doing the interview with Shera "Princess of Power" was a little creepy.

Good hit that one time on Jamario. I thought you might have put him out of the game on that one. If you wouldn't have spotted UNT those 14 points off the bat, it would have been an awesome game.

Oh yeah, our offense is terrible, but we don't need no stinkin' offense! We score with defense and Leodis! My Man! He Loves Us!

[Cajun1997]

littlebittyschool, what's up, my favorite Troy fan. Wish you could make it down for the game. Cajuns are 7-1 all-time vs the Trojans,

#1 offense vs #1 defense = Cajuns 8-1 all-time vs the Trojans

[Crawfish]

Originally posted by littlebittyschool
Spit the crawfish out of your mouth and get with the program!

I resent that Crawfish crack!!!!!

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns have run the ball well this season.

If they can do it again in Saturday’s home finale against Troy University, coach Rickey Bustle’s squad has a good shot at squaring their record at 5-5. But it won’t be easy.

The Trojans’ rushing defense is No. 5 in the nation, led by an experienced defensive line and active linebackers.

In Troy’s Oct. 23 visit to LSU, the homestanding Tigers netted just 57 yards on the ground on 36 plays. Marcus Randall saved the day in the 24-20 squeaker with 328 yards passing, but almost no one runs on the 2004 Trojans.

“I know it’s going to be real hard to rush the ball against the No. 5 defense in the country,” Cajun running back Abdule Levier said. “But, we’ve been running the ball pretty good and I think we can keep up our average with no problem.”

The Cajuns are averaging 151 yards per game on the ground. They were held to 83 yards in a 24-20 loss at Louisiana Tech, and last Friday had just 78 yards in the 27-17 home loss to North Texas. Without those two, the average would climb to 171.

Last week against North Texas, the Cajuns fell behind 14-0 midway through the first quarter. That drove a stake in UL’s plans to attack the Mean Green with a balanced attack.

“When you fall behind 14-0, you want to get those points back,” Levier said. “So you have to throw to score. You have to change your game plan up. We had to block and try to catch the ball. That’s all you can do.”

“We have to find a way to run the ball better,” Bustle said. “We’ve got to find a way to spring it open.”

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Every athlete wants to be remembered for a signature move or a singular play, a moment that will keep that athlete vividly in fans’ memories for years to come.

University of Louisiana linebacker Stanley Smith had one of those moments last week against North Texas, as he roared in to drop running back Jamario Thomas for a 5-yard loss.

At the time, the Mean Green led the Ragin’ Cajuns 17-3 and were threatening to turn the ESPN2 broadcast into a late-night yawner. But Smith’s hit woke up the Cajuns and their fans, forced a punt and helped inspire a touchdown drive before halftime that got UL within 17-10 of the visitors at the break.

North Texas won 27-17, but the breathtaking swiftness and ferocity of Smith’s hit will live on.

That kind of thing that can linger in the mind’s eye.

Former UL great Brian Mitchell was at the UNT game, and he authored countless big plays in his days here from 1986-89.

But while his yards and touchdowns remain Mitchell’s calling card, possibly his proudest moment was the time he peeled back to block on a reverse, caught an unsuspecting defensive lineman lumbering after the play and laid him out with a crunching block that sent the stunned foe sprawling.

It was a hit replayed countless times in film sessions in subsequent years.

Smith and the other Ragin’ Cajun seniors will each be looking for that kind of highlight when they take their final bow at home in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game against Troy University.

The Trojans enter the game 5-4 and talking about earning a bowl bid.

The 4-5 Cajuns have to win this week and next Saturday at UL Monroe for the school’s first winning season since 1995.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[ATXCajun]

Originally posted by littlebittyschool
Let's see, we beat FAU, which Beat North Texas which beat... YOU! We Beat Mizzou, which beat Baylor, which beat North Texas, which beat... YOU!

Craziness! Sunbelt is crazy. Trojans are crazy. Cajuns are crazy. We all be crazy! I really wish I could make it down to the game this year. Maybe next year when you come to Troy, we can all eat some gumbo and south alabama bar b q and go tip some cows over.

Oh and take back some home town officiating from LSWho and we would have beaten them. Amazing how mystery flags on illegal procedures come after the play scores a touchdown from SEC refs!

Your stadium looked good on TV. The professor in the mask and all doing the interview with Shera "Princess of Power" was a little creepy.

Good hit that one time on Jamario. I thought you might have put him out of the game on that one. If you wouldn't have spotted UNT those 14 points off the bat, it would have been an awesome game.

Oh yeah, our offense is terrible, but we don't need no stinkin' offense! We score with defense and Leodis! My Man! He Loves Us!

Yeah, we had two weeks to prepare for TV promotion and all they came up with was chicken chasin'. I love me some Mamou Mardi Gras as much as the next guy, but is that what we need to be pimpin'?

Brother, overcoming mystery flags in Baton Rouge is not nearly as difficult as overcoming mystery legislation but we'll get it done.

[KimoSC]

Never thought I'd say that.

Anyway - Fight On Cajuns!