Bizarre coach searches in men's hoops, and softball success top UL list in 2004

A year that began with one former Ragin' Cajun leading his team to the Super Bowl and ended with another having a hand in NFL history can't be all bad, and the University of Louisiana had its share of athletic highlights in 2004.

When Jake Delhomme left the New Orleans Saints in 2003 to join the Carolina Panthers, he was seeking a chance to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He and the Panthers caught fire and rode that momentum all the way to a Super Bowl appearance against New England, losing a classic 32-29.

Wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who for two years caught passes from Delhomme with the Ragin' Cajuns, sought a new horizon of his own when he went from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 2003. By the time the 2004 season arrived, Stokley was a big part of a record-setting Colts offense led by Peyton Manning.

It was Stokley who caught Manning's NFL-record 49th touchdown pass of the season the day after Christmas, carving his name into the record books with his quarterback.

There were other positives, such as a return to NCAA Tournament play in men's basketball, newfound success in women's basketball, 60 victories in softball, major steps forward in facilities improvements and booming attendance in football.

But, sadly, one of the year's major stories revolved around controversy involving the basketball program.

CAJUNS UP, DOWN, UP IN BASKETBALL

Jessie Evans' final UL team posted a 20-9 record that included a second Sun Belt Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament to go with the one his Cajuns posted in the 1999-2000 campaign.

Such on-the-court success came despite repeated shortcomings in the classroom, as Cajun athletes faced frequent loss of early-season action while they got their academics in order.

Still, Evans was courted by the University of San Francisco and left to lead that program _ prompting a coaching search for the Cajuns.

Oklahoma State assistant coach Glynn Cyprien was the eventual choice, and came to town preaching academic progress and accountability. Then after two months on the job, inaccuracies were discovered in Cyprien's resume' and he was fired by Athletic Director Nelson Schexnayder.

By year's end, Cyprien had filed suit against the university over the firing.

Nine-year staff veteran Robert Lee, who had served as an assistant under both Marty Fletcher and Evans, was retained by Cyprien after being a finalist in the selection process.

It was Lee who was chosen to take over the Cajuns in July after Cyprien's firing, and Lee immediately set to work to change the image of the program. By the time the fall semester was complete, the Cajuns had produced the best classroom performance by the men's basketball program in 20 years.

On the court, the Cajuns battled through a brutal early schedule and an injury to point guard Orien Greene, following newcomer Tiras Wade to a 5-5 mark that had them eager for more success in the Sun Belt Conference chase.

SOFTBALL WINS 60

Louisiana was handed a difficult assignment in the 2004 NCAA Softball Tournament, assigned a No. 5 seed and sent westward to a regional hosted by Arizona, the No. 1 team in the nation.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com