The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[NewsCopy]

New-look unit stands tall for Cajuns’ in one-TD victory

LOUISIANA La. — UL’s new-look defense had its baptism of fire Saturday night, and except for a three-minute period late in the first half that unit passed its test with flying colors.

“We had a few execution errors that set them up with some big plays,” said Ragin’ Cajun defensive coordinator Brent Pry, “but other than that we did a lot of good things.”

The Cajuns converted from an eight-man front defensive alignment to a multiple 4-3 during spring drills, and that unit gave up only one score in a 14-7 victory over Northwestern State Saturday in its first full-scale outing.

“My hat’s off to the defense and the way they played in the second half,” said Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle. “They came out and shut the door on them, and we made some big plays defensively.”

The biggest came in the closing seconds, when that unit held Northwestern on downs and forced a fourth-down incompletion with 23 seconds left.

The Cajuns, winning their opener for the first time since 2001 after starting last season with seven straight setbacks, didn’t allow the Demons to get past the UL Lafayette 48 after the first drive of the second half.

Demon drives in the first half went for 52, 71 and 80 yards, and Northwestern took the second-half kickoff and marched 49 yards. But Opelousas Catholic product Tommy Hebert was short on a 43-yard field goal effort, and the visitors didn’t reach midfield again until the game’s final minute.

“We’ve got to find a way to get the ball in the end zone,” said Demon coach Scott Stoker. “You can’t expect to win very many games with seven points, especially when you give up 14 on special teams.”

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com

[CaginDog24]

Great win! Definetly needed to win this one with two tough games in a row coming the next two weeks. Defense looked great. Offense needs to pick it up to compete. Way to conservative with the play calling. Baab looked good but didn't use him enough. To many hand offs while in the shootgun. Need to take that momentum into the Tech game and get a win. Would be nice coming out of the K-State game with a 2-1 record.

Geaux Cajuns

[Turbine]

When I got back from the game, well after midnight I was too tired to post, 2 hrs sleep in 36.

I was kinda hoping there would be some game time opinions from those who couldn't make, but heard the game. Does this mean the internet feed was or wasn't working?

14-7 might not sound like much but the scoring could have been much different, on the more side for both teams.

[NewsCopy]

Demons unimpressive in opener

LAFAYETTE – It was not the way Northwestern State wanted to start what the Demons hoped would be a banner season.

NSU looked like anything but a Southland Conference championship contender in Saturday’s ugly, 14-7 loss to UL Lafayette.

The Demon defense played well, but was fighting a losing battle. The offense moved the ball OK but put only a touchdown on the board. And the special teams were simply awful.

“Take nothing away from them, they’re a good team, but we hurt ourselves,” said NSU quarterback Davon Vinson, who lost his touch in the second half as the offense failed to sustain any drives. “We shot ourselves in the foot.”

Both UL touchdowns came on a short field after NSU special teams miscues. A bad snap on a first quarter punt set the Cajuns up at the 10, and they capitalized with a two-yard TD run by quarterback Jerry Babb on fourth-and-goal.

NSU — breaking in a new deep snapper in Tommy McClelland — struggled on punt snaps all night. Another poor snap forced a 15-yard punt in the fourth quarter.

The rest of the story

[PattiTatum]

The internet feed was working fine for me and a few others that I know about. I know Trigger could not get it but we are not sure why.

[CajunCharlie]

You may have been hurting for lack of sleep, but your appetite wasn't.:>000. Just kidding, but then again maybe its the "spread"we lay out. Enjoyed having you over at the Krewe de Chew site, as always. Thought the game and the win was good. Bustle didn't show Tech too much. The offense was basic, and so was the defense- very little blitzing. Its a win, and as stated in another post, "its nice to win ugly than lose pretty".

[1stTake]

I was in upper deck CC when the game started I thought "oh no three hours of drizzle" the Cajuns better win. After the game started it didn't drizzle again, and the Cajuns won. What a fun night. Travis Smothers is quick. Oh by the way upper deck has the best seats in the house.

[CajunFanatic91]

I was listening to the game all the way in NY, feed was perfect. Jay got really into the game. SOunds like we have a solid D, but we need to work on snaps and holding on to the ball in general, aswell as taking advantage of scoring oppertunities.

[RedBug58]

Well, now that it's in the books, the attendence was 22,000+. I think the estimates of 25,000+ would have been correct if that rain and lightening had not started around 5:00 or so. We all know people who were getting ready to go, saw the weather, then decided to stay home and watch football on TV. I think when people have season tickets or purchased tickets prior to the game, they are more inclined to brave the weather. If they are planning to just walk up and purchase the tickets before the game, it's easier to change their mind. This is one reason why season tickets are so important.

[manizzle]

I decided to post this thread today after the pathetic showing by our offense (especially the HB's) yesterday. How does a division AA school outproduce a division A school on offensive production. Yeah, we won the game, but its about time that we put all the pieces together. UL has more scholarships, a higher paid coaching staff, and more funds than NSU. Although I am proud of the win yesterday, we have no excuse to be outperformed on any side of the ball. The fans came out and answered the call this opening weekend, but now its time for Coach Bustle to respond. Offensive adjustments must be made quickly, because a performance like ours against NSU could not beat even the lowliest SBC opponent.

[CajunNation]

Originally posted by manizzle
I decided to post this thread today after the pathetic showing by our offense (especially the HB's) yesterday. How does a division AA school outproduce a division A school on offensive production. Yeah, we won the game, but its about time that we put all the pieces together. UL has more scholarships, a higher paid coaching staff, and more funds than NSU. Although I am proud of the win yesterday, we have no excuse to be outperformed on any side of the ball. The fans came out and answered the call this opening weekend, but now its time for Coach Bustle to respond. Offensive adjustments must be made quickly, because a performance like ours against NSU could not beat even the lowliest SBC opponent.

Our tailbacks are not very good. Coach bustle really hasn't signed a blue-chip RB yet. My only guess is that he's waiting to put a good O-line in place.

Caleb Rubin and Abdule Levier are better than the three RB's playing. Coach wants to redshirt Rubin, and Levier is hurt.

Right now, Jerry Babb is the best RB we have.

[Go_UL]

stats are for losers.
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