Getting Ready for 2004 Football is it Spring yet

[RealCajun70]

would you like to explain why rep is on the line lol

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. - The third time could be the charm for UL Lafayette as the Ragin’ Cajuns begin spring football drills on Monday.

Coach Rickey Bustle went 3-9 in his first year running the program and improved to 4-8 in 2003, including a second-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference.

When the Cajuns take the field this spring, they’ll be looking to take a quantum leap in wins and losses.

“You can see the carryover from last season,” said Bustle, whose team won four of its last five games last fall.

“Already, when the seniors got back from break, they came in to talk to me about leadership roles. They want to start earlier than the others ever did.

“I told them that whenever coaches in bowl games are interviewed, they talk about senior leadership, and they came to me to get that going.

“They’ve taken it upon themselves to push the others through Phase One of this year.”

Phase One was the off-season conditioning just completed, spring practice is Phase Two, August drills constitute Phase Three and Phase Four is the 2004 season.

“We’ve gotten stronger,” Bustle said. “They’ve worked hard for the last seven or eight weeks. I’ve really been impressed with how they’ve gone about it.”

When practice begins on Monday, one main focus will be a new defensive scheme under coordinator Brent Pry.

"We’re starting over, to a certain extent,” Bustle said. “We’re going from an eight-man front to a 4-3 scheme. It’s a big change, one we think fits our personnel and those we’ve recruited.

“The coaches are excited about it.”

Implementation of that new look will be hampered a bit by players like defensive back Antwain Spann and defensive tackle Travis Ferguson sidelined by injury, but that may provide opportunity for others to step forward.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana Spring Practice schedule

	Date	Event
Practice # 1	Monday March 8
Practice # 2	Wednesday March 10
Practice # 3	Friday March 12	(1st Pads)
Practice # 4	Saturday March 13	(Women's Clinic 8am)
Practice # 5	Monday March 15
Practice # 6	Wednesday March 17
Practice # 7	Friday March 19
Practice # 8	Saturday March 20	(1st Scrimmage)
Practice # 9	Monday March 22
Practice # 10	Wednesday March 24
Practice # 11	Friday March 26
Practice # 12	Saturday March 27	(2nd Scrimmage)
Practice # 13	Monday March 29
Practice # 14	Wednesday March 31
Practice # 15	Saturday April 03	Vermilion & White Spring Game 1pm

[NewsCopy]

Beautiful 68-degree temperatures with low humidity greeted Louisiana’s football squad on the opening day of spring football practice earlier today. Head Coach Rickey Bustle and the coaching staff used today’s practice to greet the new recruits and present to them an orientation to the Cajuns’ systems.

Eighty-seven of the players on the field are competing in spring football for the first time. The large number of recruits doesn’t concern Bustle, as many of those athletes were with the Cajuns in the fall.

“Today is our first day and everyone is excited,” Bustle said. “We’re going to be doing new things on offese and defense.”

“Bustle elaborated by saying, “Our defense will change to a 4-3 while our offense looks to develop (QB) Jerry Babb.” “We’ll miss Fred Stamps.” “We’ll have to find someone to come out, catch the ball and make plays for us.”

“Everyone knows the purpose of spring football.” “We only have 15 days and we have to keep our focus.”

Most of the work in spring football practice will come in individual sessions.

The team will continue spring practice starting at 3:35 p.m. on weekdays and 1:45 p.m. this Saturday.

Coach Bustle is also hosting the Annual Women’s Football Clinic which will be held this Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m at Louisiana's Athletic
Complex.

LOUISIANA SI

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. — The opportunity was unexpected, but the timing seemed perfect, so Gary Bartel has decided to head home to Texas.

Louisiana’s assistant head football coach, who handled the safeties for the Ragin’ Cajun defense in 2003, is resigning to become the head coach at Grand Prairie High School, his prep alma mater.

“It’s kind of a homecoming for me,” Bartel said on Friday. “It’s where I grew up and I went to high school there. Grand Prairie is a 5A school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that’s got great facilities.

“My mom and dad still live there, and so do my brother and sister.”

Bartel’s son Eric was a senior wide receiver on this year’s Cajun squad, and that, too, weighed in the decision to leave UL.

“This is only the second time since 1976 that the job’s been open,” Bartel said. “I didn’t expect it to open. The No. 1 quarterback in the nation, Rhett Bomar, was there last year, and his daddy (Jerry) was the coach. He decided to move closer to Norman so he could see Rhett play at Oklahoma.

“Jerry and I played together at Texas Tech and were roommates. When the rumors started that he wanted to leave, I decided I wasn’t going to discuss it until it came open. Then on Feb. 10, he resigned, and the next morning their athletic director called.

“That they came to me was a flattering thing. Then Thursday night they sent my name to the school board and it got unanimous approval.”

“I’m happy for him,” UL head coach Rickey Bustle said. “I hate to lose a good coach and a good friend. He’s someone I kept when I got here, and I leaned on him a lot.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[RickYoung12]

What is the story regarding the QB we signed last year, Delvin Williams (sp?)? From what I understood, he was suppose to be very special. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[snote]

Originally posted by RickYoung12
.... suppose to be very special.

somewhat positive cajun fans won't get to see him on the field .. real positive that in 30 minutes it will be 4pm sunday your time and hot.. (grins)

[Turbine]

Originally posted by RickYoung12
What is the story regarding the QB we signed last year, Delvin Williams (sp?)? From what I understood, he was suppose to be very special. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I saw Devon Williams watching practice on Wednesday. I take that to mean he is still in school.

[Swamp Hound]

Coach Bartel has done a lot for this program especially in helping recruit the Texas area. He will be missed. I wish him success and his family well.

[RaisingCajun08]

This is turning into a Michael Southall story. Its time to forget about Devin Williams & move on. We have some great recruits coming in this year.

[Cajun Express]

saw Devon Williams watching practice on Wednesday. I take that to mean he is still in school.

All I know is that he is not on the field, we have a juco on the field, and Babb on the field. Coach will invest in players that are at practice, not players that may be in academic jeporday every year. If Mr. Williams wants to stay here and be a quarterback, he had better show that he can keep his academic affairs in order.

[geauxboy]

Look, no one is counting on Williams & his not being eligible is probably not entirely his fault. He wasn't eligible when he came to UL, he was a prop. Why do you think everyone else recruiting him backed off? The staff & he took a chance that he could become eligible & it didn't work out. In retrospect, he probably should have taken the juco route. I don't know if he's capable of academic success or if he didn't try. I don't know him, but I hope things work out for the young man. For the present, Babb the starter, but some of the players have told me that Luke S. has a much better arm. It remains to be seen what type of a playmaker he is. He does have a year more experience. I only hope that there is honest competition for the spot, it will only make the team better.