The Book: 2007 Football

[NewsCopy]

After a disappointing loss, the Cajuns returned to practice on Sunday night at Cajun Field. The nine-period practice featured the usual game corrections, special teams and scout work. The team worked on Tuesday in full pads for 12 periods. The outside practice was a physical day filled with a pair of team contact drills. Wednesday’s practice was in the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility, covering 13 periods. The team will practice on Thursday and walk-through at Cajun Field on Friday afternoon. RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

  Q: How did practice go this week?

Hudson: "We had our feelings hurt on Sunday, but we came out and had a good, focused practice. We put in a few new plays on Tuesday and that made practice a little sluggish because of all the adjustments. Wednesday was a sharp day and it might have been our best focus practice of the season.”

Q: What is the Cajuns best asset heading into Saturday?

Hudson: "Going for Win #1 – and it should be. Our feelings are hurt because we are still looking for Win #1 and it shouldn’t be that way. We are 0-2 and realize that we are a better football team than that. We have to show that we are a better football team than we played the last two weeks.”

Q: What does the scouting report say about McNeese?

Hudson: "They are incredibly athletic. They will not be intimidated. I don’t think they care who we are or what division we play in. I expect them to come in here with passion and hunger. That makes them dangerous.”

Q: Can the Cajuns continue to average 265 yards rushing per game (school record is 254/gm)?

Hudson: "We should be able to run the football against anybody. It’s what we do. We have the type of offense that allows that and I honestly believe we should be pushing 300 rushing yards per game every week. I thought we did a good job throwing the football last week and that success must continue as well.”

Q: Playing in front of possibly the largest home crowd in over a decade?

Hudson: "I think we are always excited to play at home because we have great fans. McNeese is going to have some fans as well. I’m not sure we fully understand the impact the crowd will have this week. I expect it to be an electric environment. You can talk about it, but you really don’t know until you experience that type of crowd.

RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

  Lee Venable never had to worry about motivation at the end of a USL football season. There was always McNeese.

"Usually at the end of the year you're slacking off in practice and not beating yourself up," Venable said. "But that last week, the coaches never had to get the team up for a game. That was a given."

It was a given for three and a half decades, most of those years featuring the Cajuns and the Cowboys on the final Saturday night of the season. It became tradition.

And it was always heated, regardless of records or situations.

"At Cowboy Stadium, you'd go down the steps to the field," said Lark Hebert, a native of Port Barre who played four years for the Cowboys. "On one side fans would be patting you on the back, and fans on the other side would be spitting at you."

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[IHateLaState]

I have lots of fond memories from those games... It is a real shame we dont play them....We need to revisit that idea.... remember we are NOT Lsua&m@br ....

[DestinCajun]

_ I have lots of fond memories from those games... It is a real shame we dont play them....We need to revisit that idea.... remember we are NOT Lsua&m@br .... _

We're playing them this Saturday.

[Hammer58]

_ We're playing them this Saturday.
_

Just like we play the other in-state 1AA teams.

[Just1More]

_ We're playing them this Saturday.
_

Atsa right. A limited time offer. Get it while you can. The only reason it's exciting is because we allowed 20 plus years to pass before we did it again. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Sorta.

But, good news to the "rivalry" lovers. Get yourself one big dose of it come Saturday.

[Just1More]

_ LOUISIANA 42
McNeese 17


Attendance 28,578


DaddyCajun _

Great add on the attendance prediction. But, since this is Price is Right, and I want to win the prize... 28,579

[CharlieK]

_ UL 27
McNeese 14
We get the tight ends involved, if MD stays in the pocket long enough to let the receivers get in there routes. _

Like on the 4th and 7 play when the pocket collapsed onto him. Tough to stay in the pocket when it don't exist. Dude has a passer rating of 130+ for the game but we can still pick the nits, can't we........

This guy should have the run/pass option on nearly every passing play.......

[gridiron]

Rotate all the trouble A schools. 2007 McNeese, 2008 Nicholls, 2009 Southeastern, 2010 Northwestern, 2011 Grambling, 2012 Southern, 2013 ULM

[ShowDog]

_ UL 34
McNeese 10

There is a difference between 1A & 1AA football in MOST games .

GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! _

Yep, just what Michigan thought when playing App. State

[Cowboy Up]

I thought that UL was opening the 2008 season with Southern University coming in to Cajun field.