Tailgating in Miami

[CajunCharlie]

Like you guys always tell me, "Just bring yourself."

Do I ever wish I could bring myself!! Holy cow, what fun you all are going to have. I would love to bring some of the Krewe de Chew goodies. Maybe we can enlist you all for one of our football tailgating extravaganzas. Is Uncle Bubba going to make the tournament?

[JMV JustMyView]

Although I will not be able to attend the tournament, I want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my Ragin Cajun heart for your hospitality.

The same here, sounds like a winner. Go Cajuns.

[cjr3888]

In my book it's never 2 hot for gumbo

[Turbine]

Who's coming? Let's get a head count. See you there!!

I sure wish I could make it. But since I can't would you do me a favor and keep an eye on this guy?

Thanks

[SunGrasses]

Hey Turbine,

Sure will!!

Thank you for the pic. You're awesome!!

SunGrasses

[racincajun]

I'm soooooooooooooooo jealous. You guys have a great time. We'll be doing the listening this time. Many Bon Tons!!!!

[Turbine]

The Alumni Association needs to jump on board with this.

Don't make a fuss just get on the bus.

[NewsCopy]

MIAMI - Karen Lucroy didn't know that, when son Jonathan signed with Louisiana's baseball team, their family signed up, too.

"I really wasn't sure what it was all about," she said Wednesday, "but it's something we've really gotten into."

That was obvious to every player, coach and fan that arrived at Florida International's University Park Field for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament's first day. They were treated to a pair of large white tents, covered with Ragin' Cajun banners, that became headquarters for UL fans at the tournament.

It was also the only tailgating in sight, even including fans of the host FIU club.

"They haven't had football down here very long," Lucroy said. "They really don't know how to do it."

Cajun baseball fans, known for their tailgating abilities, were more than happy to welcome Karen and Steve Lucroy into the fold. The couple, whose son leads the Cajuns in hitting as a freshman and earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors as a designated hitter, pulled a trailer full of tents, tables, chairs and other items from their Umatilla, Fla., home.

They also brought food - lots of pork and chicken, watermelon and sweet corn which was boiled on site. The entire Cajun team had lunch there Wednesday and also ate there after the team's disappointing 10-7 loss to Western Kentucky in UL's tournament opener.

"We're from a small town," Lucroy said of Umatilla, which is approximately 40 miles northwest of Orlando. "Everybody knows everybody, it's like one big happy family. That's why it was easy for us to fit in with all of these guys. They're the same way."

The Cajun tents occupied the park's prime locations, nestled under a group of large palm trees near the third-base foul pole and adjacent to the main road leading into University Park. They were easy to spot, thanks in part to four banners that read "Ragin' Cajuns 2005 SBC Champs" that Doug Williamson at Acadiana Fun Jumps arranged in one day after UL claimed the league title last weekend.

The rest of the story

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com