Ragin' Cajuns resembling Bustle into fourth season

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. - Nearly all the players University of Louisiana coach Rickey Bustle welcomes to start the 2005 football season today finally bear a familiar imprint.

After three years, the Cajuns roster is now dominated by recruits selectively chosen by Bustle's staff.

"The idea that this is our team is starting to come through now," Bustle said. "We feel like we have some quality guys in an overall group that is still relatively young."

Since 2002 the Cajuns are 11-25 under Bustle, who is expecting his football program to show progress.

"After I got here, I thought this would probably be a four-year situation and I think with the players we have, we are close now to where we want to be," Bustle said. "I don't think we're quite there yet, but we are close and I think we're going to be better."

The only active returning players not recruited by Bustle are cornerback Jerrell Carter, center Greg Hodges, defensive end Eugene Kwarteng, fullback Dwight Lindon, wide receiver Bill Sampy defensive tackle Justin Taylor and deep snapper Justin Venable.

ULL ended last season losing five of the last six games after winning four of the final five the previous season. The Cajuns were 4-7 last year, but six of the seven defeats were by 10 points or less.

Junior Jerry Babb returns for a third year as starting quarterback and Bustle thinks the Cajuns are showing improvement in their second season using the 4-3 defensive alignment.

Bustle said today's activity at ULL's athletic complex begins at 9:30 as players start checking in with the coaches.

That will be followed by a 2 p.m. team meeting ending as players undergo physical examinations. Following a team meal, the players return at 7 p.m. to the complex for another series of meetings. ULL's conditioning and workouts start on Monday. Bustle said a lot of this year's success depends upon the continued development of the defense.

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By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate

[UL_Cajuns]

Yeap its Time now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I expect at least 7 wins this year, but will take 6.

4 or 5 will be no progress at all and a failure.


I put my faith in the coach.

[CDeb]

Yeap its Time now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I expect at least 7 wins this year, but will take 6.

4 or 5 will be no progress at all and a failure.


I put my faith in the coach.

Five will be progress.

Maybe not acceptable progress to some, but progress nonetheless.

[headragincajun]

Coach Bustle will turn out 7 wins for sure. WRITE IT DOWN. What we now need is for everybody to buy the tickets and come to the games. Don't wait for the team to win 4 or 5 to start showing up. COME NOW. I read in all these posts how everybody wants the CAJUNS to do well. The CAJUNS are going to do fine. Not afraid to say it here. RICKY BUSTLE will win this year period. COME ON OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
Headragincajun1

[shof]

Coach Bustle will turn out 7 wins for sure. WRITE IT DOWN. What we now need is for everybody to buy the tickets and come to the games. Don't wait for the team to win 4 or 5 to start showing up. COME NOW. I read in all these posts how everybody wants the CAJUNS to do well. The CAJUNS are going to do fine. Not afraid to say it here. RICKY BUSTLE will win this year period. COME ON OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
Headragincajun1

Coach, I love your enthusiasm! I'll be at the Texas game since its just an hour and a half from home; but I also picked up Season Tickets for this year and hope to make at least 3 games at Cajun Field. Heck, the gas is more expensive than the tickets So there's absolutely no reason for the fans in Lafayette to not show up and support the team.

[ATXCajun]

Coach Bustle will turn out 7 wins for sure. WRITE IT DOWN. What we now need is for everybody to buy the tickets and come to the games. Don't wait for the team to win 4 or 5 to start showing up. COME NOW. I read in all these posts how everybody wants the CAJUNS to do well. The CAJUNS are going to do fine. Not afraid to say it here. RICKY BUSTLE will win this year period. COME ON OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
Headragincajun1

If we are 4-1 going into the ASU game, 7 will look pretty do-able. 4 out of the first 5 are very winnable, then it gets bumpy.