Fall Practice Days 1-15

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns had the first of a season long Sunday Night Lights practice at Cajun Field.

The Cajuns practiced on Sunday from 7:30-9:15pm under the lights at Cajun Field. Head coach Rickey Bustle has elected to practice on Sunday during the season rather than Monday. For the past three seasons, the Cajuns had Sunday off and practiced on Monday.

There is no practice on Monday, the first day of school, as the student-athletes turn their attention to class.

"We had a big scrimmage on Saturday," Bustle said. "We're now going to follow our normal Sunday routine with meetings and an evening practice.

"This is the way we are going to do things during the season, so we might as well start it a week early to get everyone acclimated. Having tomorrow off is very important so that our guys can get focused on their academics."

Sunday's nine period workout was identical to Bustle's in-season Sunday practice.

"This is our regular Sunday workout," Bustle continued. "We go over corrections and then a lot of base stuff."

The weather cooperated for the Cajuns, as temperatures peaked in the upper 70's with a light breeze. The cool work, coupled with a 33-hour layoff since Saturday's scrimmage brought fresh legs to the field.

"It's all a plan," Bustle added. "I feel that we will come back with a great practice on Tuesday before our final scrimmage."

Sunday's light work and Monday off allows the team even more rest in an effort to finish camp strong.

UL will practice on Tuesday at 3:30pm and hold their final fall scrimmage on Wednesday at Cajun Field at 3:30pm. Fall camp concludes with practice on Thursday and Friday.

Coach Bustle will hold his annual "Script Scrimmage" on Saturday before officially beginning game preparations for No. 2 Texas on Sunday.

LOUISIANA SI

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns practiced on Tuesday in preparation for the final scrimmage of the fall. UL worked over 12 periods and then added a short conditioning session. The Cajuns practiced in full pads following Monday’s day off.

The final fall scrimmage is slated for 3:45pm on Wednesday at Cajun Field.

Tuesday’s practice featured three lively team periods of middle drill, run-play-action and two-minute drill. The two minute drill was the first live work of the fall for the Cajuns in that particular area.

The work is the first for the Cajuns since school began on Monday.

“I thought we were a little lackadaisical today,” said Cajuns offensive coordinator Rob Christophel. “It’s typical with the first practice after classes begin.”

Despite the lack of mental acuteness, the Cajuns were physically up to the challenge of practice.

“The guys were still bouncing around,” Christophel added. “The effort was there, the guys just didn’t do some things mentally that they are capable of doing.

“Middle drill went very well for the offense which is a good sign.”

Wednesday’s scrimmage will not be scripted like the past two have been. The Cajuns previous two scrimmages have held the offense to just seven plays. The final scrimmage will allow the offense to move the ball as if in a normal game situation.

“It’s tough to score in those scrimmages when you start on your 30 and only have seven plays,” Christophel explained. “You have to get a big play, and the problem is that we are still not making big plays.

“We moved the ball well when we started in the redzone, so it’s just a matter of getting into a rhythm and knowing drives can continue after picking up a few first downs.”

Following Wednesday’s scrimmage, the Cajuns will practice on Thursday and Friday at 3:45pm to conclude fall camp.

LOUISIANA SI