AUSTIN, Texas - Maybe they could have picked an easier season-opening foe.

After all, every other game on the University of Louisiana schedule could easily be considered a toss-up. None of them will carry point spreads of more than two touchdowns.

The Ragin' Cajuns are victims of bad timing, and their hope is that's all they're victims of today when they face the second-ranked Texas Longhorns in the season opener for both teams.

Only once before have the Cajuns played a team ranked this high in an established national poll, and that one's burned into the retinas of fans who were on hand for the 1985 season opener at Auburn. Bo Jackson had 181 yards in the first quarter alone, finished with 290 and four touchdowns and the Tigers rolled to a 49-7 victory.

Bo's gone, but Vince knows yardage and touchdowns, too ... that being Texas quarterback Vince Young. The junior standout will be looking to start his Heisman Trophy push and help continue the Longhorns' seven-game win streak when the teams square off at 6 p.m. at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

"He's the first guy I've ever seen on film that reminds me of Michael (Vick)," said Cajun coach Rickey Bustle. "He's got playmaking ability and he's just quite an athlete."

The defending Rose Bowl-champion Longhorns have a lot more athletes, too. UT has had its top five point-scoring seasons and six of its top eight total offense seasons over the past seven years. Defensively, Texas has ranked among the nation's top 25 in total defense six straight years.

The Cajuns lost five of their last six games last season and didn't need even more of a challenge when Hurricane Katrina swooped in Monday and brought its own share of turmoil. More than a dozen members of UL's travel squad hail from the decimated New Orleans area.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com