Campus 1976 - 77

[California Cajun]

When Cajun Field and the athletic complex were new....and in the middle of nowhere. The changes in the area since then are nothing less than amazing.

My senior year. Lookin at that photo makes me feel 60 years old.

[Bankruptcyman]

This was the way the stadium area looked when I was at U(S)L. No tennis courts. I think they were the first improvements made to the complex with baseball and track added in 1977-78. Athletic website says tennis courts were built in 1975 so the picture has to be before 1975.

[HelmutVII]

I started at USL in the Fall of 1972. Played in the Pride of Acadiana all four years and all of the games were played at Cajun Field in the Fall of 1972. I am thinking 1972 Season was the first football season played at Cajun Field. I think the Edwin Edwards promise to pave the Cajun Field parking lot was after 1976 because I was sitting in the stands during halftime when he made his promise (there is something else that is vivid in my memory about that night but I won't get into that now).

I will go through my year books tonight to see if I can get an accurate handle on the dates.

[LaCajunsFan]

Well, here is the direct quote on FB from the guy who took the pic:

"When I captured this image of Cajun Field while tooling around in a Cessna 150 back in the mid 70's, (who knew) it would intrigue so many people 40+ years later. I am excited to share with all. Enjoy!"

BTW, the pic has generated a bunch of excitement on the 'Lafayette Memories' FB page. There has been over 221 new members to the group since it was posted at 8pm last night, lol.

[HelmutVII]

I started at USL in the Fall of 1972. Played in the Pride of Acadiana all four years and all of the games were played at Cajun Field in the Fall of 1972. I am thinking 1972 Season was the first football season played at Cajun Field. I think the Edwin Edwards promise to pave the Cajun Field parking lot was after 1976 because I was sitting in the stands during halftime when he made his promise (there is something else that is vivid in my memory about that night but I won't get into that now).

I will go through my year books tonight to see if I can get an accurate handle on the dates.

The 1971 yearbook had a photo of the stadium finished but it was not finished in time for the 1971 football season. The first season was 1972. This was Russ Failkenberrys last season.

[alum81]

It is awesome, how far we have come.

[RaginFan2]

The 1971 yearbook had a photo of the stadium finished but it was not finished in time for the 1971 football season. The first season was 1972. This was Russ Failkenberrys last season.

!973 was Faulkinberry's last year. That was my first football season at USL. We went 0-10. Tammariello came in for the '74 season.

[Turbine]

The 1971 yearbook had a photo of the stadium finished but it was not finished in time for the 1971 football season. The first season was 1972. This was Russ Failkenberrys last season.

Weird how new facilities throw a good coach off kilter.

Coincidence, I'm sure.

[Ragin9221]

Thought this was pretty cool. Cajun Field before the Cajun Dome, or the Baseball Field was built.

[facelessjonmoon]

So wait, there was no Cajun Dome BLVD before the Cajun dome was built ?