The Book 2008 Football

[SpreadEagle]

But you and the rest of Eagle nation should should know that if you're expecting a blowout, you're crazy.

Maybe you missed the line in my post where I said I think it will be a close game. Out of curiosity, why wasn't the McNeese game last year close?

[CajunPride]

I 'll be there in red.

[Zeebart21]

_ Maybe you missed the line in my post where I said I think it will be a close game. Out of curiosity, why wasn't the McNeese game last year close? _

I don't know, why?

[Just1More]

Out of curiosity, why wasn't the McNeese game last year close? _

It was a home game... we didn't respect them... we consider them to be in a lesser league than us... we were overconfident... we forgot that they have talented, gutsy football players too... and we got burned for it. Probably sounds a lot like the talk around Hattiesburg this week.

I'm fired up about the game with USM. I think it will be a good one. There's nothing wrong with you putting the history lesson on us... it just won't mean a thing come this Saturday.

[SpreadEagle]

It was a home game... we didn't respect them... we consider them to be in a lesser league than us... we were overconfident... we forgot that they have talented, gutsy football players too... and we got burned for it. Probably sounds a lot like the talk around Hattiesburg this week.

I'm fired up about the game with USM. I think it will be a good one. There's nothing wrong with you putting the history lesson on us... it just won't mean a thing come this Saturday.

Most of the talk I have heard is that while everyone is excited to see our new offense,new defense, the new stadium additions and our new coaches, most are concerned with UL and about the game. True that USM has dominated UL in recent games, but this is the first game in a new era at USM, so most are justified in their concerns. You must admit, your team coming off a 3-9 season that included getting whipped by a 1AA team does give some USM fans a feeling of comfort. New season though, so like I have said, we shall soon see if history repeats itself or not this coming Saturday night.

[ULvictory]

.....fans do you guys think will be in red come this Saturday in Hattiesburg? After reading about the band, 4 Alumni buses going, student buses going, along with the people driving down there like myself, it sounds like we can easily have 2500-3000 fans there.

[NewsCopy]

 As a deep-snapper, Scott Hayes rarely finds himself in the spotlight. Players at his position rarely - if ever - get quoted in the local newspaper or earn face time on TV.

But before UL's third and final scrimmage of the preseason on Wednesday, the junior from Bossier City finally got his moment in the limelight.

"We're ready to play," Hayes said, pacing the sideline. "We're definitely tired of hitting each other."

The wait is almost over for the Ragin' Cajuns, who open the 2008 season at 6 Saturday night against Southern Miss at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • August 25, 2008

[NewsCopy]

  Last game: Season opener. USM lost to Cincinnati 31-21 in Papajohns.com Bowl in last game.

Saturday: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: USM Network (WJNT-1180 AM in Jackson)

On Offense
USM will have its hands full in the ground game as Louisiana-Lafayette returns its senior running back Tyrell Fenroy and senior left-handed quarterback Michael Desormeaux after both rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. The 5-foot-9, 186-pound Fenroy is trying to become the seventh running back in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons. The Cajuns depend heavily on the running game, but they return their top two receivers in seniors Derrick Smith and Jason Chery.

On Defense
The Cajuns may be able to run the ball well, but they had a very hard time stopping opponents' running games last season, giving up 228.4 yards a game on the ground. The defense was the obvious weakness as it gave up 35.8 points and 446.7 total yards a game. ULL returns all three linebackers from last season led by senior Antwyne Zanders. Fellow senior Brent Burkhalter (65 tackles) and sophomore Grant Fleming (71 tackles) round out the starting linebackers for the Cajuns.

The rest of the story

Patrick Magee

[DestinCajun]

Don't count on it. We will continue to build on the progress we have already made in recruiting. The talent level at Southern Miss will continue to rise. _

I won't but I won't discount it either. Just something to watch in the future. In terms of our own improvement, So. Miss is definitely the program we need to better compete against for south Louisiana talent.

[Zeebart21]

an amazingly fair and balanced analysis! Nice job!

Z