Football 1997

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1997

1-10

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1997 Ragin’ Cajun Football Roster by Number

Jersey #	Position	Player
2	TB	JOHN BERNARD
3	WR	MARSHALL SCHROEDER
3	SS	RADULA WILSON
4	WR	JASON FLETCHER
4	WR	MARCUS WILDRIDGE
5	TB	ELVIS JOSEPH
5	CB	MARK SYLVAS
6	SS	WILLIE TERRELL
7	QB	JAMAR ROBBINS
8	TB	SEAN GUILLORY
10	K	NEAL DUNN
10	CB	CHARLES WOODS
11	FS	MIKE ELLIS
13	WR	SHAWN DUKE
13	LB	GERALD STEWART
14	WR	BRANDON STOKLEY
15	QB	BARTON FOLSE
16	QB	LANCE DOMEC
16	QB	DEREK DYER
17	K	JEREMY DEACH
17	CB	FREDDIE JAMES
18	QB	BRIAN SOIGNIER
19	TE	MARK BUFORD
19	CB	GARRETT JOHNSON
19	WR	MARCUS BROWN
20	CB	JACQUES ARMANT
21	CB	VIRON SMITH
22	LB	LAMAR DAWN
23	FS	DESMOND WILLIAMS
24	TB	ERIC LINDSEY
25	TB	SULLIVAN TURNER
26	TB	BARON ROGERS
27	P	CHRIS SHAW
29	CB	CURNELL SCHUMACK
30	WR	DAVID DICKERSON
31	FB	DAVID GINTER
32	CB	MIKE MERCHANT
33	WR	JOEY MOSS
33	SS	STEVE PINKNEY
34	WR	DAVID FREEMAN
35	FB	JAMES CLEMENT
36	LB	VICTOR HART
37	FB	BRIAN WYATT
38	FS	CHARLES JOHNSON
39	CB	WILLIAM YOUNG
40	TE	KELLY BOUDREAUX
40	FS	MARCUS POTIER
41	DE	SHANNON JEFFRIES
43	SS	ROBERT JUUL
44	TE	CHRISTIAN HENSGENS
45	LB	JAKE HAMMER
46	LB	CHUCKY WOODALL
47	LB	WILLIAM JONES
48	LB	DARRELL ALBERT
49	FB	JASON BAKER
50	LB	MATT MERRY
51	LB	DWAYNE VIATOR
52	LB	KENNETH STANSBURY
52	OT	STEPHEN SWANDER
53	LB	MICHAEL KUHN
54	LB	SCOTT FOURNIER
55	DT	RANDY YOUNG
56	OL	DAVID GAAR
56	LB	RON PAYNE
57	DE	NATHAN LANDERS
60	OL	CHAD PETERSON
61	OL	GARRETT CHARKALIS
63	DT	EUGENE CHAMBERS
65	OL	BRANDON ARABIE
65	OL	MARTY CANNON
66	LB	MATT CIESLAK
67	OT	DAN ATER
68	C	BEN ARCHER
69	DE	CHUCK LAUGHLIN
70	OT	ANTHONY CLEMENT
70	OT	MIKE JOINER
71	OL	RYAN CADE
72	C	SHAWN HOLLIMON
72	OL	ANDY MARTIN
73	OT	CHAD HAKEMACK
74	DT	RYAN POISSO
75	OT	JASON BOYER
76	C	MATTHEW ZELDEN
77	OT	MARK LAMERE
78	C	RYAN CHILDERS
79	DT	LYLE BOUDREAUX
79	OL	KEITH WARE
80	WR	FREDARELL ROBINSON
81	WR	BYRON GASAWAY
82	WR	FRANCO SMITH
84	WR	JEREMY JOSHUA
85	DE	NATHANIEL HEARD
87	TE	ANTHONY DOZIER
88	TE	RICHARD SANDUSKY
89	QB	DAN TEGEDER
90	DE	MARIO STEPHENS
91	DT	CHARLES BROWN
91	DE	CHRIS GADDIS
92	DE	JOSH SLEDGE
93	DE	DENNIS HEWITT
94	DE	RONNIE ADAMS
95	DT	JAMAL CASBY
96	TE	MATT CITRON
97	DT	TYRONE ABRAMS
98	DT	JACCO COOPER
99	K	BURT BIJEAUX

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Raiders study up on Ragin' Cajuns

By SAM SCOTT
Avalanche-Journal

If you're not overly familiar with the Southwestern Louisiana team Texas Tech will face in its home opener Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Jones Stadium, rest assured you're not alone.

''Not much,'' Red Raiders head coach Spike Dykes said Sunday when asked what he knew about the 0-2 Ragin' Cajuns. ''We haven't had a chance to look at Southwestern Louisiana yet, so we're shooting a little bit in the dark. We'll get their film today, and we'll start game-planning for them.

''We're not sure what they're doing or how they're doing it. We played them late last year, but I know they've lost a lot of players. They had that great quarterback (Jake Delhomme) last year, but I know he's gone.''

The situation actually is not all that unusual. NCAA rules prohibit teams from scouting opponents in person, and teams commonly trade game films on the Sunday before playing each other. Tech will receive a film of the Cajuns' 31-7 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, and Southwestern Louisiana will get a look at Tennessee's 52-17 defeat of the Raiders Aug. 30.

''It's the same way for them that it is for us,'' Dykes said. ''They get a film today, and we get a film today. That's the way it is in college football.

''I know they lost last night, and they've had a rough time so far. But all you have to do to get excited about playing them is look at last season. They had a great football team. They always play some tough games early in the season. This is a chance for them to put a mark on the wall. We understand what we're looking at.''

The Raiders' next opponent could hardly be more dissimilar than the Tennessee team they opened against.

The Volunteers are a top-10 team with a shot at a national title and have all-American candidates scattered across the field. Southwestern Louisiana, meanwhile, is one of college football's few remaining independent teams and already has been pummeled by two squads (the Cajuns opened with a 45-13 loss to Pittsburgh) that are scarcely among the nation's elite.

Southwestern Louisiana's top returning player is wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who may be more well-known as the son of Ragin' Cajuns head coach Nelson Stokley.

Obviously, there's no Peyton Manning on the other side of the field to stoke the Raiders' fire, but Dykes isn't expecting a letdown nonetheless.

''We're ready to play our home opener,'' the Big 12 Conference's inaugural coach of the year said. ''Playing at home will be a real treat. It's always fun to play at home in a comfortable atmosphere. These guys are ready to play and get on with the season.

''We got the typical first-game blues you get when you lose that first one. But you've got to keep your perspective. We realize we've still got 10 game left.''

The Raiders, who whipped the Cajuns 56-21 in Lubbock last season, have had a week of practice to smooth out the wrinkles that cropped up in their opener. They're also banking on the old adage that says a team will show the most improvement between its first and second games.

''There's a lot of truth in that,'' Dykes said. ''Every year, your team is new. I don't care how many starters you've got coming back. The chemistry is always different.

''After you play that first one, you can go work on the things you need to work on and improve the things you did right. Then you go from there.''

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The football team might be hoping October will bring new hope to a rebuilding program after the Indians (1-3) wrapped up the first full month of the season with a lopsided loss to nationally ranked Virginia Tech 50-0 Saturday.

On a positive note from the trip to Virginia Tech, first year head coach Joe Hollis said he was able to play 52 of the 60 players who boarded the plane for Blacksburg, Va.

This week's Homecoming game against the University of Southwestern Louisiana will offer the Indians a chance to get back on the winning track. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Ragin' Cajuns, with an 0-5 record, are off to their worst start since 1991.

In his 12th season as USL's head coach, Nelson Stokley said every injury that can happen has happened for the Cajuns this year.

By losing four of his most talented athletes for the remainder of the season, Stokley has had to play redshirt freshmen in vital positions, such as quarterback and receiver.

One major absence in the Ragin' Cajun offense is record-setting junior wide receiver Brandon Stokley. Stokley, the son of the head coach, is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left knee, which he damaged in the Cajuns' third game of the season against Texas A&M.

Other injuries the Cajuns must overcome include two quarterbacks who have shared time, junior Brian Soignier (6 feet, 185 pounds), who is out with a knee injury, and sophomore Barton Folse (6-1, 214), who is out with a fractured right hand.

These two experienced quarterbacks have shifted quarterbacking responsibilities to freshman Lance Domac (6-0, 192). Domac has not recorded a touchdown pass in his three games as a college quarterback although he leads the team in interceptions with three.

Tight end is another crucial area in which the Cajuns lack experience in and must play yet another true freshman, Anthony Dozier (6-4, 245) at this position.

If the Cajuns have a bright spot, the offensive line might be it. Ranking second in the nation, USL averages 322.2 pounds per man across the front.

The left side is the biggest in college football with seniors Anthony Clement (6-8, 349) at tackle and Keith Ware (6-2, 380) at guard. Those two combined with junior center Ben Archer (6-3, 276), give the Cajuns more than a half-ton (1,005 pounds) on that side.

The Cajun defense has allowed 243 points in five games and more than 40 points every outing.

This high average is partly due to the quality of USL's opponents, which include Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Pittsburgh.

"We're struggling offensively. We're struggling defensively. So we've got to continue to work hard and work through and get some W's," Stokley said. "I still believe and have to believe we can be successful this season."

The Tribe is experiencing growing pains as well but has a minimal number of injuries that are sidelining players.

The quarterback position should be interesting in this week's game after all three Arkansas State University quarterbacks saw action against Virginia Tech.

Hollis is searching for a quarterback to form his offense around and is experimenting with the talents of the A-State quarterbacks. The three Indians who saw action against the Hokies a week ago are junior Jeremie Watkins (6-1, 200) of Simi Valley, Calif., senior Brent Pettus (6-1, 170) of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and true freshman Cleo Lemon (6-2, 185) of Greenwood, Miss.

"You can't equally divide the snaps. I don't think that's a smart thing, and we haven't reached that decision yet on how we're going to divide the snaps. But probably all three will play," Hollis said. "Right now we don't know who will start the game."

This will be the 28th meeting between the Cajuns and the Indians, and the series is even with each team winning 13 games, with one tie in 1971.

In the last four meetings, however, USL has been victorious, winning last year's contest 42-31 at Cajun Field.

"It should be a good football game. They've kind of had our number the last few years," Hollis said. "I know they've won the last four, and I see that Nelson is 7-2 in his tenure at USL. We need to bow up and get this one.

"Losing is not a lot of fun. It really isn't," Hollis said. "I try to look at the positive and will always continue to look at the positive. That's my nature."

The Tribe did not fumble in last week's game, and the penalties that have plagued the team in previous games were cut down as well, with only six penalties for 28 yards.

"We've got a lot of young players who want to win. We have some older ones that want to win," Hollis said. "We're going to have to reconstruct and reshape this football program. The only way you're going to do it is roll your sleeves up and get after it."

The source of the Story

Tommy Jones
The Herald

[El Sidonio]

my GOSH! who the heck is posting this?!? It's makin me depressed. Can we maybe erase this year off of the records? haha, kidding but serious.


Geaux UL!

[Purecajun]

Hopefully, we won't be seeing seasons like these anytime soon. 1997 had to be the worst season I can remember.

[RCAJUN90]

_ Hopefully, we won't be seeing seasons like these anytime soon. 1997 had to be the worst season I can remember. _

I feel sorry for the players that had to wear those helmets. They look rather festive.