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La.-Lafayette Rajun Cajuns (2000: 1-10) The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programMost times it’s difficult for a team that suffered through a 1-10 season to look back and find something positive to build on for the future.That isn’t the case with Louisiana-Lafayette. Primed for its first season in the new Sun Belt Conference, Louisiana-Lafayette and the other teams in the new league realize the team to beat in 2001 is Middle Tennessee State University. Flash back to Nov. 19, 2000: Middle Tennessee State 41, Louisiana-Lafayette 38 in double-overtime. “The kids showed a lot of character to come back at Middle Tennessee, a team that was playing pretty well and predicted to beat you by four touchdowns,’’ Louisiana-Lafayette coach Jerry Baldwin said. “To go out and lay it on the line showed a lot of heart and character. “We got a glimpse into what Sun Belt Conference play is going to be like. That game tells me and our team that, if we continue to improve, we will be right in the mix as far as contending for the Sun Belt Conference title.’’ Sun Belt opponents must venture into “The Swamp,’’ where the Ragin’ Cajuns are 88-70-2 at Cajun Field since the stadium was completed in 1971. The field sits two feet below sea level in a natural bowl. The nickname came about because of that and the proximity to nearby wetland areas. “We have far more to sell now than we did a year ago or two years ago,’’ Baldwin said. “We still have a fine university with fine academics. The record has nothing to do with the quality of the school." Despite Baldwin’s optimism, the Indians have won a total of six games the last four years. “We made tremendous progress this spring,’’ Baldwin said after the spring game. “We are ahead of where we were a year ago. We are a better football team now that we were at any point last year. “We’ve made some significant progress. It’s really been good. We’ve improved in every area of the game. The attitude has been great and the enthusiasm has been good, so you want to keep that going.’’
OffenseSophomore quarterback Jon Van Cleave (6-4, 232) threw for 199 yards and a touchdown in the spring game. He received the outstanding offensive back honors from the coaching staff and finished the night 17-of-35 with one touchdown pass.The No. 1 tailback on the depth chart is junior Jerome Coleman (6-1, 225), who ran for 416 yards on 114 carries last year. He scored four touchdowns. Coleman ran for 46 yards on 15 carries in the spring game. The Ragin’ Cajuns are loaded in the receiver corps. Leading the way are two returning starters and an all-star candidate who will be a full-time wide receiver this fall. Both senior Marcus Wilridge (5-11, 195) and junior Andre George (6-0, 200) started last year for the Ragin ‘Cajuns. Last season, Wilridge had 38 catches for 524 yards and three touchdowns. George caught 24 passes for 404 yards and two touchdowns. The only returning starter in the offensive line is junior tackle Jonathon Raush (6-7, 265), a tight end in high school who started 11 games in 1999.
Defense and special teamsThe Louisiana-Lafayette defense showed signs of brilliance at times in 2000 and 10 starters return.Headlining the returnees in the defensive line is senior end Derrick Marshall (5-11, 220), who made 46 tackles last year with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks en route to All-Louisiana honors. Returning starters at linebacker are juniors Marrious Berry (5-11, 220) and Ricky Calais (5-11, 212). Berry made 44 tackles last year while Calais was right behind with 43. An all-star candidate for the Ragin’ Cajuns is left cornerback Charles Tillman (6-1, 190), a junior. A year ago, Tillman led the Cajuns with six interceptions, the highest total by a Louisiana-Lafayette player since Orlando Thomas, now with the Minnesota Vikings, made six in 1996. Junior Jonathan Knott (6-2, 190) will handle the place kicking duties. A signee from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla., Knott was an all-conference first-team honoree in the Southwest Junior College Football League.
Bottom lineBaldwin put a lot of stock in the Ragin’ Cajuns’ close loss to Middle Tennessee State in the season finale. It was a good effort by Louisiana-Lafayette, especially because the Blue Raiders are the preseason choice to take the inaugural Sun Belt Conference football championship.Still, it’s hard not to look at the facts surrounding the Louisiana-Lafayette program. Things like five straight losing seasons. Louisiana-Lafayette could make some noise in the new league, but the non-conference schedule includes Minnesota, Central Florida, Southern Mississippi and Arizona State. It will take hard work, another good year from the veteran defense and a yeoman’s effort from the young offense to get this program in the winning column in 2001. |
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