Post by Trojan Warrior on Nov 4, 2013 18:15:41 GMT -6
They have won six straight games, giving UL Lafayette's Ragin' Cajuns a tie for the nation's eighth-longest winning streak among FBS teams. They're also in control of the Sun Belt Conference, albeit with four straight league games to end the season, and are the league's only unbeaten team.
The squad, going strictly by vote totals, is ranked 34th nationally in this week's USA Today coaches poll, having received five total points in that voting.
The Cajuns have also won 13 of 14 home games over the last two and one-half seasons, and their home attendance average of 27,336 leads the Sun Belt and is the second-highest in the state.
"Football is an emotional game," said Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth, "and our kids are feeling that adrenaline from the great atmosphere we've had. Our fans are starting to see the impact they can make when we do this together."
But even with all that, there were more than a few anxious moments last Saturday night when the hosts were 21 points behind a team that now holds a 1-8 record and was a 31-point underdog.
But according to Hudspeth and the Cajun players, there was no panic on the UL sideline during UL's 49-35 win over New Mexico State ... just like there's no panic in having a short week of preparation for a pivotal Thursday night Sun Belt Conference game this week.
But there was concern with the Ragin' Cajuns down by three scores to NMSU – during Homecoming activities, no less – and there's concern about facing a Troy team that leads the Sun Belt in total offense in a condensed week.
"There's not a lot of benefits to not having time to prepare," said Cajun senior center Andre Huval, whose squad hosts the Trojans in a 6:30 p.m. ESPNU game Thursday at Cajun Field. "They (Troy) have been known for having a good defense ... they're one of the conference leaders in rush defense, so we'll really have to bring it on Thursday. We're looking forward to the challenge."(Full Article)
sFi_lance
The squad, going strictly by vote totals, is ranked 34th nationally in this week's USA Today coaches poll, having received five total points in that voting.
The Cajuns have also won 13 of 14 home games over the last two and one-half seasons, and their home attendance average of 27,336 leads the Sun Belt and is the second-highest in the state.
"Football is an emotional game," said Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth, "and our kids are feeling that adrenaline from the great atmosphere we've had. Our fans are starting to see the impact they can make when we do this together."
But even with all that, there were more than a few anxious moments last Saturday night when the hosts were 21 points behind a team that now holds a 1-8 record and was a 31-point underdog.
But according to Hudspeth and the Cajun players, there was no panic on the UL sideline during UL's 49-35 win over New Mexico State ... just like there's no panic in having a short week of preparation for a pivotal Thursday night Sun Belt Conference game this week.
But there was concern with the Ragin' Cajuns down by three scores to NMSU – during Homecoming activities, no less – and there's concern about facing a Troy team that leads the Sun Belt in total offense in a condensed week.
"There's not a lot of benefits to not having time to prepare," said Cajun senior center Andre Huval, whose squad hosts the Trojans in a 6:30 p.m. ESPNU game Thursday at Cajun Field. "They (Troy) have been known for having a good defense ... they're one of the conference leaders in rush defense, so we'll really have to bring it on Thursday. We're looking forward to the challenge."(Full Article)
sFi_lance