University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Get Ice Cream Delivery But Defense Wins Scrimmage
8/9/2013 12:12:00 PM | Football
Contact:Â Brian McCann
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LAFAYETTE, La. – After four hard days of preseason practice, Ragin's Cajuns head coach Mark Hudspeth had a surprise for the Louisiana players at the end of Friday's morning workout, the first full contact practice of camp.
Instead of the normal hip-hop music blaring from the Juice Machine, the sound machine that the Cajuns use to spin tunes and simulate crowd noise during practice, ice cream truck music played. . . you know, the music that sends kids scurrying for blocks because they know the ice cream truck was coming.
As the music played, the gates to the football practice field opened and a Blue Bell Ice Cream truck pulled in, parked in the end zone of the field the Cajuns were practicing on and began to unload ice cream sandwiches and popsicles for the Louisiana players.
"You've got to do something to make camp fun," Hudspeth said. Â "This came on a day when we practiced hard and needed a shot in the arm and a reward for a good practice."
And for Hudspeth?
"I love an ice cream sandwich with chocolate wafers. Â You can't beat it," Hudspeth said.
On a day when the Cajuns were treated with a reward that a young child would get, it was the old man of the team, sixth-year senior safety Rodney Gillis, that Hudspeth was talking about.
Gillis, who graduated last December and decided not to return in January to get ready for his final season of eligibility, had a change of heart later in the spring and re-joined the team for summer workouts.
Gillis, who ranked second in the Sun Belt with five interceptions last year, was second among the Cajuns last year with 75 tackles (49 solo).
"You can't help but be happy about getting a player like Rodney Gillis back," Hudspeth said. Â "He's got the maturity, experience and that football savvy that you need. Â He is one of our veterans.
"I think that being away from the game and his teammates during the spring got to him. Â He missed the game and knew that he had another chance to play," Hudspeth said. Â "He came back in good shape, but not where he was last year, but it won't take him long to get back to the playing level that he was at last December."
The practice featured a short scrimmage with the defense edging the offense, 31-29, to claim bragging rights for the first time during the fall.
Hudspeth singled out the effort of senior linebacker Andrew Hebert, who finished spring practice by making a game-high nine tackles in the spring game.
"Andrew was very physical today. Â He's trying to show that he belongs on the field and get more reps in practice," Hudspeth said.
Hudspeth also liked the effort of the defensive line, especially redshirt freshmen Remaine Douglas and Blain Winston.
"Those two are really coming on strong and that can only help us improve our depth at the position," Hudspeth added.
The Cajuns were scheduled to spend the afternoon in team and position meetings followed by a walk through early in the afternoon, allowing them to break early and get ready for the first full scrimmage of the year on Saturday.
NOTES: Â Cajuns fans and media are reminded that all preseason scrimmages this year will be closed to both the media and the public. Â The coaching staff thanks you for respecting their request.
