University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
It's Time! Cajuns Set To Open 2014 Season Against Southern
8/26/2014 8:24:00 AM | Football
Record crowd anticipated in second meeting between in-state schools
Game 1 • 14th Annual Herbert Heymann Classic
August 30, 2014 • 6:04 p.m. CDT • Lafayette, La. • Cajun Field (36,900)
Series History: Louisiana leads, 1-0 ... first meeting since 2009 ... previous meeting (9/5/2009) in Lafayette ... Louisiana with 42-19 victory before Cajun Field record 41,357 ... Louisiana is 14-2 in home games since 2011.
RV/RV LOUISIANA RAGIN' CAJUNS (9-4 in 2013)
Head Coach: Mark Hudspeth (Delta State, 1992)
Record at UL: 27-12 (4th season), Career Record: 93-33 (11th year)
-/- SOUTHERN JAGUARS (9-4 in 2013)
Head Coach: Dawson Odums (North Carolina Central, 1997)
Record at SU: 13-9 (3rd season), Career Record: 13-9 (3rd season)
GAME INFORMATION
ESPN3: Matt Stewart, Play-by-Play • Cole Cubelic, Analyst
Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network: Jay Walker, Play-by-Play • Gerald Broussard, Analyst • Steve Peloquin, Sideline
In Lafayette: KPEL 1420-AM (Flagship); KHXT 107.9-FM
Affiliates: KTUX 98.9-FM (Shreveport); WGSO 990-AM (New Orleans); KJEF 1290-AM (Jennings); KLCL 1470-AM (Lake Charles); KRJO 1680-AM (Monroe)
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Tickets: RaginCajuns.com ($30 reserved, $25 general admission)
Twitter Updates: @ULRaginCajuns; Facebook: RaginCajunsAthletics;
YouTube: IAm4RaginCajuns; Instagram: ULRaginCajuns
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will open their 113th season of intercollegiate football on Saturday when it plays host to in-state opponent Southern University at Cajun Field.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:04 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN3 with Matt Stewart (pxp) and Cole Cubelic (color) providing the commentary. The game can be heard statewide on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network with Jay Walker (pxp), Gerald Broussard (color) and Steve Peloquin (sideline) providing commentary.
Louisiana (9-4 in 2013), which captured its first Sun Belt Conference regular-season title since 2005, is coming off a third-consecutive nine-win season that was culminated by a 24-21 victory over Tulane in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The win marked the Ragin' Cajuns third straight bowl victory in New Orleans after ending a 41-year postseason drought in 2011.
Under fourth-year head coach Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana returns 61 letterwinners and 17 starters. Eight starters return on offense for the Ragin' Cajuns, highlighted by senior quarterback Terrance Broadway, who is named to both the Davey O'Brien Watch List and the Manning Award Watch List.
Four starters on the offensive line - LT Mykhael Quave, LG Terry Johnson, RG Daniel Quave, RT Octravian Anderson - return for the Ragin' Cajuns after each started in all 13 games last season. Johnson will move to center in 2014 as he replaces three-year starter Andre Huval.
Running back Alonzo Harris and receivers Jamal Robinson and James Butler are the returning starters at the skill positions for Louisiana, along with running back Elijah McGuire - the 2013 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-America selection.
Seven starters return on defense for Louisiana, paced by preseason first-team All-Sun Belt conference selections Justin Hamilton (DT), Dominique Tovell (LB) and Trevence Patt (DB). Christian Ringo (DT), Corey Tim (CB), Sean Thomas (FS) and T.J. Worthy (SS) on a Ragin' Cajuns defensive unit that was third in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense in 2013.
FIVE QUICK HITTERS
1 - Louisiana has won its last six home openers dating back to a 44-27 win over Kent State in 2008.
2 - In three games against Division I-FCS opponents under head coach Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana has outscored its competition by a combined score of 148-28.
3 - Senior right guard Daniel Quave has started 39 consecutive games for the Ragin' Cajuns.
4 - Saturday's game marks the fourth time (1997, 2003, 2008) the Ragin' Cajuns will start on Aug. 30, matching the earliest starting date in school history.  Â
5 - Senior Terrance Broadway is 13 pass completions shy of tying Brian Mitchell (385, 1986-89) for fifth-place in school history.
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns opens its 113th season of intercollegiate football tonight when it hosts in-state opponent Southern University at newly refurbished Cajun Field.
• Louisiana is 508-525-34 against all opponents dating back to 1901.
• Louisiana is 53-55-4 in season-opening games and 4-19 in openers since 1991.
• Louisiana is 64-37-5 in home openers (106 games).
• Louisiana is 0-8 in games played in the month of August.
• Louisiana is coming off its third consecutive 9-4 season - the winningest stretch in school history.
• Louisiana's 27 wins in the past three seasons (2011-13) is the best mark in school history, surpassing 22 victories (1970-72).
• The Ragin' Cajuns are ranked 40th (12 votes) in the Amway Coaches Poll and 48th (1 vote) in the Associated Press Poll.
• Under head coach Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana is 6-1 against in-state opponents.
• Louisiana is 1-0 against schools from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
• The Ragin' Cajuns defeated Southern, 42-19, in the 2009 opener that drew a Cajun Field-record crowd of 41,357.
• Louisiana has won its last five games against non-conference opponents at home dating back to 2011 (defeated Nicholls State, 38-21).
• Louisiana is 34-18-1 against schools in the Football Championship Subdivision dating back to 1982. The Ragin' Cajuns have won nine consecutive games against FCS schools since 2001.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN
• After opening the season at an even 4-4 mark, including a 2-2 record in SWAC play, Southern closed out the year with five straight victories and walked away carrying its 18th SWAC title in the program's history.
• Not bad for Dawson Odums, who led Southern to a five-win improvement in just his first full year as head year with the program after taking over as interim head coach just two games into the 2012 campaign.
• The Jaguars worked their way past a pair of losses to Houston and Northwestern State to open 2013 before winning a shootout over Prairie View A&M for its first win of the year. They followed with three wins in their next four games, only narrowly falling to Jackson State, 19-14, in that span before being nipped by Alcorn State at home in late October in what would prove to be the final time the Jaguars would tally a mark in the right-hand column.
• Odums' squad reeled off wins over Texas Southern, Alabama State and Clark Atlanta before blasting Grambling, 40-17, in the Superdome to claim the SWAC West title.and earn a berth in the SWAC title game at Reliant Stadium in Houston. There they avenged one of their two league losses on the season with a 34-27, double-overtime win over Jackson State.
• Preseason polls have Southern pegged to carry that momentum over into 2014 as they were picked before the season to repeat as SWAC West champions. Offensive lineman Anthony Mosley and wide receiver/return specialist Willie Quinn were each named to the preseason all-SWAC team, while four other Jaguars received preseason second-team nods.
• Mosley returns to anchor an offensive line that helped SU average 33.5 points per game in the final 11 contests of the season. Meanwhile, Quinn hauled in 33 passes for 444 yards and five scores in 2013; however, he and the rest of the receiving corps will be catching passes from a new quarterback this season with the loss of SWAC Championship MVP Dray Joseph, who set the SU single-season passing record last year with 3,573 yards through the air to go with 30 touchdowns.
• Defensively, the Jaguars will be led by preseason all-SWAC linebacker Daniel Brown, who ranked seventh in the SWAC in 2013 with 5.5 sacks, and fifth with 14.0 tackles for loss. In all, Southern allowed 26.2 points per game in league play a year ago and was second in passing defense, giving up just 206.7 yards per game through the air, despite picking off just three passes on the season.
• The Jaguars also did their fair share of damage on special teams, leading the SWAC in kickoff return yards and being one of just three teams in the league to have a kickoff return for a touchdown last season.
NEXT UP
• Louisiana will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 6) when it renews an in-state rivalry against Louisiana Tech at Cajun Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3.
WE ARE LOUISIANA
• There is confusion among the national sports organizations as how to refer to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
• Our official name is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but much like our opponents around the country, we simply go by Louisiana when referring to our athletic programs.
• Although we proudly refer to our University with its full title for academic purposes, we ask that Louisiana, Ragin' Cajuns or Cajuns be used to refer to us athletically.
14TH ANNUAL HERBERT HEYMANN CLASSIC
• The home opener for the Ragin' Cajuns each year serves as the Herbert Heymann Classic with Saturday's game against Southern University being the 14th edition.
• It serves to honor the prominent Acadiana businessman, community pillar and Cajuns fan who passed away in 2001.
• Heymann is credited with having the largest impact on Louisiana athletics of any non-university employee. He served on the committee that was responsible for building Cajun Field. His fund-raiser tournament helped bankroll Louisiana's golf team for many years while his behind-the-scenes philanthropy helped the program grow in countless ways.
• The Cajuns are 10-3 in Heymann Classic games.
CAJUNS ARE UNANIMOUS SUN BELT CHOICE
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team were the unanimous choice to repeat as champions as the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll was released in July.
• Louisiana, which finished 9-4 last season and clinched its second league title overall and its first since 2005, garnered all 11 first-place votes by the league's head coaches. Arkansas State was picked to finish second in the poll with South Alabama picked third, Troy fourth and ULM fifth.
• Texas State was picked to finish sixth in the poll with league newcomers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern picked seventh and eighth, respectively. Idaho, Georgia State and New Mexico State rounded out the 11-team field.
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll
First Place Votes in Parentheses
1. Louisiana (11) - 121
2. Arkansas State - 102
3. South Alabama - 98
4. Troy - 84
5. ULM - 78
6. Texas State - 70
7. Appalachian State - 47
8. Georgia Southern - 44
9. Idaho - 29
10. Georgia State - 27
11. New Mexico State - 26
BROADWAY EARNS PRESEASON HONORS; 10 CAJUNS NAMED TO ALL-SBC TEAM
• Led by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selection Terrance Broadway, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns placed 10 players on the 2014 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Football team that was announced by the league office.
• The 54-member team, which consisted of 12 players on both offense and defense and three special team selections, was picked by the league's head coaches and media members from each of the Sun Belt Conference's 11 football playing schools.
• Broadway, a senior from Baton Rouge, was one of eight Cajuns named to the first team where he was joined in the backfield by teammates Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire. Also named to the first-team were wide receiver Jamal Robinson, offensive lineman Daniel Quave, defensive tackle Justin Hamilton, linebacker Dominique Tovell and defensive back Trevence Patt.
• Named to the second-team for the Ragin' Cajuns were offensive lineman Mykhael Quave and defensive tackle Christian Ringo.
CAJUNS ON PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
A total of seven Ragin' Cajuns have been named to a combined eight national "Watch Lists" for the 2014 season. The list of includes Daniel and Mykhael Quave, the only tandem of brothers named to the Lombardi Watch List. The full list of Ragin' Cajuns named to a national watch list is below:
• QB Terrance Broadway (Davey O'Brien / Manning Award)
• RB Alonzo Harris (Doak Walker)
• WR Jamal Robinson (Biletnikoff)
• OL Daniel Quave (Lombardi)
• OL Mykhael Quave (Lombardi)
• DL Justin Hamilton (Lombardi)
• LB Dominique Tovell (Lombardi)
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CONTINUTY ON THE LINE
• Louisiana enters the 2014 season with continuity on the offensive line with four of five returning starters, who have combined for 91 career starts.
• Right guard Daniel Quave enters the 2014 opener with a 39-game consecutive start streak with younger brother Mykhael Quave (LT) next with a 26-game streak. Newcomers to the line in 2013 - left guard Terry Johnson and right tackle Octravian Anderson - started all 13 games for the Ragin' Cajuns.
• The expected new starter for Louisiana in 2014 will be Donovan Williams at left guard, with Johnson moving to center to replace the Cajuns' lone departed starter from 2013 - center Andre Huval, who started 39 straight games for the Cajuns from 2011-13.
CAJUNS LEAD SUN BELT IN ATTENDANCE
• A crowd of 25,309 for the final home game of the 2013 season allowed Louisiana to lead the Sun Belt in attendance for the second time in three years.
• In five games, the Ragin' Cajuns drew 129,878 fans for a league-best 25,976 average, edging second-place Arkansas State (24,913) by 1,063 fans to claim the crown.
• It is also the second-highest single-season average, trailing only the 29,171 from 2011.
• The total attendance was the seventh-highest total in school history with five of the other six being accomplished in seasons with at least six home games.
TOP 20 CAJUN FIELD CROWDS
1. 41,357 - Southern (Sept. 5, 2009)
2. 38,783 - Texas A&M (Sept. 14, 1996)
3. 36,133 - Alabama (Oct. 6, 1990)
4. 33,828 - McNeese State (Sept. 15, 2007)
5. 32,823 - North Texas (Oct. 15, 2011)
6. 30,176 - Arkansas State (Nov. 6, 1976)
7. 30,028 - New Mexico State (Nov. 2, 2013)
8. 29,775 - Troy (Oct. 8, 2011)
9. 29,758 - Tulane (Oct. 2, 2012)
10. 29,031 - FIU (Nov. 1, 2008)
11. 28,871 - Nicholls State (Sept. 14, 2013)
12. 28,752 - Northwestern State (Nov. 12, 1977)
13. 28,741 - Nicholls State (Sept. 17, 2011)
14. 28,176 - ULM (Nov. 5, 2011)
15. 27,814 - San Jose State (Oct. 30, 1993)
16. 27,300 - Northern Illinois (Oct. 15, 1988)
17. 26,640 - Louisiana Tech (Oct. 2, 1976)
18. 26,339 - Florida Atlantic (Oct. 1, 2011)
19. 25,881 - #22 Oklahoma State (Oct. 8, 2010)
20. 25,803 - Lamar (Sept. 1, 2012)
Games in bold have been under head coach Mark Hudspeth
CAJUNS ARE SUN BELT CHAMPIONS
• After finishing third in the Sun Belt Conference in 2011 and second in 2012, the Cajuns claimed a share of the Sun Belt title in 2013.
• The title, its second crown in 13 years as a member in the Sun Belt, marks the sixth time that Louisiana has won a conference title in its 50th season playing in a conference.
• The Ragin' Cajuns previously won the Gulf States Conference title in 1970, the Southland in 1976, the Big West in 1993 and 1994, and the Sun Belt in 2005.
SETTING A STANDARD
• In addition to the first-ever, back-to-back-to-back seasons appearing in a bowl game, Mark Hudspeth has helped Louisiana to tie the school record for wins in a season with nine.
• Prior to the 9-4 mark in 2011, the Cajuns set the school record for wins with a 9-2 record in both 1921 and 1976.
• The 18 wins in Hudspeth's first two years, and the 27 victories in the first three, are the most in a two and three-year period in school history.
HARRIS ECLIPSES 2,500-YARD MARK
• With 942 yards rushing in 2013, Alonzo Harris became the fourth runner in school history to total, 2,500 yards rushing in a career.
• Harris, who finished third in the Sun Belt in rushing last season (72.5 ypg), enters the 2014 season ranked fourth in school history with 2,523 yards. He is also third in rushing touchdowns (32) and fifth in attempts (532).
• His career 70.1 yards rushing per game is third best in school history, trailing only Tyrell Fenroy (101.0 from 2005-08) and Brian Mitchell (77.6 from 1986-89). Harris gained 700 yards as a freshman in 2011 and totalled 881 yards in 2012.
CAJUN FIELD SCORING RECORD FALLS
• Despite a home season-low 28 points against ULM in the 2013 regular-season finale, Louisiana broke the Cajun Field record for points scored at home in a single season with 236.
• The Ragin' Cajuns scored 40 or more points in each of the first four home games, including a stadium-record 70 points in the home-opening win over Nicholls State on Sept. 14. The 229 points broke the old mark of the 216 that was scored in five games in 1995.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have scored over 200 points at home in a single season three times in school history, the first coming in 1923 when Louisiana tallied 206 points in five games. The home average of 47.2 points a game broke the previous stadium record of 43.2 set in 1995.
RAGIN' CAJUNS ATHLETICS RANKED 34TH BY NACDA
• After a record-setting year in which five sports claimed conference championships, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns athletic program were rated as the 34th-best nationally according to the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and released by CBSSports.com.
• Louisiana, which claimed regular-season titles in football, baseball and softball while adding Sun Belt Conference tournament titles in men's basketball, men's tennis, baseball and softball, finished as the top non-BCS school in the rankings.
CAJUNS SET NEW SEASON-TICKET MARK
• Coming off a third straight nine-win season, a third consecutive victory in a bowl game and the 2013 Sun Belt Championship, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns have set a new school record for football season tickets with just over three weeks to go until the kickoff of the 2014 season.
• The current total of 13,381 (as of Aug. 25) marks the fourth consecutive year the Ragin' Cajuns have set a season-ticket record, eclipsing last year's mark of 11,833.
JOHNSON, MUNOZ RECEIVE PROMOTION
• Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth announced that current offensive assistants Jay Johnson and Jorge Munoz were each elevated to the position of Associate Head Coach and Passing Game Coordinator, respectively.
• Johnson, who will continue in his role as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has directed one of the top offensive attacks in the Sun Belt Conference entering his fourth season with the Ragin' Cajuns.
• Munoz, entering his seventh year on the staff, has coached the Ragin' Cajuns wide receivers the past three seasons under Hudspeth, helping produce some of the top receivers in school history.
CURE BOWL ADDED TO SUN BELT BOWL ROTATION IN 2015
• The Orlando Sports Foundation and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the creation of the Cure Bowl, a postseason college football game matching-up the Sun Belt Conference against the American Athletic Conference beginning in December 2015. The game will be played yearly at the newly renovated Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the weekend before the Christmas holiday.
• The Cure Bowl will be the Sun Belt Conference's fourth primary postseason bowl game. The Cure Bowl is the second bowl game to join the Sun Belt's lineup in the past year (the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl was announced in August 2013) and the Sun Belt has grown from having just one primary bowl game from 2001 through 2010 to now having four primary postseason bowl game tie-ins.
• In addition to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the GoDaddy Bowl, the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and the Cure Bowl, the Sun Belt Conference is also part of a coalition that will send teams to the Miami Beach Bowl and the Bahamas Bowl on a rotating basis.
MCGUIRE NAMED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
• Elijah McGuire capped off a brilliant 2013 season for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns when he was selected to the 13th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.
• McGuire, a 5-11, 185-pound running back from Houma, La., was the lone Sun Belt student-athlete on the team.
• A first-team All-Sun Belt selection, McGuire ranked fourth in the conference in rushing, carrying 103 times for 863 yards, a nation's-best 8.4 average and seven touchdowns while catching 22 passes for 384 yards and three scores. He had a team-high 16 plays of 20 yards or better during the season.
• McGuire had four 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 137 yards and three touchdowns against Nicholls State in his Cajun Field debut. At Georgia State on Nov. 16, he became one of just four players in the nation this year, and the first in school history, to rush for 100 yards and catch passes for 100 yards in the same game.
"PEANUT" RECEIVES WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
• Chicago Bears cornerback and Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football alumnus Charles Tillman was named the 2013 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The award was presented to him during the NFL Honors awards show at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
• The prestigious award, which is named after the late Bears Hall of Fame running back, is the only league honor that recognizes a player's community service as well as his playing excellence.
• Nicknamed "Peanut", Tillman was a four-year letterman in football for Louisiana from 1999-2002. In 2002, he received All-American recognition; was named an All-Independent selection in 2000; and was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection. He ended his career as a Ragin' Cajun with 284 tackles, 12 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked punts.
RAGIN' CAJUNS POSITION NOTES
QUARTERBACKS
• Terrance Broadway's 36 career touchdown passes puts him in third place all time in the Louisiana record book. Jake Delhomme holds the record with 64, while Roy Henry is in second with 40.
• Broadway also ranks fifth in career passing yards (5,261) after throwing for 2,419 yards in 2013. He needs just seven yards to pass Jon Van Cleave in fourth.
• Broadway holds the record for highest completion percentage in a season completing 65.4-percent of passes in 2012.
• Broadway is fifth on the career total offense list with 6,472 yards in two seasons.
• Broadway along with senior wide receiver Jamal Robinson are tied for fourth in top scoring combos in school history with 10 TD connections.
• Broadway has the most 300-plus yard passing games in Louisiana history with six in two years. He threw for a career-best 374 yds vs. Arkansas State (10/23/12).
• Brooks Haack has seen action in five games passing for 224 yards and a touchdown. Â
• Four different quaterbacks saw action for the Cajuns in 2013: Broadway, Haack, Jalen Nixon and D'Shaie Landor.
RUNNING BACKS
• Both Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire are coming off of All-Conference seasons as the duo was selected to the Sun Belt First Team in 2013. The pair combined to rush for 1,805 and 22 touchdowns a year ago.
• Harris ranks third on the Louisiana career list for rushing touchdowns with 32 after scoring 14 times in 2013. Tyrell Fenroy holds the record with 48 TDs in four seasons.
• Harris also ranked fourth in career rushing yards (2,523) and fifth in career attemps (532).
• Harris tied Brian Mitchell's single-game TD record with five TDs against New Mexico State (11/2/13)
• Harris has been a part of four 100-yd rushing duos including three with quarterback Terrance Broadway in 2012 and one with McGuire in 2013.
• McGuire became the first Ragin' Cajuns player to post 100-yards rushing and 100-yards receiving in the same game against Georgia State rushing for 107 yds on 11 attempts and catching three passes for 125 yds.
• McGuire rushed for 100-yards in four games in 2013 including a season-best 137 yards on nine attempts against Nicholls State. He had three rushing TDs in the game.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
• Jamal Robinson becomes the first Cajuns receiver to be named to the Biletnikoff Watch List since Javone Lawson in 2012.
• Robinson ranks tenth on the career receiving yards list with 1,569 in three seasons. He had a season-best 862 yds and eight scores in 2013.
• Robinson needs four TDs to move into the top 5 in career receiving touchdowns. He currently has 11 after not catching a TD pass in his freshman campaign.
• Robinson has six 100-yd receiving games posting a career-best at ULM (11/3/12) catching three passes for 153 yds and two TDs.
• James Butler has the second most receiving yards among returning wide receivers on the 2014 squad. Butler has caught 49 passes for 679 yds in three seasons.
• The Cajuns return seven recievers who caught at least one pass in 2013 including Robinson, Butler, Jared Johnson, Lance Pace, Devin Scott, Adam Savoie and Nick Byrne.
• Louisiana will have to lean on senior Larry Pettis, Byrne and transfer Evan Tatford at tight end after the departure of seniors Jacob Maxwell and Ian Thompson in 2013.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• The Cajuns offensive line returns four starters from the 2013 season including Daniel Quave, Mykhael Quave, Terry Johnson and Octravian Anderson.
• Daniel Quave holds the most experience having not missed a start in three straight seasons with 39 career starts at right guard.
• Mykhael Quave has the second most experience on the line with 26 starts in two season moving from guard to tackle in 2013.
• Both Anderson and Johnson made starts in all 13 games last season helping guide the Cajuns to their third consecutive bowl game.
• Johnson moves from left guard to center to replace veteran Andre Huval at center in 2014. Huval made 39 starts at center from 2011-13.
• Donovan Williams will take over as the new left guard after transferring from Blinn JC.
DEFENSIVE LINE
• The Cajuns defensive line returns two of three starters from a year ago inlcuding all-conference performers Justin Hamilton and Christian Ringo.
• Louisiana returns seven defensive lineman who saw action in 2013 combining for 110 tackles, 25.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) and 13.0 sacks.
• Hamilton led the way with 9.0 TFL and 4.0 sacks in 2013 and has 19.0 TFL and 9.0 sacks in three seasons with the Cajuns. He led the D-Line with 38 tackles (25 solo) a year ago.
• Marquis White is expected to take over the third starter's position on the D-Line replacing Brandon McCray. White had 19 tackles in 2013.
• The D-line has posted 13 of the Cajuns 21 sacks which ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in 2013.
• Hamilton, Ringo and Remaine Douglas each recovered a fumble in 2013.
• Marvin Martin forced the most fumbles (2) on the defensive line a year ago.
• The line held its opponent under 100 yds just once in 2013 limiting Arkansas State to 79 yds on 25 carries. The Cajuns held seven opponents under 150 yds during the season.
LINEBACKERS
• Louisiana will have to replace over 200 tackles at linebacker with the departure of senior Justin Anderson. Chris Hill and Kevin Fouquier are slated to start in the middle at lineback for the Cajuns with a combined 66 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss (TFL) and 2.0 sacks.
• Dominique Tovell is the leading tackler in the linebacker corps with 88 tackles in two seasons including 15.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks. Tovell had 67 stops (40 solo) in 2013 with 12.0 TFL and two forced fumbles.
• Jake Molbert is expect to join Tovell at the other outside linebacker spot after battling back from a knee injury in 2012. Molbet has 62 career tackles.
• Molbert has 9.0 career TFL and 2.0 sacks despite spending much of the 2013 season as a reserve linebacker.
• Tyren Alexander, Trae Johnson, Boris Anyama and Christian Sager provide depth at the position combining for 77 tackles including 13.0 TFL and 1.0 sack a year ago.
• Transfer Trey Granier joins the Ragin' Cajuns linebacker group after coming to the squad from LSU where he redshirted during the 2012 season.
SECONDARY
• Louisiana returns all four starters in the secondary including Corey Trim, Sean Thomas, Trevence Patt and T.J. Worthy.
• Thomas ranked third on the team in tackles in 2013 with 63 stops (45 solo) including 0.5 tackles-for-loss. He also had the most interceptions on the squad with three.
• The Cajuns secondary provided 10 of the team's 14 interceptions in 2013. Trim and Al Riles provided the only "pick sixes" of the season.
• Patt led the squad with 12 pass breakups a year ago. He also posted 57 tackles (43 solo) along with 1.5 TFL and interception and a forced fumble.
• Dominick Jones is expected to see plenty of playing time in the secondary this season after making four stops in 13 games with an interception in 2013.
• Simeon Thomas will miss the 2014 season with a knee injury after seeing action in 10 games a year ago.
• Zach DeGrange, Jevante Watson, Tracy Walker and Antoinne Adkins add depth for the Cajuns in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Daniel Cadona returns as the Cajuns punter in 2014 after posting a 41.7 average with 4,683 yards on 53 punts. Cadona had a season-best 59-yard punt against at Georgia State (11/17/13).
• Hunter Stover has taken over the kicking duties from Stephen Brauchle this season. Stover was 1-for-1 kicking the eventual game-winning field goal against Tulane in the 2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
• Stover was 2-for-3 on on-side kick attempts in 2013 recovering both attempts himself.
• The Cajuns will look to replace all-conference returner Darryl Surgent with Montrel Carter on kick offs and Elijah McGuire on punts.
• Carter returned six kicks for 78 yards in 2013.
• Jake Guidry will serve as the Cajuns holder on field goal attempts for the second straight season.
• Guidry will take over as the deep snapper on punts, while Stephen Morella will snap on field goals.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE (all times are CT)
August 27
Abilene Christian at Georgia State - 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
August 28
Wake Forest at ULM - 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Cal Poly at New Mexico State - 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
August 30
Troy at UAB - 11 a.m. (Fox College Sports)
Georgia Southern at NC State - 11:30 a.m. (ESPN3)
Montana State at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Idaho at Florida - 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Southern at Louisiana - 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Appalachian State at Michigan - TBA
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August 30, 2014 • 6:04 p.m. CDT • Lafayette, La. • Cajun Field (36,900)
Series History: Louisiana leads, 1-0 ... first meeting since 2009 ... previous meeting (9/5/2009) in Lafayette ... Louisiana with 42-19 victory before Cajun Field record 41,357 ... Louisiana is 14-2 in home games since 2011.
RV/RV LOUISIANA RAGIN' CAJUNS (9-4 in 2013)
Head Coach: Mark Hudspeth (Delta State, 1992)
Record at UL: 27-12 (4th season), Career Record: 93-33 (11th year)
-/- SOUTHERN JAGUARS (9-4 in 2013)
Head Coach: Dawson Odums (North Carolina Central, 1997)
Record at SU: 13-9 (3rd season), Career Record: 13-9 (3rd season)
GAME INFORMATION
ESPN3: Matt Stewart, Play-by-Play • Cole Cubelic, Analyst
Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network: Jay Walker, Play-by-Play • Gerald Broussard, Analyst • Steve Peloquin, Sideline
In Lafayette: KPEL 1420-AM (Flagship); KHXT 107.9-FM
Affiliates: KTUX 98.9-FM (Shreveport); WGSO 990-AM (New Orleans); KJEF 1290-AM (Jennings); KLCL 1470-AM (Lake Charles); KRJO 1680-AM (Monroe)
Live Stats: RaginCajuns.com
Tickets: RaginCajuns.com ($30 reserved, $25 general admission)
Twitter Updates: @ULRaginCajuns; Facebook: RaginCajunsAthletics;
YouTube: IAm4RaginCajuns; Instagram: ULRaginCajuns
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will open their 113th season of intercollegiate football on Saturday when it plays host to in-state opponent Southern University at Cajun Field.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:04 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN3 with Matt Stewart (pxp) and Cole Cubelic (color) providing the commentary. The game can be heard statewide on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network with Jay Walker (pxp), Gerald Broussard (color) and Steve Peloquin (sideline) providing commentary.
Louisiana (9-4 in 2013), which captured its first Sun Belt Conference regular-season title since 2005, is coming off a third-consecutive nine-win season that was culminated by a 24-21 victory over Tulane in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The win marked the Ragin' Cajuns third straight bowl victory in New Orleans after ending a 41-year postseason drought in 2011.
Under fourth-year head coach Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana returns 61 letterwinners and 17 starters. Eight starters return on offense for the Ragin' Cajuns, highlighted by senior quarterback Terrance Broadway, who is named to both the Davey O'Brien Watch List and the Manning Award Watch List.
Four starters on the offensive line - LT Mykhael Quave, LG Terry Johnson, RG Daniel Quave, RT Octravian Anderson - return for the Ragin' Cajuns after each started in all 13 games last season. Johnson will move to center in 2014 as he replaces three-year starter Andre Huval.
Running back Alonzo Harris and receivers Jamal Robinson and James Butler are the returning starters at the skill positions for Louisiana, along with running back Elijah McGuire - the 2013 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-America selection.
Seven starters return on defense for Louisiana, paced by preseason first-team All-Sun Belt conference selections Justin Hamilton (DT), Dominique Tovell (LB) and Trevence Patt (DB). Christian Ringo (DT), Corey Tim (CB), Sean Thomas (FS) and T.J. Worthy (SS) on a Ragin' Cajuns defensive unit that was third in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense in 2013.
FIVE QUICK HITTERS
1 - Louisiana has won its last six home openers dating back to a 44-27 win over Kent State in 2008.
2 - In three games against Division I-FCS opponents under head coach Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana has outscored its competition by a combined score of 148-28.
3 - Senior right guard Daniel Quave has started 39 consecutive games for the Ragin' Cajuns.
4 - Saturday's game marks the fourth time (1997, 2003, 2008) the Ragin' Cajuns will start on Aug. 30, matching the earliest starting date in school history.  Â
5 - Senior Terrance Broadway is 13 pass completions shy of tying Brian Mitchell (385, 1986-89) for fifth-place in school history.
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns opens its 113th season of intercollegiate football tonight when it hosts in-state opponent Southern University at newly refurbished Cajun Field.
• Louisiana is 508-525-34 against all opponents dating back to 1901.
• Louisiana is 53-55-4 in season-opening games and 4-19 in openers since 1991.
• Louisiana is 64-37-5 in home openers (106 games).
• Louisiana is 0-8 in games played in the month of August.
• Louisiana is coming off its third consecutive 9-4 season - the winningest stretch in school history.
• Louisiana's 27 wins in the past three seasons (2011-13) is the best mark in school history, surpassing 22 victories (1970-72).
• The Ragin' Cajuns are ranked 40th (12 votes) in the Amway Coaches Poll and 48th (1 vote) in the Associated Press Poll.
• Under head coach Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana is 6-1 against in-state opponents.
• Louisiana is 1-0 against schools from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
• The Ragin' Cajuns defeated Southern, 42-19, in the 2009 opener that drew a Cajun Field-record crowd of 41,357.
• Louisiana has won its last five games against non-conference opponents at home dating back to 2011 (defeated Nicholls State, 38-21).
• Louisiana is 34-18-1 against schools in the Football Championship Subdivision dating back to 1982. The Ragin' Cajuns have won nine consecutive games against FCS schools since 2001.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN
• After opening the season at an even 4-4 mark, including a 2-2 record in SWAC play, Southern closed out the year with five straight victories and walked away carrying its 18th SWAC title in the program's history.
• Not bad for Dawson Odums, who led Southern to a five-win improvement in just his first full year as head year with the program after taking over as interim head coach just two games into the 2012 campaign.
• The Jaguars worked their way past a pair of losses to Houston and Northwestern State to open 2013 before winning a shootout over Prairie View A&M for its first win of the year. They followed with three wins in their next four games, only narrowly falling to Jackson State, 19-14, in that span before being nipped by Alcorn State at home in late October in what would prove to be the final time the Jaguars would tally a mark in the right-hand column.
• Odums' squad reeled off wins over Texas Southern, Alabama State and Clark Atlanta before blasting Grambling, 40-17, in the Superdome to claim the SWAC West title.and earn a berth in the SWAC title game at Reliant Stadium in Houston. There they avenged one of their two league losses on the season with a 34-27, double-overtime win over Jackson State.
• Preseason polls have Southern pegged to carry that momentum over into 2014 as they were picked before the season to repeat as SWAC West champions. Offensive lineman Anthony Mosley and wide receiver/return specialist Willie Quinn were each named to the preseason all-SWAC team, while four other Jaguars received preseason second-team nods.
• Mosley returns to anchor an offensive line that helped SU average 33.5 points per game in the final 11 contests of the season. Meanwhile, Quinn hauled in 33 passes for 444 yards and five scores in 2013; however, he and the rest of the receiving corps will be catching passes from a new quarterback this season with the loss of SWAC Championship MVP Dray Joseph, who set the SU single-season passing record last year with 3,573 yards through the air to go with 30 touchdowns.
• Defensively, the Jaguars will be led by preseason all-SWAC linebacker Daniel Brown, who ranked seventh in the SWAC in 2013 with 5.5 sacks, and fifth with 14.0 tackles for loss. In all, Southern allowed 26.2 points per game in league play a year ago and was second in passing defense, giving up just 206.7 yards per game through the air, despite picking off just three passes on the season.
• The Jaguars also did their fair share of damage on special teams, leading the SWAC in kickoff return yards and being one of just three teams in the league to have a kickoff return for a touchdown last season.
NEXT UP
• Louisiana will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 6) when it renews an in-state rivalry against Louisiana Tech at Cajun Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3.
WE ARE LOUISIANA
• There is confusion among the national sports organizations as how to refer to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
• Our official name is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but much like our opponents around the country, we simply go by Louisiana when referring to our athletic programs.
• Although we proudly refer to our University with its full title for academic purposes, we ask that Louisiana, Ragin' Cajuns or Cajuns be used to refer to us athletically.
14TH ANNUAL HERBERT HEYMANN CLASSIC
• The home opener for the Ragin' Cajuns each year serves as the Herbert Heymann Classic with Saturday's game against Southern University being the 14th edition.
• It serves to honor the prominent Acadiana businessman, community pillar and Cajuns fan who passed away in 2001.
• Heymann is credited with having the largest impact on Louisiana athletics of any non-university employee. He served on the committee that was responsible for building Cajun Field. His fund-raiser tournament helped bankroll Louisiana's golf team for many years while his behind-the-scenes philanthropy helped the program grow in countless ways.
• The Cajuns are 10-3 in Heymann Classic games.
CAJUNS ARE UNANIMOUS SUN BELT CHOICE
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team were the unanimous choice to repeat as champions as the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll was released in July.
• Louisiana, which finished 9-4 last season and clinched its second league title overall and its first since 2005, garnered all 11 first-place votes by the league's head coaches. Arkansas State was picked to finish second in the poll with South Alabama picked third, Troy fourth and ULM fifth.
• Texas State was picked to finish sixth in the poll with league newcomers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern picked seventh and eighth, respectively. Idaho, Georgia State and New Mexico State rounded out the 11-team field.
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll
First Place Votes in Parentheses
1. Louisiana (11) - 121
2. Arkansas State - 102
3. South Alabama - 98
4. Troy - 84
5. ULM - 78
6. Texas State - 70
7. Appalachian State - 47
8. Georgia Southern - 44
9. Idaho - 29
10. Georgia State - 27
11. New Mexico State - 26
BROADWAY EARNS PRESEASON HONORS; 10 CAJUNS NAMED TO ALL-SBC TEAM
• Led by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year selection Terrance Broadway, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns placed 10 players on the 2014 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Football team that was announced by the league office.
• The 54-member team, which consisted of 12 players on both offense and defense and three special team selections, was picked by the league's head coaches and media members from each of the Sun Belt Conference's 11 football playing schools.
• Broadway, a senior from Baton Rouge, was one of eight Cajuns named to the first team where he was joined in the backfield by teammates Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire. Also named to the first-team were wide receiver Jamal Robinson, offensive lineman Daniel Quave, defensive tackle Justin Hamilton, linebacker Dominique Tovell and defensive back Trevence Patt.
• Named to the second-team for the Ragin' Cajuns were offensive lineman Mykhael Quave and defensive tackle Christian Ringo.
CAJUNS ON PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
A total of seven Ragin' Cajuns have been named to a combined eight national "Watch Lists" for the 2014 season. The list of includes Daniel and Mykhael Quave, the only tandem of brothers named to the Lombardi Watch List. The full list of Ragin' Cajuns named to a national watch list is below:
• QB Terrance Broadway (Davey O'Brien / Manning Award)
• RB Alonzo Harris (Doak Walker)
• WR Jamal Robinson (Biletnikoff)
• OL Daniel Quave (Lombardi)
• OL Mykhael Quave (Lombardi)
• DL Justin Hamilton (Lombardi)
• LB Dominique Tovell (Lombardi)
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CONTINUTY ON THE LINE
• Louisiana enters the 2014 season with continuity on the offensive line with four of five returning starters, who have combined for 91 career starts.
• Right guard Daniel Quave enters the 2014 opener with a 39-game consecutive start streak with younger brother Mykhael Quave (LT) next with a 26-game streak. Newcomers to the line in 2013 - left guard Terry Johnson and right tackle Octravian Anderson - started all 13 games for the Ragin' Cajuns.
• The expected new starter for Louisiana in 2014 will be Donovan Williams at left guard, with Johnson moving to center to replace the Cajuns' lone departed starter from 2013 - center Andre Huval, who started 39 straight games for the Cajuns from 2011-13.
CAJUNS LEAD SUN BELT IN ATTENDANCE
• A crowd of 25,309 for the final home game of the 2013 season allowed Louisiana to lead the Sun Belt in attendance for the second time in three years.
• In five games, the Ragin' Cajuns drew 129,878 fans for a league-best 25,976 average, edging second-place Arkansas State (24,913) by 1,063 fans to claim the crown.
• It is also the second-highest single-season average, trailing only the 29,171 from 2011.
• The total attendance was the seventh-highest total in school history with five of the other six being accomplished in seasons with at least six home games.
TOP 20 CAJUN FIELD CROWDS
1. 41,357 - Southern (Sept. 5, 2009)
2. 38,783 - Texas A&M (Sept. 14, 1996)
3. 36,133 - Alabama (Oct. 6, 1990)
4. 33,828 - McNeese State (Sept. 15, 2007)
5. 32,823 - North Texas (Oct. 15, 2011)
6. 30,176 - Arkansas State (Nov. 6, 1976)
7. 30,028 - New Mexico State (Nov. 2, 2013)
8. 29,775 - Troy (Oct. 8, 2011)
9. 29,758 - Tulane (Oct. 2, 2012)
10. 29,031 - FIU (Nov. 1, 2008)
11. 28,871 - Nicholls State (Sept. 14, 2013)
12. 28,752 - Northwestern State (Nov. 12, 1977)
13. 28,741 - Nicholls State (Sept. 17, 2011)
14. 28,176 - ULM (Nov. 5, 2011)
15. 27,814 - San Jose State (Oct. 30, 1993)
16. 27,300 - Northern Illinois (Oct. 15, 1988)
17. 26,640 - Louisiana Tech (Oct. 2, 1976)
18. 26,339 - Florida Atlantic (Oct. 1, 2011)
19. 25,881 - #22 Oklahoma State (Oct. 8, 2010)
20. 25,803 - Lamar (Sept. 1, 2012)
Games in bold have been under head coach Mark Hudspeth
CAJUNS ARE SUN BELT CHAMPIONS
• After finishing third in the Sun Belt Conference in 2011 and second in 2012, the Cajuns claimed a share of the Sun Belt title in 2013.
• The title, its second crown in 13 years as a member in the Sun Belt, marks the sixth time that Louisiana has won a conference title in its 50th season playing in a conference.
• The Ragin' Cajuns previously won the Gulf States Conference title in 1970, the Southland in 1976, the Big West in 1993 and 1994, and the Sun Belt in 2005.
SETTING A STANDARD
• In addition to the first-ever, back-to-back-to-back seasons appearing in a bowl game, Mark Hudspeth has helped Louisiana to tie the school record for wins in a season with nine.
• Prior to the 9-4 mark in 2011, the Cajuns set the school record for wins with a 9-2 record in both 1921 and 1976.
• The 18 wins in Hudspeth's first two years, and the 27 victories in the first three, are the most in a two and three-year period in school history.
HARRIS ECLIPSES 2,500-YARD MARK
• With 942 yards rushing in 2013, Alonzo Harris became the fourth runner in school history to total, 2,500 yards rushing in a career.
• Harris, who finished third in the Sun Belt in rushing last season (72.5 ypg), enters the 2014 season ranked fourth in school history with 2,523 yards. He is also third in rushing touchdowns (32) and fifth in attempts (532).
• His career 70.1 yards rushing per game is third best in school history, trailing only Tyrell Fenroy (101.0 from 2005-08) and Brian Mitchell (77.6 from 1986-89). Harris gained 700 yards as a freshman in 2011 and totalled 881 yards in 2012.
CAJUN FIELD SCORING RECORD FALLS
• Despite a home season-low 28 points against ULM in the 2013 regular-season finale, Louisiana broke the Cajun Field record for points scored at home in a single season with 236.
• The Ragin' Cajuns scored 40 or more points in each of the first four home games, including a stadium-record 70 points in the home-opening win over Nicholls State on Sept. 14. The 229 points broke the old mark of the 216 that was scored in five games in 1995.
• The Ragin' Cajuns have scored over 200 points at home in a single season three times in school history, the first coming in 1923 when Louisiana tallied 206 points in five games. The home average of 47.2 points a game broke the previous stadium record of 43.2 set in 1995.
RAGIN' CAJUNS ATHLETICS RANKED 34TH BY NACDA
• After a record-setting year in which five sports claimed conference championships, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns athletic program were rated as the 34th-best nationally according to the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and released by CBSSports.com.
• Louisiana, which claimed regular-season titles in football, baseball and softball while adding Sun Belt Conference tournament titles in men's basketball, men's tennis, baseball and softball, finished as the top non-BCS school in the rankings.
CAJUNS SET NEW SEASON-TICKET MARK
• Coming off a third straight nine-win season, a third consecutive victory in a bowl game and the 2013 Sun Belt Championship, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns have set a new school record for football season tickets with just over three weeks to go until the kickoff of the 2014 season.
• The current total of 13,381 (as of Aug. 25) marks the fourth consecutive year the Ragin' Cajuns have set a season-ticket record, eclipsing last year's mark of 11,833.
JOHNSON, MUNOZ RECEIVE PROMOTION
• Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth announced that current offensive assistants Jay Johnson and Jorge Munoz were each elevated to the position of Associate Head Coach and Passing Game Coordinator, respectively.
• Johnson, who will continue in his role as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has directed one of the top offensive attacks in the Sun Belt Conference entering his fourth season with the Ragin' Cajuns.
• Munoz, entering his seventh year on the staff, has coached the Ragin' Cajuns wide receivers the past three seasons under Hudspeth, helping produce some of the top receivers in school history.
CURE BOWL ADDED TO SUN BELT BOWL ROTATION IN 2015
• The Orlando Sports Foundation and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the creation of the Cure Bowl, a postseason college football game matching-up the Sun Belt Conference against the American Athletic Conference beginning in December 2015. The game will be played yearly at the newly renovated Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the weekend before the Christmas holiday.
• The Cure Bowl will be the Sun Belt Conference's fourth primary postseason bowl game. The Cure Bowl is the second bowl game to join the Sun Belt's lineup in the past year (the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl was announced in August 2013) and the Sun Belt has grown from having just one primary bowl game from 2001 through 2010 to now having four primary postseason bowl game tie-ins.
• In addition to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the GoDaddy Bowl, the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and the Cure Bowl, the Sun Belt Conference is also part of a coalition that will send teams to the Miami Beach Bowl and the Bahamas Bowl on a rotating basis.
MCGUIRE NAMED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
• Elijah McGuire capped off a brilliant 2013 season for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns when he was selected to the 13th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.
• McGuire, a 5-11, 185-pound running back from Houma, La., was the lone Sun Belt student-athlete on the team.
• A first-team All-Sun Belt selection, McGuire ranked fourth in the conference in rushing, carrying 103 times for 863 yards, a nation's-best 8.4 average and seven touchdowns while catching 22 passes for 384 yards and three scores. He had a team-high 16 plays of 20 yards or better during the season.
• McGuire had four 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 137 yards and three touchdowns against Nicholls State in his Cajun Field debut. At Georgia State on Nov. 16, he became one of just four players in the nation this year, and the first in school history, to rush for 100 yards and catch passes for 100 yards in the same game.
"PEANUT" RECEIVES WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
• Chicago Bears cornerback and Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football alumnus Charles Tillman was named the 2013 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The award was presented to him during the NFL Honors awards show at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
• The prestigious award, which is named after the late Bears Hall of Fame running back, is the only league honor that recognizes a player's community service as well as his playing excellence.
• Nicknamed "Peanut", Tillman was a four-year letterman in football for Louisiana from 1999-2002. In 2002, he received All-American recognition; was named an All-Independent selection in 2000; and was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection. He ended his career as a Ragin' Cajun with 284 tackles, 12 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked punts.
RAGIN' CAJUNS POSITION NOTES
QUARTERBACKS
• Terrance Broadway's 36 career touchdown passes puts him in third place all time in the Louisiana record book. Jake Delhomme holds the record with 64, while Roy Henry is in second with 40.
• Broadway also ranks fifth in career passing yards (5,261) after throwing for 2,419 yards in 2013. He needs just seven yards to pass Jon Van Cleave in fourth.
• Broadway holds the record for highest completion percentage in a season completing 65.4-percent of passes in 2012.
• Broadway is fifth on the career total offense list with 6,472 yards in two seasons.
• Broadway along with senior wide receiver Jamal Robinson are tied for fourth in top scoring combos in school history with 10 TD connections.
• Broadway has the most 300-plus yard passing games in Louisiana history with six in two years. He threw for a career-best 374 yds vs. Arkansas State (10/23/12).
• Brooks Haack has seen action in five games passing for 224 yards and a touchdown. Â
• Four different quaterbacks saw action for the Cajuns in 2013: Broadway, Haack, Jalen Nixon and D'Shaie Landor.
RUNNING BACKS
• Both Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire are coming off of All-Conference seasons as the duo was selected to the Sun Belt First Team in 2013. The pair combined to rush for 1,805 and 22 touchdowns a year ago.
• Harris ranks third on the Louisiana career list for rushing touchdowns with 32 after scoring 14 times in 2013. Tyrell Fenroy holds the record with 48 TDs in four seasons.
• Harris also ranked fourth in career rushing yards (2,523) and fifth in career attemps (532).
• Harris tied Brian Mitchell's single-game TD record with five TDs against New Mexico State (11/2/13)
• Harris has been a part of four 100-yd rushing duos including three with quarterback Terrance Broadway in 2012 and one with McGuire in 2013.
• McGuire became the first Ragin' Cajuns player to post 100-yards rushing and 100-yards receiving in the same game against Georgia State rushing for 107 yds on 11 attempts and catching three passes for 125 yds.
• McGuire rushed for 100-yards in four games in 2013 including a season-best 137 yards on nine attempts against Nicholls State. He had three rushing TDs in the game.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
• Jamal Robinson becomes the first Cajuns receiver to be named to the Biletnikoff Watch List since Javone Lawson in 2012.
• Robinson ranks tenth on the career receiving yards list with 1,569 in three seasons. He had a season-best 862 yds and eight scores in 2013.
• Robinson needs four TDs to move into the top 5 in career receiving touchdowns. He currently has 11 after not catching a TD pass in his freshman campaign.
• Robinson has six 100-yd receiving games posting a career-best at ULM (11/3/12) catching three passes for 153 yds and two TDs.
• James Butler has the second most receiving yards among returning wide receivers on the 2014 squad. Butler has caught 49 passes for 679 yds in three seasons.
• The Cajuns return seven recievers who caught at least one pass in 2013 including Robinson, Butler, Jared Johnson, Lance Pace, Devin Scott, Adam Savoie and Nick Byrne.
• Louisiana will have to lean on senior Larry Pettis, Byrne and transfer Evan Tatford at tight end after the departure of seniors Jacob Maxwell and Ian Thompson in 2013.
OFFENSIVE LINE
• The Cajuns offensive line returns four starters from the 2013 season including Daniel Quave, Mykhael Quave, Terry Johnson and Octravian Anderson.
• Daniel Quave holds the most experience having not missed a start in three straight seasons with 39 career starts at right guard.
• Mykhael Quave has the second most experience on the line with 26 starts in two season moving from guard to tackle in 2013.
• Both Anderson and Johnson made starts in all 13 games last season helping guide the Cajuns to their third consecutive bowl game.
• Johnson moves from left guard to center to replace veteran Andre Huval at center in 2014. Huval made 39 starts at center from 2011-13.
• Donovan Williams will take over as the new left guard after transferring from Blinn JC.
DEFENSIVE LINE
• The Cajuns defensive line returns two of three starters from a year ago inlcuding all-conference performers Justin Hamilton and Christian Ringo.
• Louisiana returns seven defensive lineman who saw action in 2013 combining for 110 tackles, 25.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) and 13.0 sacks.
• Hamilton led the way with 9.0 TFL and 4.0 sacks in 2013 and has 19.0 TFL and 9.0 sacks in three seasons with the Cajuns. He led the D-Line with 38 tackles (25 solo) a year ago.
• Marquis White is expected to take over the third starter's position on the D-Line replacing Brandon McCray. White had 19 tackles in 2013.
• The D-line has posted 13 of the Cajuns 21 sacks which ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in 2013.
• Hamilton, Ringo and Remaine Douglas each recovered a fumble in 2013.
• Marvin Martin forced the most fumbles (2) on the defensive line a year ago.
• The line held its opponent under 100 yds just once in 2013 limiting Arkansas State to 79 yds on 25 carries. The Cajuns held seven opponents under 150 yds during the season.
LINEBACKERS
• Louisiana will have to replace over 200 tackles at linebacker with the departure of senior Justin Anderson. Chris Hill and Kevin Fouquier are slated to start in the middle at lineback for the Cajuns with a combined 66 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss (TFL) and 2.0 sacks.
• Dominique Tovell is the leading tackler in the linebacker corps with 88 tackles in two seasons including 15.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks. Tovell had 67 stops (40 solo) in 2013 with 12.0 TFL and two forced fumbles.
• Jake Molbert is expect to join Tovell at the other outside linebacker spot after battling back from a knee injury in 2012. Molbet has 62 career tackles.
• Molbert has 9.0 career TFL and 2.0 sacks despite spending much of the 2013 season as a reserve linebacker.
• Tyren Alexander, Trae Johnson, Boris Anyama and Christian Sager provide depth at the position combining for 77 tackles including 13.0 TFL and 1.0 sack a year ago.
• Transfer Trey Granier joins the Ragin' Cajuns linebacker group after coming to the squad from LSU where he redshirted during the 2012 season.
SECONDARY
• Louisiana returns all four starters in the secondary including Corey Trim, Sean Thomas, Trevence Patt and T.J. Worthy.
• Thomas ranked third on the team in tackles in 2013 with 63 stops (45 solo) including 0.5 tackles-for-loss. He also had the most interceptions on the squad with three.
• The Cajuns secondary provided 10 of the team's 14 interceptions in 2013. Trim and Al Riles provided the only "pick sixes" of the season.
• Patt led the squad with 12 pass breakups a year ago. He also posted 57 tackles (43 solo) along with 1.5 TFL and interception and a forced fumble.
• Dominick Jones is expected to see plenty of playing time in the secondary this season after making four stops in 13 games with an interception in 2013.
• Simeon Thomas will miss the 2014 season with a knee injury after seeing action in 10 games a year ago.
• Zach DeGrange, Jevante Watson, Tracy Walker and Antoinne Adkins add depth for the Cajuns in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Daniel Cadona returns as the Cajuns punter in 2014 after posting a 41.7 average with 4,683 yards on 53 punts. Cadona had a season-best 59-yard punt against at Georgia State (11/17/13).
• Hunter Stover has taken over the kicking duties from Stephen Brauchle this season. Stover was 1-for-1 kicking the eventual game-winning field goal against Tulane in the 2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
• Stover was 2-for-3 on on-side kick attempts in 2013 recovering both attempts himself.
• The Cajuns will look to replace all-conference returner Darryl Surgent with Montrel Carter on kick offs and Elijah McGuire on punts.
• Carter returned six kicks for 78 yards in 2013.
• Jake Guidry will serve as the Cajuns holder on field goal attempts for the second straight season.
• Guidry will take over as the deep snapper on punts, while Stephen Morella will snap on field goals.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE (all times are CT)
August 27
Abilene Christian at Georgia State - 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
August 28
Wake Forest at ULM - 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Cal Poly at New Mexico State - 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
August 30
Troy at UAB - 11 a.m. (Fox College Sports)
Georgia Southern at NC State - 11:30 a.m. (ESPN3)
Montana State at Arkansas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Idaho at Florida - 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Southern at Louisiana - 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas State - 6 p.m. (ESPN3)
Appalachian State at Michigan - TBA
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Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Dec 3, 2025)
Wednesday, December 03
Jaden Dugger Media Availability (Nov 29, 2025)
Sunday, November 30
Bill Davis Media Availability (Nov 29, 2025)
Sunday, November 30
Brent Gordon Jr. Media Availability (Nov 29, 2025)
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