Hudspeth, Ragin' Cajuns Take Part In Annual SBC Football Media Day

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football took part in the annual Sun Belt Conference Media Day on Monday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as head coach Mark Hudspeth, offensive lineman Mykhael Quave and linebacker Dominique Tovell took part in interviews with state, local and regional media.

Hudspeth took part in the ESPN3 broadcast with commentators Matt Stewart and Rocky Boiman with the Ragin' Cajuns contingent taking part in the Sun Belt Social Suite, where they answered questions via Twitter.

The Ragin' Cajuns, who were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll that was released last week, opened the day's media availability as Hudspeth, who is 36-16 in four season as head coach of the Ragin' Cajuns, talked about the comparisons between a 2014 squad that stumbled to a 1-3 start, and his 2011 squad that was picked near the bottom of all FBS schools and earned their first of four consecutive bids in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

"Last year, we did not handle expectations very well," Hudspeth said. "We were unanimous picks to win the (Sun Belt) conference, and looking back that was a little bit too much for us to handle. We did not approach it the right way.

"This year, the expectations are different and that has added a completely different element to our off-season training and preparation. It's put a chip on our shoulder. And it's great to get a chip on our shoulder again, because we haven't had one like this since our first year in 2011 when we were picked to finish No. 120 in the country and we finished with a 9-4 record."

With 36 wins under their belt since Husdpeth's arrival, the Ragin' Cajuns have placed themselves in some elite company among schools in the Group of Five, with Northern Illinois, Boise State, Cincinnati and Utah State earning more victories since 2011. And with a new 100,000-square foot Student-Athlete Performance Center set to open in September, Hudspeth and the Ragin' Cajuns are looking to building on a solid foundation.

"We think we've laid a great foundation," Hudspeth said. "Where do we go from there? How do we get better? How do we improve? The things we're fixing to do, I think, are going to help us in the future as we continue the process of becoming a championship program. Moving into a new Student-Athlete Performance Center in September will help us in recruiting and will give us the opportunity to train our student-athletes at a higher level."

Hudspeth addressed the quarterback situation, where Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and redshirt freshman Jordan Davis will vie to replace three-year starter Terrance Broadway. The trio battled during spring practice, with the battle most likely leading up to the Ragin' Cajuns Sept. 5 opener at Kentucky.

"Starting quarterbacks eventually move on, so now we've got the challenge of finding a new starting quarterback," Hudspeth said. "We have three candidates that are battling for the spot. We like those guys … they're very different. One can throw. One can run. One can do both."

Hudspeth, Ragin' Cajuns Take Part In Annual SBC Football Media Day

Players Mentioned

Terrance Broadway

Jordan Davis

Brooks Haack

Jalen Nixon

Mykhael Quave

Dominique Tovell

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