2008 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team

The 2008 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Louisiana–Lafayette competed as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, and played their home games at Cajun Field. The Ragin' Cajuns were led by seventh-year head coach Rickey Bustle. UL-Lafayette finished the season with a 6–6 record (Sun Belt: 5–2).[1]

2008 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record6–6 (5–2 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRon Hudson (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorKevin Fouquier (2nd season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumCajun Field
Seasons
← 2007
2009 →
2008 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Troy $   6 1     8 5  
Louisiana–Lafayette   5 2     6 6  
Florida Atlantic   4 3     7 6  
Arkansas State   4 3     6 6  
FIU   3 4     5 7  
Middle Tennessee   3 4     5 7  
Louisiana–Monroe   3 4     4 8  
North Texas   0 7     1 11  
  • $ – Conference champion

Louisiana–Lafayette came close to an upset against 24th-ranked Illinois at home but ultimately lost, 20–17. The Ragin' Cajuns were also competitive against Kansas State, trailing by 42–37 late in that game, but Louisiana-Lafayette was hindered by ten penalties, twice as many as called against their opponent. Louisiana-Lafayette beat Arkansas State with a touchdown in the last 0:42 to play and won, 28–23. They defeated Florida International decisively, 49–20, before losing to UTEP in Lafayette. lost to Florida Atlantic after trailing, 40–7, in the final quarter. The following week, they were routed by eventual Sun Belt champions Troy, 48–3. UL-Lafayette won their finale against Middle Tennessee, 42–28, which gave the Cajuns their sixth win, and with it, bowl eligibility. The Ragin' Cajuns also finished second in the Sun Belt Conference with a 5–2 mark in league play. It was the third season in four years that the Cajuns became bowl eligible, but the Cajuns did not receive a bowl bid.[2]

Preseason edit

Award Watchlist edit

Award Player Position Year
Rimington Trophy Chris Fisher C JR
Lou Groza Award Drew Edminston PK SR
Doak Walker Award Tyrell Fenroy RB SR
Draddy Trophy Michael Desormeaux QB SR

Sun Belt Media Day edit

Preseason Standings edit

Sun Belt Conference Predicted Standings
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st Place)
1 Florida Atlantic 62 (6)
2 Troy 51 (1)
3 Louisiana-Monroe 46 (1)
4 Arkansas State 39
5 Middle Tennessee 32
6 Louisiana-Lafayette 26
7 North Texas 19
8 Florida International 13

Preseason All-Conference Team edit

Roster edit

2008 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 3 Brady Thomas   Fr
RB 5 Jason Chery Sr
QB 6 Michael Desormeaux Sr
WR 7 Caleb Rubin Sr
QB 8 Brad McGuire   Fr
QB 11 Chris Masson   Fr
WR 15 Verlin Moore So
QB 16 Keldric White   Fr
QB 17 Blaine Gautier   Fr
WR 18 Derrick Smith Sr
WR 19 Marlin Miller So
RB 20 Ian Roberts   Fr
WR 21 Lance Kelley   Fr
WR 22 Antwain Keyes   Fr
RB 25 Undrea Sails Jr
RB 26 Yobes Walker   Fr
FB 27 Phillip Walker Jr
RB 31 Draylon Booker   Fr
RB 31 Deon Wallace Jr
RB 32 Tyrell Fenroy Sr
RB 33 Julian Shankle   Fr
FB 34 Geoffrey McCullough Jr
RB 40 Matt Dupre Jr
FB 44 Jonathan Thomas   Fr
FB 45 Chancellor Roberson Sr
TE 46 Matt Desormeaux So
OT 51 Colin Windsor So
OT 55 Brad Bryant Jr
G 60 Ian Burks So
OL 61 Mike Muguira   Fr
G 63 Josh Robinson   Fr
OT 66 Nasser Jamal So
OT 67 Sean Osborne   Fr
OT 67 Jesse Newman Sr
C 68 Matthew Autrey   Fr
OL 70 Evan Ruiz   Fr
OL 72 Leonardo Bates   Fr
OT 73 Jonathan DeCoster So
OL 74 Kyle Plouhar   Fr
G 75 Brad Bustle Jr
OL 76 Jaron Odom   Fr
C 77 Byrnes Tatford   Fr
OT 78 Kyle Pirtle Jr
C 79 Chris Fisher Jr
WR 80 Darrius Duffy Jr
TE 80 Dusty Mack Jr
WR 81 Richie Falgout So
WR 82 Jawanza Mitchell   Fr
WR 83 Ryan Finney Sr
WR 83 Pierre Hill   Fr
WR 84 Louis Lee Jr
TE 85 Luke Aubrey Jr
TE 86 Matt Ulm Jr
TE 87 Brendan Wilson   Fr
TE 88 Erik Jones Sr
TE 89 Ladarius Green   Fr
WR Matt Campbell Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 2 Orkeys Auriene So
CB 3 Justin Branden Sr
LB 4 Daylon McCoy So
LB 10 Fred Davis So
CB 13 Scooter Rogers Sr
CB 17 Ken Dandridge Jr
CB 17 Ross Goodlett   Fr
SS 20 Derik Keyes Sr
CB 22 Dwight Bentley   Fr
CB 23 Junior Jean Jr
SS 24 Phillip Nevels Jr
SS 25 Frantz Accime So
FS 26 Justin Lee Sr
CB 27 Daryl Hampton   Fr
DE 29 Jonathon Vance Sr
FS 30 Gerren Blount Jr
SS 31 Devon Lewis-Buchanan   Fr
DB 33 Melvin White   Fr
FS 36 Maurice Rolle So
CB 38 Rodney Gillis   Fr
FS 38 Seth Guilbeaux So
DB 39 Tim Jackson   Fr
SS 39 Julian Jones So
LB 40 Chris Richard   Fr
LB 41 Antwyne Zanders Sr
LB 43 Brenton Burkhalter Sr
LB 44 Kyron Benoit   Fr
DE 45 Emeke Onyenekwu   Fr
LB 47 Grant Fleming So
DE 50 Jeremy Cook So
LB 52 Jesse Broadnax   Fr
LB 53 Jezreel Washington Jr
LB 56 Richard Brooks   Fr
LB 57 Fred Okoye   Fr
DE 58 Nate Douglas   Fr
DT 61 Bobby Fails Sr
DE 62 Brandon Williams   Fr
DT 64 Ben Duhon   Fr
DE 65 Kyle Cox   Fr
DT 69 Ross Graham So
DT 71 Jordan Hanby   Fr
DE 71 Trace Wilson   Fr
DT 72 Chris Johnson So
DT 90 Derreck Dean   Fr
DT 91 Sharrick Moore So
DT 92 Tory Day   Fr
DE 93 Hall Davis Jr
DT 94 Jermaine Rogers So
DT 95 LaQuincy Williams Jr
DE 96 Chris Lanaux Jr
DE 97 Terrell Richardson So
DT 98 Lanier Coleman Sr
DT 99 Seth Adams Sr
LB Matt Lafeaux   Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 35 Spencer Ortego So
P 37 Brett Baer   Fr
K 48 Drew Edminston Sr
LS 52 Matt Rosenbalm   Fr
LS 54 Scott Hayes Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:00 pmat Southern Miss*L 21–5132,792[3]
September 1311:00 amat No. 24 Illinois*BTNL 17–2058,632[3]
September 206:00 pmKent State*W 44–2718,241[3]
September 272:35 pmat Kansas State*L 37–4545,558[3]
October 46:00 pmat Louisiana–MonroeW 44–3521,929[3]
October 116:00 pmat North TexasW 59–3017,106[3]
October 186:00 pmArkansas State
  • Cajun Field
  • Lafayette, Louisiana
W 28–2323,684[3]
November 14:05 pmFlorida International 
  • Cajun Field
  • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN+W 49–2029,031[3]
November 86:00 pmUTEP*
  • Cajun Field
  • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN360L 24–3721,065[3]
November 153:00 pmat Florida AtlanticL 29–4014,338[3]
November 226:00 pmat TroyL 3–4819,443[3]
December 36:00 pmMiddle Tennessee
  • Cajun Field
  • Lafayette, Louisiana
ESPN+W 42–2815,321[3]

[4]

Game summaries edit

@ Southern Miss edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at Southern Mississippi – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 0 14 0721
Golden Eagles 14 20 10751

at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 92 °F (33 °C); sunny
  • Game attendance: 32,792
  • Referee: Ed Ardito
  • [1] [2] [3]
Game information

@ Illinois edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at Illinois – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 3 0 01417
No. 24 Fighting Illini 10 7 0320

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C); partly sunny
  • Game attendance: 58,632
  • Referee: Dennis Lipski
  • TV: BTN
  • [4] [5] [6]
Game information

Kent State edit

Kent State at Louisiana-Lafayette – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Golden Flashes 7 7 7627
Ragin' Cajuns 10 13 14744

at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C); cloudy
  • Game attendance: 18,241
  • Referee: Chuck Lewis
  • [7] [8] [9]
Game information

@ Kansas State edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at Kansas State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 3 7 20737
Wildcats 7 21 14345

at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, KS

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 2:35 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C); sunny
  • Game attendance: 45,558
  • Referee: R. Loumiet
  • [10] [11] [12]
Game information

@ Louisiana-Monroe edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at Louisiana-Monroe – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 6 7 211044
Warhawks 3 6 131335

at Malone Stadium, Monroe, LA

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C); sunny
  • Game attendance: 21,929
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • [13] [14] [15]
Game information

@ North Texas edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at North Texas – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 14 21 101459
Mean Green 10 10 7330

at Fouts Field, Denton, TX

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 17,106
  • [16] [17]
Game information

Arkansas State edit

Arkansas State at Louisiana-Lafayette – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Red Wolves 3 7 31023
Ragin' Cajuns 0 7 71428

at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C); clear skies
  • Game attendance: 23,684
  • Referee: Jeff Hilyer
  • [18] [19] [20]
Game information

FIU edit

Florida International at Louisiana-Lafayette – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Golden Panthers 14 0 0620
Ragin' Cajuns 7 28 14049

at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C); sunny, clear skies
  • Game attendance: 29,031
  • Referee: Jeff Roberson
  • [21] [22] [23]
Game information

UTEP edit

UTEP at Louisiana-Lafayette – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Miners 7 9 14737
Ragin' Cajuns 7 3 7724

at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); clear
  • Game attendance: 21,065
  • Referee: Perry Havener
  • TV: ESPN+
  • [24] [25] [26]
Game information

@ Florida Atlantic edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at Florida Atlantic – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 0 7 02229
Owls 12 14 7740

at Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C); humid
  • Game attendance: 14,338
  • Referee: Jeff Hilyer
  • [27] [28] [29]
Game information

@ Troy edit

Louisiana-Lafayette at Troy – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ragin' Cajuns 0 3 003
Trojans 7 10 141748

at Movie Gallery Stadium, Troy, AL

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 19,443
  • [30] [31]
Game information

Middle Tennessee edit

Middle Tennessee at Louisiana-Lafayette – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Blue Raiders 7 7 7728
Ragin' Cajuns 14 7 71442

at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA

  • Date: December 3
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 15,321
  • Referee: Jeff Hilyer
  • [32] [33] [34]
Game information

Postseason edit

All–Conference Team edit

Post-Season Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ Louisiana–Lafayette 2008 Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine, College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved June 28, 2009.
  2. ^ Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, vol. 15, p. 289, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Combined Team Statistics". University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
  4. ^ "Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Schedule - 2008". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.