Three reads on Louisiana

[ChrisMWilliams]

I'm cramming on the Ragin' Cajuns tonight. Thought I would share these with you guys.

Can Napier's Ragin' Cajuns really run the table in 2020?

Long before UL’s 2020 football schedule underwent a major overhaul due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the whispers started.

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UL football: A position-by-position look at the Cajuns

How is the UL football team shaping up by position as the Ragin' Cajuns head into the 2020 season with a visit to No. 25 Iowa State?

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Cajuns QB Lewis gets it: 'The reason why you do this'

With a presence that inspires others to constantly be at their best, Ragin' Cajuns quarterback Levi Lewis does what any good leader should.

www.theadvertiser.com

 

[VeloClone]

I can't wait for all of the sky is falling talk when the 'Clones aren't up 21-0 after the first quarter.

 

[cyfan92]

Cyclones - 11.5 seems like a touchdown too much. Rajun' Cajuns are really solid and Campbell teams seem to start slow in a season

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Cyclones - 11.5 seems like a touchdown too much. Rajun' Cajuns are really solid and Campbell teams seem to start slow in a season

I kind of like when your "franchise player" and best QB in school history has to dive head-first at the goal line to save a fumble against an FCS team. Shows heart.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Cyclones - 11.5 seems like a touchdown too much. Rajun' Cajuns are really solid and Campbell teams seem to start slow in a season

This team is going to be pretty veteran by Campbell's past standards at ISU, though.

With the exception of the O-line... which sucks because that's the most important unit on the field.

 

[ClonesFTW]

I'm on ULL +11.5 as I could see Clones by 10. Would gladly lose it though

 

[Cyinthenorth]

emotion and energy is going to have to be generated somehow. I'm worried that in cfb, more than most sports, energy is gleaned from the fans in the stands. Navy lost a "home" game last night, 55-3. I am pretty worried about our chances in this first game, I feel like Louisiana is gonna come in amped up and ready.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

kind of interesting when the first link puts Iowa State and Appalachian State in the same category. Are we back to McCarney-era teams now?

 

[cycophagus]

This team is going to be pretty veteran by Campbell's past standards at ISU, though.

With the exception of the O-line... which sucks because that's the most important unit on the field.

Agreed, but remember too, that inconsistency of the special teams units has been greatly overlooked by the prognosticators. That is 1/3 of the game, and a big reason why Septembers have been unspectacular in recent years. I understand, too, that again this year there is no coach assigned as the special teams coach. That is a very enigmatic non-decision.

 

[Jer]

We've been pretty inconsistent even during our recent streak of relevancy... and when have we ever aligned our good years with the years expectations were really high?

The more hype there is for us, typically the worse we do. With hype at an all-time high this year, this is truly a prove it year for those outside our fandom bubble.

I hope the guys are focused and locked in as we never do great with a target on our backs. Our best years are when we surprise people. This should be the first year we can really live up to expectations in quite a while.

 

[Sigmapolis]

We've been pretty inconsistent even during our recent streak of relevancy... and when have we ever aligned our good years with the years expectations were really high?

The more hype there is for us, typically the worse we do. With hype at an all-time high this year, this is truly a prove it year for those outside our fandom bubble.

I hope the guys are focused and locked in as we never do great with a target on our backs. Our best years are when we surprise people. This should be the first year we can really live up to expectations in quite a while.

I agree with much of this, but I am not sure this season feels highly anticipated. Maybe you have a different read on it than me, but I think most of us are just holding our breath that we make it through the season safe and sound and have games, both for our entertainment and for the financial health of the university going forward.

I have not seem much fretting or speculation on here... at all... about how good we are going to be, wins and losses, and potential opportunities in front of us (such as winning the Big 12 regular season). Those were all the talk last year, but it seems this year we are all just going to be glad if we get to have football whatsoever.

 

[enisthemenace]

emotion and energy is going to have to be generated somehow. I'm worried that in cfb, more than most sports, energy is gleaned from the fans in the stands. Navy lost a "home" game last night, 55-3. I am pretty worried about our chances in this first game, I feel like Louisiana is gonna come in amped up and ready.

To be fair, Navy’s coach admitted they have not been doing any contact in practice and were completely unprepared to play. Said he was erring on the side of caution with full contact due to Covid, as player safety was his utmost concern.

I heard that and then immediately thought...”safety” is your greatest concern, and yet you are perfectly OK putting your completely unprepared team on the field against a division 1 opponent? Seems “safe”

 

[Cyforce]

kind of interesting when the first link puts Iowa State and Appalachian State in the same category. Are we back to McCarney-era teams now?

App St is ranked and the only team that beat UL last year so those would obviously be the two biggest hurdles on their schedule. Plus it's UL writers that are listing the toughest part of their schedule. Not sure why anyone would see this as a negative.

 

[Sigmapolis]

To be fair, Navy’s coach admitted they have not been doing any contact in practice and were completely unprepared to play. Said he was erring on the side of caution with full contact due to Covid, as player safety was his utmost concern.

I heard that and then immediately thought...”safety” is your greatest concern, and yet you are perfectly OK putting your completely unprepared team on the field against a division 1 opponent? Seems “safe”

This season, assuming we make it through it, is going to have a huge * on it anyways.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

To be fair, Navy’s coach admitted they have not been doing any contact in practice and were completely unprepared to play. Said he was erring on the side of caution with full contact due to Covid, as player safety was his utmost concern.

I heard that and then immediately thought...”safety” is your greatest concern, and yet you are perfectly OK putting your completely unprepared team on the field against a division 1 opponent? Seems “safe”

Yeah that's incredibly dumb on his part. Weak attempt at saving face. No contact before a real life game, they deserved to get embarrassed like that.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

This season, assuming we make it through it, is going to have a huge * on it anyways.

I hope not. It's pretty normal if you ask me, minus playing Iowa and minus there being fans. The no fans part is huge though, probably not quantifiable the impact it will have, but you know the fans play a big part in hyping up the players

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

This team is going to be pretty veteran by Campbell's past standards at ISU, though.

With the exception of the O-line... which sucks because that's the most important unit on the field.

Experience is always good, but I'm frankly happy to be getting the New Guard into it's years of production.

 

[knowlesjam]

I hope not. It's pretty normal if you ask me, minus playing Iowa and minus there being fans. The no fans part is huge though, probably not quantifiable the impact it will have, but you know the fans play a big part in hyping up the players

Agree, the only thing that would have a potential * would be the playoffs. Otherwise, the conferences (SEC, Big 12, and ACC) will be pretty much the same

One other thought...why start off with a team like Louisiana when there are a couple of dozen opponents that would be a more suitable first game opponent. Maybe they expected 25,000 fans? I choose to believe that the coaching staff things that this ISU squad is really good.

 

[FallOf81]

I get the slow start history of Campbell's teams ... but safe to say since nobody can be there to watch this we will come out rolling and fully control this game. Another "could have been great" Cyclone moment but only this time greatness occurs and nobody is there to party.

 

[enisthemenace]

Do either of those articles try to talk position group matchups? Or is something like that too gray to put together right yet?