1 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: Is it championship or bus for Louisiana football in twenty 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,960 twenty six. We'll talk about it here on Raging Rundown. 3 00:00:26,679 --> 00:00:29,280 What's good, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome into another episode 4 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,719 of Raging Rundown. All Cajuns all the time. I'm your Adgri. 5 00:00:32,799 --> 00:00:34,960 Marcusis Patrack, but you know you can always call me 6 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,880 Fits And in today's episode, we will be putting a 7 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,719 bow on Louisiana. Talking at Sunbelt Football Media Days. In 8 00:00:42,759 --> 00:00:45,240 a previous episode that is on the channel that you 9 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,439 can check out or listen to, we spoke with former 10 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,960 Ragon Cajun's head coach Billy Napier and him now being 11 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,799 the head football coach at James Madison in the Eastern Division. 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,719 The Western Division teams took center stage on Wednesday. I'm 13 00:01:00,359 --> 00:01:05,280 this episode early on a Saturday morning, getting back traveling 14 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,040 that Wednesday afternoon or was it a Thursday? The Thursday afternoon. 15 00:01:10,079 --> 00:01:12,359 I'm getting my days mixed up. It's been a long week, 16 00:01:13,159 --> 00:01:17,280 but I'm recording this episode here on Saturday, recapping what 17 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,200 was discussed by head coach Michael Desermo. I got a 18 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,079 chance to go one on one with him and We're 19 00:01:23,079 --> 00:01:26,519 gonna talk through some of the answers that he gave 20 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,159 and some of the particular questions that I have played 21 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,560 for you. I have three cutups that will go through, 22 00:01:31,719 --> 00:01:34,920 will react and discuss all of those things. But I 23 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:36,959 have that full conversation. I'll link it down in the 24 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,359 description of this video that you can watch it. It was 25 00:01:39,359 --> 00:01:42,599 a full seventeen minute conversation that you can check out. 26 00:01:43,599 --> 00:01:47,079 The first thing is, you know, going into this season, 27 00:01:47,959 --> 00:01:51,840 it was very clear that the Cajuns are still receiving 28 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,799 a ton of respect because the coach's poll, as we 29 00:01:55,879 --> 00:01:59,280 said in last episode, had them picked to finish second 30 00:01:59,319 --> 00:02:02,760 in the Sunbelt West, despite them going six and seven 31 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,920 last season, despite them you know, having a roller coaster instance, 32 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:13,319 there were a few moments that they had opportunities to 33 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,280 still potentially win one or two more games and the 34 00:02:16,319 --> 00:02:20,719 season be completely different. And so because of that, the coaches, 35 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,840 like I said, voted Louisiana to finished second, proving how 36 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,240 much respect that they've gained up until this point. So 37 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,960 they go into the offseason and they have spring football, 38 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,560 and we have talked about in previous episodes all the 39 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:36,840 different storylines they came out of that zilond Piriy and 40 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,159 Bill Davis no longer being there. You're running back room, 41 00:02:40,439 --> 00:02:43,319 needing to see guys step up. Your skill positions, the 42 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,680 receiver positions, you're young there. You know your linebackers, you're 43 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,439 having new starters once again like what you had last season. 44 00:02:52,159 --> 00:02:54,759 You have some experience in the dB room and also 45 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,879 on the defensive line. Those are all the things that 46 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,800 we discussed. And I remember after spring football ended, one 47 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,520 of the things coach Diz talked about was he wasn't 48 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,599 sure what his team would be made of going into spring, 49 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,879 but coming out of spring, he knew that they would 50 00:03:09,879 --> 00:03:13,120 be willing to fight and scrap because of the way 51 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,080 that they performed in the situations that they put in 52 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,319 front of him in front of the team during spring football. 53 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,639 So at media Days, I asked him, coming out of spring, 54 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:26,080 going through the offseason, now hitting into fall camp, what 55 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,840 had he seen differently about his team. 56 00:03:29,159 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I've seen continued improvement, which is what 57 00:03:31,599 --> 00:03:35,080 you're looking for. And you know, you're well aware of 58 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:36,639 the way that we do things, and you know, the 59 00:03:36,719 --> 00:03:39,000 last two years we've signed, you know, twenty and twenty 60 00:03:39,039 --> 00:03:41,159 one high school players, so we're a little bit young 61 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,039 by nature of the last two years we had big 62 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,039 senior classes. I think we have a really talented group, 63 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:48,680 you know, and I think we're young on the offensive 64 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,240 skill positions, but there's plenty of talent. We got to 65 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,159 grow them up. And what I've seen is I've seen 66 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,599 those guys take the advantage, take advantage of the opportunities 67 00:03:56,639 --> 00:03:59,479 they have. I've seen constant study improvement. I've seen them 68 00:03:59,479 --> 00:04:02,159 treat every day like it's just as important as the 69 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:03,960 last or just as important as the next one. And 70 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,520 I've seen continued progress, which is what you're looking for. 71 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: You know. 72 00:04:08,479 --> 00:04:09,919 Speaker 2: I tell them all the time like that, you know, 73 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,120 we're not going in the portal. There is no help coming, 74 00:04:12,159 --> 00:04:14,120 Like it's this is you know, you came here, you 75 00:04:14,199 --> 00:04:16,680 sign here, you're developing. It's time for you to go play, 76 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,519 even as a young player. So I'm excited about the 77 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,480 leadership I've seen on this team, the work ethic they've 78 00:04:22,519 --> 00:04:24,800 continued at a high level. With what we've came out 79 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,600 of spring, the things we saw coming out of Spring, 80 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,079 I've seen it continue through the summer. 81 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:29,399 Speaker 1: You know. 82 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 2: But like I tell them, you know this, we haven't 83 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,160 even scratched the surface. You know this is you know, 84 00:04:33,199 --> 00:04:36,040 we haven't even gotten in the fall camp, so there's 85 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:37,480 a lot of work left to be done. But I'm 86 00:04:37,519 --> 00:04:39,720 excited about this group. And you know, as a coach, 87 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,800 I think that's what you have to do year after year. 88 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,720 You have to get really excited about figuring out who 89 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,839 this team is about, what this team is about, and 90 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:48,319 figuring out the way you can get the most out 91 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,920 of them. And I think if we can maximize what 92 00:04:50,959 --> 00:04:52,240 this team is about, I think we have a chance 93 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,480 to have a really good football team. 94 00:04:54,639 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: And one of the reasons that I think coach Dias 95 00:04:57,399 --> 00:05:02,439 believes that this team could have some special players and 96 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,279 can be special as a as a whole is because 97 00:05:05,319 --> 00:05:08,839 of the positions that they have experience in and where 98 00:05:08,879 --> 00:05:12,399 they have leadership roles. Along the offensive line, you're returning 99 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:15,839 George Jackson for another season. You have Cooper Fordham, they're 100 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,319 the center position, Kaden Morrow, Jamari and Gooch returns. Y 101 00:05:20,319 --> 00:05:24,560 Alexander is also an offensive tackle that was an all 102 00:05:24,959 --> 00:05:29,439 preseason All Sun Belt member by Phil Steele. Jacobe Aisen 103 00:05:29,519 --> 00:05:31,839 had some rotations there in the lineup. You went got 104 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,040 Jason Mitchell out of the transfer portal, so you're very 105 00:05:35,079 --> 00:05:37,759 experienced on the offensive line, like what we talked about before. 106 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,800 On the defensive line, again, you've got guys like Fitzgerald 107 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,160 West and Maxie Bodwin and priest Ash, guys that you 108 00:05:45,199 --> 00:05:49,879 can depend on that have snaps under their belt. Fitzgerald 109 00:05:49,879 --> 00:05:52,759 and Maxie being the seniors of that group that are 110 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,439 going to be able to come in and steer the ship. 111 00:05:56,959 --> 00:06:00,920 But the one position that I think that is very clear, 112 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,839 and it's the one that is always talked about the 113 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,199 most in football, is the quarterback position. Because you have 114 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,720 lunch wind field back and because you're in a position 115 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,399 that is a place that you haven't really been in 116 00:06:14,879 --> 00:06:16,959 since Lee by Lewis. And you know, I brought that 117 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,199 up to coach Daz that this is the first time 118 00:06:19,199 --> 00:06:23,680 that the Cajuns are entering fall camp with a starting 119 00:06:23,759 --> 00:06:27,759 quarterback and not having a quarterback competition. Twenty twenty two, 120 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,519 Levy Lewis is gone. You have Chandler Fields and Ben Woolridge. 121 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:33,800 They battle it out. Chandler wins the job, twenty twenty three, 122 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,199 they battle again, Ben wins the job. Twenty twenty four, 123 00:06:38,519 --> 00:06:41,439 Ben gets the job. They get to the championship game, 124 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,079 they have injuries across the board. Daniel Bill ends up 125 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,439 having to play in the championship game and they ultimately lose. 126 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,120 Twenty twenty five. Walker Howard transfers in. You have Daniel 127 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,519 Bill on the roster, Lunch Winfield is third string. Walker 128 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,279 Howard gets hurt Week one. Daniel Bill plays a couple 129 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,160 of games, you get there to the Marshall game. That's 130 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,519 when Lunch when Field comes in and never turns it 131 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,639 back over as the presumable starter. So now he is 132 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:11,720 entering yet another season as a raging Cajun, his first 133 00:07:11,759 --> 00:07:14,199 full season that he now is going in knowing that 134 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:18,000 he is the starting quarterback, and coach Dez understands now 135 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,600 that having him in this position, knowing what you have 136 00:07:21,759 --> 00:07:23,879 going in is going to be a true boost to 137 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,160 not just the offense, but the team as a whole. 138 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I think that's kind of been the 139 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,319 difficult thing, right it is the last you know, this 140 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,360 is the fifth year, so the last four years, it's 141 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,279 you know, we were so used to having a quarterback 142 00:07:34,319 --> 00:07:36,079 battle going and trying to figure out who it is. 143 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:38,680 You kind of forget how nice it is to have 144 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,480 a starter coming back, and you know what allows you 145 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,800 to do. I think allows everybody to settle in. He's 146 00:07:43,839 --> 00:07:45,879 the guy, he's a starter. It allows you as a 147 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,680 staff to build things to his strength and start to, 148 00:07:49,199 --> 00:07:52,399 you know, eliminate things that he doesn't like as much, 149 00:07:52,519 --> 00:07:55,160 add things that he likes more, and kind of start 150 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,800 building it around him a little bit. So, you know, 151 00:07:57,839 --> 00:08:02,319 it's when your quarterback is a nun position, there's some 152 00:08:02,439 --> 00:08:05,160 value in that. You know, everyone knows who the voice is, 153 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,279 everyone knows who you know that guy is, and you 154 00:08:08,279 --> 00:08:09,959 know Lunch has earned that. I mean the way he 155 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,839 played last year, you know he you know, when we 156 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:13,759 were on life support there in the middle of the year, 157 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,720 he gave us life and he brought this team back 158 00:08:16,759 --> 00:08:19,759 to life. And certainly guys around him played extremely well. 159 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,240 But that happens when they believe in the quarterback, and 160 00:08:23,639 --> 00:08:27,160 certainly everyone in our building, coaches, players, everybody believes in him. 161 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 1: When the team was dead in the water, Lunch brought 162 00:08:33,639 --> 00:08:35,679 them back to life. That's an amazing quote there by 163 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,480 Coach Diz. And it's true because, like we said in 164 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:40,840 the Marshall game, they were down. He brings them back 165 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,960 and they win in overtime. They're able to steer themselves 166 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,159 back to finishing the regular season six and six and 167 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,279 getting to a bowl game once again. You're talking about 168 00:08:51,279 --> 00:08:53,799 being at one point, sitting at two and six on 169 00:08:53,879 --> 00:08:56,200 the season and you're able to get it done and 170 00:08:56,279 --> 00:08:59,279 lunch Winfield was a huge catalyst to be a part 171 00:08:59,279 --> 00:09:03,600 of it. Like I said before, having your quarterbacks solidified 172 00:09:03,639 --> 00:09:06,799 going in, you know who is the main voice that 173 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,799 you're going to be listening to. And now championship aspirations 174 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,679 feel even more important. And that's something that Coach Diz 175 00:09:15,039 --> 00:09:16,960 also talked about, and we're going to get into that 176 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,320 and hear from him of what he said about the 177 00:09:19,399 --> 00:09:23,240 Cajun's expectation to win the championship this season. We'll hear 178 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:30,919 when we return here on Rage and Rundown. Hey guys, 179 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:32,840 thank you so much for tuning into another episode of 180 00:09:32,879 --> 00:09:34,679 Rage Rundown. We're going to get back into the action 181 00:09:34,759 --> 00:09:37,440 in just a second, but before we do, if you 182 00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:40,519 are watching this episode on YouTube, please do me a favor. 183 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,039 Please like it, share it, and leave a comment down below, 184 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,679 but most importantly, make sure you subscribe to the channel. 185 00:09:45,879 --> 00:09:48,320 If you're listening, please follow the podcast feed to rate 186 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,720 the show and leave us a review, because that's going 187 00:09:50,759 --> 00:09:52,840 to help us get in front of more raging Cajun fans, 188 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,879 just like yourself. So, like I said earlier in the episode, 189 00:09:57,919 --> 00:10:00,600 Louisiana was picked to finish second in the sum Boat West, 190 00:10:00,919 --> 00:10:03,559 You'll still pick them to win the sun Belt West. 191 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,120 So they are positioned to be in high regards by 192 00:10:08,519 --> 00:10:13,519 media members myself included that believes that with the returners 193 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:16,360 that they have and the experience that they have in 194 00:10:16,399 --> 00:10:20,200 the positions, that this team, if they're able to stay healthy, 195 00:10:20,519 --> 00:10:22,360 has the opportunity to win the West and get to 196 00:10:22,399 --> 00:10:27,639 the Sun Belt Championship. I asked Coach Deaz the plain 197 00:10:27,759 --> 00:10:30,559 and simple question, what is it going to take for 198 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,559 this team to ultimately get to the Sun Belt Championship? 199 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:35,799 And he has an answer that's about a minute and 200 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:37,279 thirty seconds a long. I'm going to play it for 201 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,480 you in its entirety. And he said something in particular 202 00:10:40,519 --> 00:10:42,840 at the end that really stood out to me because 203 00:10:43,399 --> 00:10:47,879 the way I interpreted it was this is almost championship 204 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,799 or bus let's listen in what coach they said to say, we. 205 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 2: Just got to get the most out of this group. 206 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:54,600 I do think it's a really good group. 207 00:10:54,639 --> 00:10:54,759 Speaker 1: You know. 208 00:10:54,799 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 2: It reminds me a little bit of our twenty three season. 209 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,639 You know, when I sat up here and I said, listen, 210 00:10:58,639 --> 00:11:02,440 we're young, but we're talented. If we handle things with maturity, 211 00:11:02,519 --> 00:11:04,279 we'll have a really good football team. And you know 212 00:11:04,399 --> 00:11:06,440 we're sitting there at four and two. We were in 213 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,919 first place in the West, and we did not handle 214 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,919 things very well. We didn't handle success very well. Truthfully. 215 00:11:14,519 --> 00:11:16,720 We have to learn from that and this group has 216 00:11:16,759 --> 00:11:17,960 to be able to. You know, I was always worried 217 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,080 about not handling failure very well. Well. We handled that 218 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,200 when we didn't play well. We bounced back and played 219 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,759 really well, but we didn't handle the success very well. 220 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:26,639 Speaker 1: Well. 221 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 2: You know, that's a lesson learned. You know, this year, 222 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,080 we've got to be able to get this group to 223 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,000 play consistently. If we get the most out of this group, 224 00:11:33,039 --> 00:11:36,159 we'll be right back in it. But that's the challenge 225 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:37,440 every year. And that's the thing you got to get 226 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,559 excited about, is you got to manage the ups and 227 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,600 downs with the new team with a young roster. Even 228 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,600 though they were a part of last year, a lot 229 00:11:44,639 --> 00:11:47,240 of them didn't play a huge role in it. Now 230 00:11:47,519 --> 00:11:49,480 you know they're gonna be in the spotlight. So that's 231 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,159 what we've got to do. We've got a good group. 232 00:11:51,159 --> 00:11:54,120 We've got a great group of coaches and players, guys 233 00:11:54,159 --> 00:11:56,159 that have worked really hard. And I think when you 234 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,519 have a group of good people that work really hard 235 00:11:58,519 --> 00:12:01,399 for something, I think you can go get what you want. 236 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,240 And for us, you know, we know the expectations. And 237 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,600 in Louisiana it's it's to play in the conference championship 238 00:12:07,639 --> 00:12:10,000 and to win it. And anything less than that is 239 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,159 is uh is sub par. So that's uh, that's the 240 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,840 standard has been there since the day I took this job, 241 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,080 and you know, that's that's what we're going for. 242 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,639 Speaker 1: As you heard there, Coach did said at the very 243 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:28,120 end that the standard at Louisiana is to play for 244 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,919 a conference championship and win it. And anything less than 245 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:40,840 that is sub par, subpar, poor, inferior, below par, missing 246 00:12:40,879 --> 00:12:46,519 the mark, low grade, second rate, substandard, all of these 247 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,759 above average. Is not one of the things that you 248 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,840 would say that it goes along with it. All of 249 00:12:52,879 --> 00:12:57,240 these different things are synonymous with what he's saying. So 250 00:12:58,279 --> 00:13:04,120 to me, this that means that he knows and understands 251 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,799 that they have to put themselves in position to win 252 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,200 the Sunbelt West to get to the championship game and 253 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,080 not just get to it because they did that in 254 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,720 twenty twenty four, but then they've got to get there 255 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,080 and they've got to win it because you have pieces 256 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,240 and key positions, you have guys that are very talented, 257 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,759 like what he was talking about, and he referenced the 258 00:13:26,759 --> 00:13:29,240 twenty twenty three teams. So I went back, and you know, 259 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,320 I've been here working in the Lafayette market since the 260 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,320 twenty twenty one season when they won that Sunbelt championship 261 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,000 in Billion Napier's last season. I've been in Lafayette for 262 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,919 Des' entire tenure as the head football coach of the 263 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,960 Raging Cages. So the twenty twenty two season, I remember that. 264 00:13:46,519 --> 00:13:48,759 How you know, they had the thirteen game win streak, 265 00:13:48,799 --> 00:13:51,480 the nation's longest standing win streak. They go to Rice, 266 00:13:51,799 --> 00:13:53,879 they lose that game and it snaps that losing streak. 267 00:13:53,919 --> 00:13:56,879 They end that season six and six and they lose 268 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:01,360 their bowl game. Twenty twenty three was the second year 269 00:14:01,799 --> 00:14:05,000 that you had Ben Woolwich and Chandler Field's coming back, 270 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:09,879 but you had Xeon Chris coming into the mix as well. So, 271 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,200 as he mentioned, in that SoundBite, you were four and 272 00:14:13,279 --> 00:14:16,320 two after your first six games, you were feeling really 273 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:20,360 good about yourself. But then after that, after the Texas 274 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,600 State victory that you had thirty four to thirty, you 275 00:14:23,679 --> 00:14:27,240 lost to Georgia State at home by three. You beat 276 00:14:27,279 --> 00:14:30,679 South Alabama, you lose by three scores to Arkansas State 277 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,360 on the road. You lose in overtime by a field 278 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:37,720 goal to Southern Miss. You lose by a touchdown to Troy, 279 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:40,200 and then you blow out Ulm to close out the 280 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,960 regular season. You round out the year six and six. 281 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:46,519 You lose in the New Orleans Bowl to excuse me, 282 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:52,480 Jacksonville State by a field goal in overtime. Obviously injuries 283 00:14:53,039 --> 00:14:56,200 were a factor in this, But like he mentioned, as 284 00:14:56,279 --> 00:14:59,360 much talent as this roster had, and I'll go back 285 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,360 and look look at some of those guys so we 286 00:15:02,399 --> 00:15:05,360 can get a perspective of what he's meaning by some 287 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,480 of the talent that they had, because there's been some 288 00:15:08,559 --> 00:15:11,759 time that I've been away to have seen this roster. 289 00:15:11,919 --> 00:15:16,679 But in twenty twenty three, Zion Chris at the quarterback position, 290 00:15:17,759 --> 00:15:21,399 the Jacob Cabodi was one of your running backs. Harvey 291 00:15:21,399 --> 00:15:24,039 brus Or was a true freshman as a receiver, You're 292 00:15:24,039 --> 00:15:27,559 a tyree skipper. Bill Davis was a true freshman KCOSI 293 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,840 was a linebacker for you. You had Neil Johnson at 294 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,200 the tight end position. Like I said, Ben Woolrich was 295 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,799 your quarterback going into the year. You had Lance LeJean 296 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:41,360 at a receiver position. Charles Robertson was another receiver for you. 297 00:15:42,679 --> 00:15:46,000 Lunch Winfield was on the roster at this time. Chandler Fields, 298 00:15:46,039 --> 00:15:48,679 like I said, was also in the mix as well. DREYLN. 299 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,159 Washington was on this roster, as Island Perry was on 300 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,240 this roster. Keon Martin, who is now in the NFL, 301 00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:56,799 was on this roster. So the list goes on and 302 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,440 on of multiple guys that I'm naming off where you 303 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:05,039 had key positions. Peter LeBlanc another guy. You had a 304 00:16:05,039 --> 00:16:08,720 lot of talented guys across the board in different positions, 305 00:16:09,519 --> 00:16:12,879 but ultimately, as they got to a successful point in 306 00:16:12,919 --> 00:16:16,679 the year, they weren't able to sustain that level of success, 307 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,799 and ultimately it caused them to finish the season six 308 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,320 and seven. And what coach does has made it clear 309 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,519 is that they have to be able to learn from 310 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,840 those past mistakes. To not let history repeat itself, to 311 00:16:30,879 --> 00:16:34,679 not go with those trends. So I mentioned that a 312 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,679 guy like Lunch Winfield was on that team, even though 313 00:16:37,679 --> 00:16:40,360 he was not contributing and playing, he was a part 314 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:44,200 of that and he experienced that. So again, if you 315 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:48,399 know that you have a solidified starting quarterback knowing that 316 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,919 he's there, and he is a guy that was a 317 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,879 part of the last team that you felt like was 318 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,000 young talented. You weren't sure how cohesive they would come together, 319 00:16:59,039 --> 00:17:02,279 but you knew that they were young and talented because 320 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,480 he was a part of their team. He knows, Hey, guys, 321 00:17:04,839 --> 00:17:07,759 we can't come in have stepping We got to put 322 00:17:07,759 --> 00:17:09,559 our best foot forward. We have to bring our a 323 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,400 game and if we do that, because of the guys 324 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,640 that we have around us, this team can be really, 325 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:19,400 really good. So, like I said, full conversation with coach 326 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,119 Dez was about seventeen minutes. I'm linking that down in 327 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,039 the description for you. That's what I think is going 328 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,279 to be needed to win a Sunbelt title. These guys 329 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,279 have to be able to hone in and focus. They 330 00:17:31,319 --> 00:17:33,839 have to be able to take care of the little things. 331 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,400 Lunch Winfield, this team will go as he goes, if 332 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,599 he is able to expand his game as a thrower 333 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,519 of the football and continuing to be able to use 334 00:17:45,519 --> 00:17:49,480 his legs in the moments that he has to protecting 335 00:17:49,559 --> 00:17:53,079 himself and staying healthy, and if they as a whole 336 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,599 as a team can stay healthy, then they have a 337 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,799 chance to be special. Coaching staff has to do their 338 00:17:57,839 --> 00:18:01,039 job to elevate these guys and bring the best out 339 00:18:01,079 --> 00:18:05,039 of them in their best possible situations. Which is something 340 00:18:05,079 --> 00:18:07,160 that I asked Coach Dez about. You check that out 341 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,680 in the full interview. How do you bring the best 342 00:18:09,759 --> 00:18:12,039 out of guys that may be younger and trying to 343 00:18:12,079 --> 00:18:14,920 come along into their own They're going to be responsible 344 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,000 for doing that, But then these guys have to go 345 00:18:17,039 --> 00:18:20,799 out and execute it on the field. One final thing 346 00:18:20,839 --> 00:18:23,000 I forget to put it in the rundown there on 347 00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:27,920 the side. Louisiana received another commit in their twenty twenty 348 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:33,000 seven class, now bringing their commitments up to sixteen in 349 00:18:33,039 --> 00:18:37,480 the twenty twenty seven class, as Lafayette Renaissance outside linebacker 350 00:18:37,559 --> 00:18:43,480 and Sineo Charles committed to the Raging Kangins. He is 351 00:18:43,839 --> 00:18:45,640 at my day job at KATC. He is a part 352 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,000 of our Super sixteen, which is what we feel like 353 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,720 is some of the best athletes rising seniors in the 354 00:18:51,799 --> 00:18:55,400 area with the upcoming football season. He was a name 355 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,960 that was a part of that list because of how 356 00:18:58,039 --> 00:19:01,680 freakishly athletic he is. And so I'll tell you about 357 00:19:01,759 --> 00:19:05,240 him in a quick snapshot. He's six foot five, two 358 00:19:05,319 --> 00:19:08,640 hundred and twenty pounds and he plays that outside linebacker 359 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,640 jack position. A comparable that I heard was Andre Jones. 360 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,640 Andre Jones is obviously in the NFL, but that's the 361 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:20,119 comparable that we're looking at that outside linebacker position that 362 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,559 can stand up and drop it and to coverage, but 363 00:19:22,599 --> 00:19:24,559 they can also put their hand in the ground and 364 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,279 rush the passer. And he has all the makeup, the 365 00:19:28,759 --> 00:19:33,440 physical makeup to be able to be a really elite player. 366 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,160 Like I said, sixty five, two hundred and twenty pounds, 367 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,640 he has an eighty inch wingspan and his hand size 368 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,920 is nine and three eight inches, and he also plays 369 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,920 basketball for the Tigers as well. So super athletic kid. 370 00:19:48,599 --> 00:19:50,759 When I did my story on him, I get out 371 00:19:50,759 --> 00:19:53,359 there and he was as vocal as anyone, you know, 372 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,640 encouraging his teammates, coaching them up whenever they were doing 373 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,359 their drills, doing bagworks and all those things like that. 374 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,000 So that's the type of player that you're adding to 375 00:20:03,039 --> 00:20:06,599 this class. Someone that can get after the quarterback, that 376 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,559 can bend the hoop really well. That's athletic that has 377 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:16,160 length and has the ability to disrupt offensive schemes and 378 00:20:16,279 --> 00:20:18,680 be able to get quarterbacks off their spots, make tackles 379 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,240 for losses and all of those great things like that. 380 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,920 So now, like I said, your class is up to 381 00:20:24,039 --> 00:20:26,319 sixteen players. I'll rattle them off for you as I 382 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,400 always do. Shadow Creek tight end Bryce Coleman, a Oyls 383 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,799 defensive lineman, Kobe Smith, Faraday wide receiver, Rob Taylor, Westbrook 384 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:38,680 quarterback Tam Anderson, Angleton offensive lineman Noah Ernz, Blackman wide 385 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:43,279 receiver John Walker, You Lab defensive lineman Mason Smith, the 386 00:20:43,319 --> 00:20:45,960 same time as more safety Land and Ordy Summer Creek 387 00:20:46,079 --> 00:20:50,240 dB Caleb White, Art Bishop Ramo dB, Gavin Cooper, junior 388 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:55,920 Wiley athlete Jabryron Blake, Eastview offensive lineman Adarius Hines, Crawford 389 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:02,279 linebacker Cameron Alakija Elkins outside linebacker Aya Mara, Vanderbilt Catholic 390 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,039 offensive lineman Phillips Sanak, I think that's how I pronounced 391 00:21:06,039 --> 00:21:09,599 it correctly, and then finally laughy at Renaissance outside linebacker 392 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,359 and Seneo Charles. So it breaks down to three offensive linemen, 393 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,039 two d lineman, a tight end, two receivers, four dbs, 394 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,279 three linebackers and a quarterback, Partridge and a paratrie all 395 00:21:20,279 --> 00:21:24,559 of those great things. From what I've been told this 396 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,559 could be their class is they probably will be done 397 00:21:28,559 --> 00:21:31,880 with the number of guys they'll be taking because of 398 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:36,240 the fifth or the five years five seasons rule that 399 00:21:36,279 --> 00:21:41,119 the NTAA has has gone by the eligibility rule, so 400 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,319 there may be a couple more roster spots held up 401 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,839 because of that, and so you may have a little 402 00:21:46,839 --> 00:21:50,559 bit smaller class than what you would have normally had. 403 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,319 How does he fit in into this outside linebacker room? 404 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,519 Right right now? At the jack position, you have guys 405 00:21:56,559 --> 00:22:00,319 like Preston Malbrew, A J. Spencer, Lester Jones, Notrri Brown, 406 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,519 and Ashley Williams. Ashley Williams and Preston Malbrew are your 407 00:22:03,559 --> 00:22:06,880 most experienced players in terms of years played at the 408 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,759 collegiate level. So he's going to be able to come 409 00:22:09,799 --> 00:22:12,880 in and he'll probably you know, get some special teams 410 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:16,359 reps to start off, and then maybe in that second 411 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,720 season he'll be able to work his way in and 412 00:22:18,759 --> 00:22:22,200 become an effective pass rusher for you and eventually, like 413 00:22:22,279 --> 00:22:26,279 coach Desimo you know, mentioned to me at at media Days, 414 00:22:26,279 --> 00:22:30,240 he could potentially be someone that could be really really 415 00:22:30,279 --> 00:22:33,799 talented further down the line, you know, in his in 416 00:22:33,839 --> 00:22:36,319 his career. So kudos to the young man on making 417 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,519 his decision. He also chose the Cajuns over the like 418 00:22:38,599 --> 00:22:43,000 of likes of Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, and I believe Tulane. 419 00:22:43,039 --> 00:22:53,039 He had offers from Tech, Arkansas State, Texas State, Houston, Tulane, Syracuse, Gramblin, mcnice, 420 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:56,799 and Lamar. The Cajuns offered him back in February, and 421 00:22:56,839 --> 00:23:01,319 now he makes his decision here in July. I did 422 00:23:01,319 --> 00:23:04,319 an interview with him at my day job ATKTC. You 423 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:06,960 can go and check that out, and essentially he said 424 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,759 that the reason behind making his decision was that they 425 00:23:11,799 --> 00:23:15,119 said that they would offer him as a very early 426 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,359 on in their twenty twenty seven class, and they stay 427 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,599 true to their word. They put on the full court 428 00:23:20,599 --> 00:23:22,720 press to make sure that they could get him to commit. 429 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:25,799 They land the commitment and now he is a part 430 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:28,559 of that class. So kudos to the young man and 431 00:23:28,599 --> 00:23:30,880 shout out to the Cajuns for being able to get 432 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,759 a hometown kid being able to keep him home. That's 433 00:23:34,759 --> 00:23:37,119 going to wrap up this episode of Rage and Rundown. 434 00:23:37,319 --> 00:23:39,440 If you made it to this point in the episode, 435 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,079 thank you so much. If you're watching on YouTube, please 436 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:44,359 do me a favor. Like the video, share it and 437 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,960 leave a comment down below, but most importantly, make sure 438 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,559 you're subscribed to the channel. If you're listening, please follow 439 00:23:49,599 --> 00:23:52,039 the podcast feed, rate the show, and leave us a review, 440 00:23:52,279 --> 00:23:53,759 because that's going to help us get in front of 441 00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:57,440 more raging Cajun fans. Just like yourself. I'm your Gudja 442 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,920 Marcus Fitzpatrick. We'll see you guys next time.