Men’s Basketball: Cheering on the HOME TEAM – Cajuns fans proud of team’s spirit, drive – video

Megan Wyatt, Daily Advertiser, March 22, 2014

Click here for video of The Advertiser and Walk-Ons Cajuns viewing party.

Fans of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s basketball team cheered on their Ragin’ Cajuns to the very last Friday both at the game in San Antonio and in Lafayette.

Fans showed up in full force and red attire for The Daily Advertiser and Walk On’s Ragin’ Cajuns viewing party Friday.

The packed restaurant cheered and groaned in unison as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette men’s basketball team held their own against Creighton, ultimately falling 76-66 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Charles “Chuck” Stockton shook his head in disappointment after the game, which he watched from a Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar table with a group of friends, neighbors and co-workers.

“I think (head coach Bob) Marlin delivered us a fabulous season,” Stockton said. “We had a litany of success, but there’s work left to be done. We’re looking forward to next year.”

Matthew Fadden, a UL civil engineering professor, watched the game from Walk-On’s outdoor bar area with his colleagues.

Fadden had UL in all of his March Madness brackets up until the Sweet Sixteen point, he said.

“My bracket is now not as good as it could have been,” Fadden said with a laugh following UL’s loss. “But it was a valiant effort. It wasn’t embarrassing.”

Jamie Angelle, a lifelong Louisiana State University fan but graduate of UL, calls himself a rare breed of Cajuns fan. He also watched the game from Walk-On’s.

“I love college basketball and March Madness,” Angelle said. “It’s the best time of the year.”

Spencer Comeaux, 15, remembers when the UL men’s basketball team made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2005.

His family allowed him to miss a day of school to attend the game in Nashville, and a sign that said Spencer was a true Cajuns fan for missing kindergarten was featured on ESPN.

“I’ve just been hooked since day one,” Spencer said. “I used to be a ball boy; I’ve played basketball and my dad played basketball. It’s just a fun sport to watch.”

Spencer made a few brackets for March Madness, with one where UL goes all the way.

His mother, Kathy Comeaux, has also been a Cajuns fan since childhood. For Friday’s game, she didn’t want Spencer to miss school so instead of traveling to San Antonio, they went to Walk-On’s with foam fingers and pompons to cheer on the team with other fans.

“We’re just proud of the team and their efforts,” Comeaux said. “I think they have a great team and a great spirit.”