Football: Cajuns reach milestone in season ticket sales + more

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, August 24, 2012

The Ragin’ Cajuns football program hit a milestone Thursday, surpassing the 10,000 mark in season-ticket sales.

That’s nearly one-third of the listed capacity of 31,000 at Cajun Field, and UL coach Mark Hudspeth was happy to hear the news.

"A lot of schools, a lot of fans, in the Sun Belt (Conference) claim to be the best," Hudspeth said after practice Thursday night. "Ours prove it.

"A lot of places talk the talk. Our fans walk the walk. We’ve got unbelievable support here, and I just couldn’t be more proud of our fans.

"This is only the beginning," the Cajun coach added. "Our fans have been there "» and we’re going to continue every year to improve and try to make Cajun Field a place nobody wants to come play."

The Cajuns, who open their 2012 schedule Sept. 1 vs. Lamar, averaged 29,171 last season.

White on watch list

UL senior cornerback Melvin White was one of 312 college seniors and NFL prospects, and one of 11 from the Sun Belt Conference, named Thursday to the Senior Bowl watch list.

The top 100 seniors in the country will be invited to play in the Jan. 26, 2013, game at Mobile.

Cajuns Dwight "Bill" Bentley and Ladarius Green played in the same game last season.

Bentley wound up being selected by Detroit in the third round of the NFL Draft, and Green went to the San Diego in the fourth round.

White was the only UL player put in the list.

Other Sun Belt players listed: Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin and receiver Josh Jarboe; Florida International safety Jonathan Cyprien, offensive lineman Caylin Hauptmann and defensive end Tourek Williams; South Alabama linebacker Jake Johnson and safety B.J. Scott; Troy cornerback T.J Bryant and safety Brynden Trawick; and Western Kentucky tight end Jack Doyle.

Numbers game

A few Cajun roster number updates:

True-freshman safety Al-Damion Riles earned a number this week, getting 25 after having doubled up in preseason camp at 16 with freshman quarterback Brooks Haack.

Receiver Bradley Brown, a transfer from Northwestern State, changed from No. 81 and took the old No. 23 of cornerback Dexter Aucoin, who left the program.

True freshmen Remaine Douglas and Darrien Batiste also recently swapped numbers, with Douglas taking 99 and Batiste 53.

One hot pepper

UL’s Cayenne checked in at No. 23 Thursday on Yahoo.com’s Top 25 list of "unique, inspiring, and memorable nicknames/mascots."

Michigan State’s Spartan was No. 1