Fans of all levels — diehards, bandwagon jumpers and even LSU fans — arrived at Cajun Field as early as 7 a.m. Saturday in order to set up tents, barbecue pits, burners and televisions as they tailgated before the much anticipated UL Ragin’ Cajuns’ homecoming game against North Texas.

Although homecoming is always highly anticipated because of the weeklong activities and parade before the game, the Cajuns being off to a 5-1 start this season has given fans more reason to be ecstatic this year.

"I’ve been a Cajuns supporter win or lose since 1997," said Jeremy Gautreaux, a resident of Cecilia but originally from New Orleans. "I came to school here for three years, and since my first day I’ve been a supporter. I try to come out as often as I can, because it’s just a great atmosphere."

Carencro native Phil Phillips echoed the sentiments of Gautreaux, stating the excitement around the football team has made the tailgating experience that much more enjoyable.

"I’ve been coming out here tailgating for a few years now," Phillips said. "But out of all the years I’ve come here and tailgated, this is by far the most people I’ve seen here. The atmosphere is just completely different around here. You see a lot more people wearing red and a lot more fans coming out and enjoying the great atmosphere. It is really great."

Tailgaters, whose food menu included jambalaya, barbecue chicken, pork chops, steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers, fried fish, shrimp and alligator, entertained themselves in the early morning with different genres of music and games such as washers, dominoes and tackle the man with the football.

"This is really awesome," Carencro resident Michael Olivier said. "We are all out here having a blast. It’s really an all day affair. Everyone here is having a great time and it really looks a lot like Mardi Gras. It is just an unbelievable atmosphere."

Broussard resident Julie Schrader believes that instead of a family outing to the park, tailgating at Cajun Field would be a better experience for everyone involved.

"We’ve been having a lot of fun and it has really been a great thing for the kids," Schrader said. "This is the first year that we have a spot where we could set up a tent, because in years past we’d tailgate out the back of our truck. My kids have made so many friends all down the line with the other people tailgating. They actually wait for the other kids to get here. It’s very friendly, safe and enjoyable atmosphere."

Displaying support for the Ragin’ Cajuns is essential, according to Kimberly Gautreaux, who was more than impressed by the turnout at Cajun Field.

"The diehards like me have been coming out the entire time in years past, win or lose," Kimberly Gautreaux said. "But since the football team has been winning, we’ve seen a lot more people come out to support the team, and that’s great. This is a very exciting time for all of us, because we’ve been supporting the program when they were losing, and now that they are winning, we couldn’t be any happier than we are right now."

What the UL program has been able to accomplish on the football field, combined with the show of support by the community, have the fans believing this is once again Cajun country.

"I’ve been very surprised by the show of support from the community for the Cajuns’ football program," Olivier said. "It’s sad to say this, but this was LSU’s town although it was right in UL’s backyard. But since coach (Mark) Hudspeth has arrived, we’ve taken it back."

"The new coach has a lot to do with it," Schrader said. "He has made every effort to really rally the community and get them to come out to the games, and it has shown. What we see here today is not only great for the program and the players, but it is great for the community."