Football: Gerami SBC Special Teams POW

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns freshman safety Cooper Gerami was named the Sun Belt Conference Specials Team Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Monday.  Gerami was instrumental in the Cajuns 23-22 victory at La.-Monroe on Saturday.

Special teams have always been special for the Cajuns under head coach Rickey Bustle. In Saturday’s season finale that proved to be the case once again. After watching a 10-point lead slip down to one point, La.-Monroe was in position to tie the game with an extra point with 4:55 left to play. Gerami burst through the line to swat the extra point attempt and preserve victory for the Cajuns over their in-state rivals. The blocked kick was the 44th of the Bustle Era and prevented the Warhawks from gaining bowl eligibility. Gerami also added five tackles on the night.

Linebacker Grant Fleming was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association.  Fleming recorded a game-high 17 tackles at La.-Monroe which establishes a new standard for the Ragin’ Cajuns in Sun Belt play, besting the previous high watermark of 15 tackles by Stanley Smith against Troy on Nov. 13, 2004.