Football – Confident lot: Cajuns’ strength forged by early season struggles

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • November 3, 2008

When UL’s record-setting running back Tyrell Fenroy walked into the room during the press conference, teammate Mike Desormeaux laughed at what he saw. Fenroy was wearing a red t-shirt with "Mr. 4000" in big blocking lettering on the front – a gift from some old high school friends.

Earlier Saturday night, Fenroy ran for 81 yards and three touchdowns for the Cajuns in a 49-20 win over Florida International before 29,031 at Cajun Field.

In the process, the senior topped 1,000 rushing yards on the season, becoming only the seventh player in NCAA history to top that mark four times. He also became the Sun Belt’s career leader with 44 rushing touchdowns and remained the nation’s active leading rusher with 4,322 career yards.

Fenroy’s run into the record books came in the program’s 1,000th game before the largest crowd in Sun Belt history. Combined with Troy’s loss to ULM, UL (5-3 overall, 4-0) moved into first place in the conference standings with its fifth victory in six games.

Picked in the preseason to finish sixth in the league, the Cajuns are loving life right now. They are 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1980 and need one more victory to become bowl-eligible.

Last season’s 3-9 finish has become a distant memory as UL sits on the verge of its first bowl berth and first outright conference title since 1970.

Look who’s laughing now.

"Confidence is so funny," Desormeaux said. "Confidence really separates a good team from a bad team. You look at us last year to this year. And (defending Sun Belt champion) FAU is not playing as well this year with the same guys.

"Once you get a little bit of confidence in yourself, it does a lot for you."

Just look at this season.

After a 51-21 loss to Southern Miss in the season opener, UL’s fortunes took a drastic turn. The Cajuns lost at Illinois, 20-17, the following week before coming home to beat Kent State, 44-27.

UL came just short of another upset one week later with a 45-37 loss at Kansas State. What followed was a four-game winning streak, including a 28-23 comeback win over Arkansas State on Oct. 18 and last week’s pounding of FIU.

The Cajun defense came up big for the second consecutive game last week, forcing three turnovers and allowing a season-low 270 yards in arguably its best effort of the season. In the second quarter, free safety Gerren Blount returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown, and strong safety Derik Keyes picked off a pass and ran it back to FIU’s 4-yard line to set up another score.

UL’s offense was equally potent, with 444 yards, including 228 rushing, in Desormeaux’s return from a one-game absence with a sprained right knee. The senior quarterback completed 13-of-19 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

The all-around effort was pleasing for Fenroy.

"I couldn’t ask for anything better," said Fenroy, who became the all-time leading rusher in UL and Sun Belt history earlier this season. "Our defense played hard, and our offense played hard.

"The team came together, and we played as one."

The bonding appears to be happening at the right time.

Four games remain in the regular season for UL, including Saturday’s 6 p.m. non-conference contest at home against UTEP (3-5). The Cajuns play at sixth-place FAU on Nov. 15 and at second-place Troy on Nov. 22 before closing with seventh-place Middle Tennessee on Dec. 3 at Cajun Field.

"The schedule will not get any easier," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "It was a very encouraging win, and I am impressed with the focus and intensity we came out with after the off week."

Desormeaux, meanwhile, wants to make sure that intensity continues down the stretch. UL has traditionally finished the season strong under Bustle. The Cajuns won four of their final five games in 2003, their final five games in ’05 and two of three to close out ’06 and ’07.

"At the beginning of the season all we talked about was how this town deserved a winner," Desormeaux said. "They want to support a team so bad. Some guys dedicated our whole season to our fans.

"I was happy we gave the fans a show and something they deserved. I’m just so happy to come out with a win and keep this thing rolling."