Jay Caldwell, of Scott, bought a new baseball cap in 1970. That hat, made of red-colored corduroy, proudly shows a "USL" logo.

Caldwell wore it that year when the University of Southwestern Louisiana’s football squad played in the Grantland Rice Bowl in Baton Rouge.

Now, 40 years later and under a new name, the school is finally returning to post-season competition, and Caldwell plans to wear that same hat while watching the UL Ragin’ Cajuns face the San Diego State University Aztecs in Saturday’s R?L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

USL suffered a heartbreaking 26-25 loss to Tennessee State that day, but Caldwell believes the hat will bring the team better luck this year.

"I just kept it over the years, hoping we’d make it to another bowl game," Caldwell said Tuesday afternoon while wearing the now-faded cap. "It’s going to be a great time, and I’m glad to be a Ragin’ Cajun."

Caldwell, along with a group of about 100 UL fans, gathered at the UL’s athletic complex on Reinhardt Drive around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to send off the team amid cheers and support.

"We’re excited to get down there," sophomore linebacker Andrew Hebert said before boarding a bus. "We still have a lot left to do."

The players seemed calm and eager as they loaded bags on the three charter-length buses.

Senior strong safety Lance Kelley said he’s looking forward to playing in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where his favorite NFL team, the New Orleans Saints, play.

"I can’t wait to be there," Kelley said. "It’s really exciting, and at the beginning of the season, the team felt like we would be here at the end."

The athletes each grabbed a bag lunch from Olde Tyme Grocery before boarding, and many players wore red jackets adorned with UL’s logo on the front breast and the R?L Carriers New Orleans Bowl logo on the back.

Nick Barnfield, a sophomore outside linebacker, said he packed plenty of clothes, including both athletic wear and a suit for a nice team dinner. He said he wasn’t worried about packing superstitious items, but he brings a copy of the Bible everywhere he travels.

Barnfield credited the team’s coaching staff for helping the Cajuns earn a bowl-game appearance for the first time in 40 years.

"They put us in a great position to win games," he said of the coaches.

The group of fans waved signs and chanted "Geaux Cajuns" as head coach Mark Hudspeth, wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a red tie, walked through the crowd and shook hands before boarding the bus.

"Let’s go get ’em," Hudspeth yelled to the crowd while holding up the "UL" hand signal.

Caldwell recalled how the 1970 bowl game, played at Baton Rouge’s Memorial Stadium, wasn’t nearly as big of a deal as this year’s game in the Superdome will be.

"This is just so much more," Caldwell said. "It’s like a whole different level."

Coni Trahan, of Lafayette, went to the rally with her 4-year-old granddaughter Eleanor Guidry.

She said her family, including her five children and 12 grandchildren, have always supported the Cajuns, and this year’s bowl appearance holds a special value for her.

Her husband, Robert Trahan, died four years ago, and he always wanted to see the team win a postseason game. This year, her family will watch UL play while honoring his memory and his passion for the team.

"I know he has the best seat in the house," Trahan said.

Samantha Rebowe, whose father Tim Rebowe is an assistant coach for the team, attended the send-off rally while wearing an R?L Carries New Orleans Bowl T-shirt she got during a pep rally after the bowl appearance announcement.

"I’ve been wearing it ever since then," she said. "We need to support and encourage everyone on the team."

By 1:15 p.m., the last UL bus pulled out the parking lot. Some fans began trips to New Orleans while others returned to work before making the trip later this week.

Rose Hoffman Cormier, of Lafayette, attended the send-off rally dressed in the holiday spirit as a Mrs. Claus. She said she hopes the team and the fans will all get the one present everyone wants — a "W."

"We want to have a bowl win," she said. "We hope to fill that Dome."

The team safely arrived at the New Orleans Marriot in the 500 block of Canal Street on Tuesday afternoon.

The Cajuns will practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome from 11:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. today before taking a 2 p.m. visit to the National World War II Museum.

Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Athletic Network Footnote:

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