Football: Broadway leads players-only meeting

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, September 10, 2014

 

 

On the heels of a 48-20 upset loss to Louisiana Tech last Saturday night, UL senior quarterback Terrance Broadway requested permission from Mark Hudspeth to hold a rare players-only meeting that took place Monday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns coach was glad Broadway took the initiative.

"When your quarterback is sort of grabbing the bull by the horns," Hudspeth said after practice Wednesday night, "you’re pretty excited about it.

"I thought that was a big plus. Terrance came to me, and wanted to meet with the team. Him, and (senior defensive lineman) Christian Ringo spoke to the team and just addressed some of the expectations they have, and just wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page moving forward.

"We talked about it in our (Sunday team) meeting," he added, "and even Terrance talked about, ‘that’s sort of been our calling card, if you think about it, of our success in the last three years, is winning close games, fighting ’till the end.’ And we got away from what we do that game."

Hudspeth, whose 1-1 Cajuns visit No. 14 Ole Miss on Saturday, acknowledged that players-only meetings typically go one of two ways.

One is that it works out quite well, and draws a team together. The other prompts a team to splinter if, he said, "the guys don’t respect the person calling them up."

"But … they respect Terrance," Hudspeth said. "When the wrong person calls it up, those things can go (wrong). When the right guy calls them up, I think it’s a deal where everybody says, ‘Hey, we better listen.’

"Everybody respects Terrance Broadway, and what he stands for, and the work he’s put in. And I know he’s wanting to leave his legacy as a quarterback here."

Broadway, for his part, suggested that UL has no choice but to shake off its loss to in-state rival Louisiana Tech.

"Half the teams in the nation lost (last Saturday)," he said. "Michigan lost their rivalry game 31-0 (to Notre Dame).

"You’ve just got to put it past you. I mean, it’s a game. Just put it past you. Live to play another day. … We’ve got another opportunity this week. Just work it."

CARTER, PIERCE ON RETURNS

Hudspeth said Wednesday that both defensive back Montrel Carter, who was the primary in UL’s first two games of the season, and running back Torrey Pierce will handle kickoffs against Ole Miss.

"We’ve narrowed it down to those two," Hudspeth said. "Torrey got a late one the other night (against Louisiana Tech). It was sort of a short squib kick as the game was winding down.

"But he’s got a little knack, and I think everybody has seen that, for really finding seams. He’s got great vision. So he’s gonna get one, and then obviously Montrel is gonna continue trying to improve too."

Carter averaged 22.2 yards with a long of 32 on his six returns last Saturday, and Pierce actually handled two kickoffs, averaging 25.1 yards with a long of 37.

LAGNIAPPE

Running back Elijah McGuire remains UL’s No. 1 punt returner, Hudspeth said. … Hudspeth said Wednesday that backup Jeremy Sparks is "making a big push" behind starting offensive guard Donovan Williams, so "I think we could see some competition there in the next few weeks." … UL has no plans to move starting center Terry Johnson back to his old starting guard spot and promote backup center Eddie Gordon, Hudspeth said. … According to Hudspeth, senior receiver Jamal Robinson had "another evaluation" of his injured leg Wednesday. Robinson exited the Louisiana Tech game early and did not return. … Linebacker Chris Hill’s academic eligibility situation remains unresolved, Hudspeth said. Hill has missed UL’s first two games.