Football: Hudspeth impresses in team meeting

Football: Hudspeth impresses in team meeting

Football: Hudspeth impresses in team meeting

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • January 12, 2011

For the first time since taking over as UL’s new head football coach nearly a month ago, Mark Hudspeth met with all of his players and coaching staff on Tuesday night.

Chris Masson, a junior quarterback, walked away impressed.

"He’s a very enthusiastic guy, and I’m excited about it," Masson said. "The other guys are excited about it. He has a certain way that he wants to do things, and we’re going to follow him. He’s our leader. We’re fired up and ready to go. We want to take this team to a championship level."We feel like we have the players, and hopefully we have the guidance now."

Hudspeth, who had spent the past two years as the receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Mississippi State, was unable to meet with his players last month. He was introduced as the replacement for Rickey Bustle one week after final exams for the fall semester, meaning that almost all of his players were already back home until January.Over the past few weeks, Hudspeth had contacted his players and spoken with them via telephone. He started Tuesday’s meeting by introducing himself and telling his players what was expected of them in his program. UL starts classes for the spring semester today."This was a day that I was really looking forward to because when I was hired the team had already gone home for the Christmas break," Hudspeth said. "The entire process never really starts until you actually meet with you team and put the plan into motion. It was a very exciting tonight and very rewarding to meet with the guys. Hopefully, over the next few weeks and months we can build a lot of new trust between the coaches and players as we put the plan into motion."

Hudspeth got back into town Tuesday after spending a few days at the American Football Coaches Association’s Convention in Dallas. He shared a number of his inspirational phrases and core values with the players during Tuesday’s team meeting. He also introduced the eight assistant coaches that he’s hired so far. The Cajuns still need a receivers coach.

It was also important for Hudspeth to see all of his players displaying proper body language as well as sitting up straight and focusing on the plan moving ahead.

"We talked about it tonight that you’re either a winner or you’re a loser, and it’s very important that we try to be winners all of the time," Hudspeth said. "You can’t be a winner part of the time. We want to be a winner in the classroom. We want to be a winner in the community. We want to be a winner on the field. To me, you can’t be a winner part of the time and call yourself a winner, so we’re going to work awfully hard in all of those areas."

Over the next few weeks, Hudspeth plans to use a variety of team-building exercises to allow himself and his coaches the best opportunity to evaluate his players and what they have to offer.The Cajuns already started voluntary workouts on Monday and Tuesday, and nearly every player showed up despite the chilly temperatures. They will meet with their coordinators and position coaches today before gathering together again tonight. Thursday will be the first day of workouts.

On Saturday, Hudspeth will lead a voluntary early morning run as well as other physical challenges. It’s all part of a new beginning for Hudspeth, his players and coaches and Ragin’ Cajun football. UL is coming off a 3-9 season.

"It is a new beginning and a new slate for everybody," Masson said. "If you weren’t doing things right before, you get to start over. He doesn’t care about the past. He’s worried about the future. We’re definitely excited and ready to go."