Football: One more step – Green & Bentley in Saturday’s 62nd Annual Senior Bowl

Brady Aymond, Daily Advertiser, Jan. 25, 2012

A dramatic finish in the Superdome in December left UL Ragin’ Cajun fans wondering what could they possibly do for an encore.

Well, how about having a couple of Ragin’ Cajuns close out their careers in the most prestigious college football All-Star game?

Tight end Ladarius Green and defensive back Dwight "Bill" Bentley are representatives of the South team in Saturday’s 62nd annual Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

"I’m very excited, it’s a privilege to be here playing against all the great seniors from across the nation," Bentley said Monday night during the Senior Bowl’s media night at the USS Alabama Pavilion. "It’s an honor to be in this game when so many other seniors want to be here. I feel blessed."

Both Green and Bentley found out about their Senior Bowl invites the night the Cajuns beat San Diego State to claim the New Orleans Bowl championship.

Bentley says that week will be an awfully tough one to top.

"It was the best feeling of my life," Bentley said. "Winning the bowl game, the first time in 40 years, getting my Senior Bowl and I had graduated the day before the game. It was just a dream come true all in one. I thank God for the blessings.

"I was just happy and excited for me and Ladarius. We came in together as freshmen and it was a long journey and we took the Ragin’ Cajuns to the top. And they’ll stay there."

UL coach Mark Hudspeth made the trip to Mobile on Tuesday to check out his two players, and beamed like a kid on Christmas morning when asked about Green or Bentley.

"Having two guys playing here in the Senior Bowl representing the University of Louisiana is awfully exciting," Hudspeth said. "It just goes to show you the progress you’re making as a program, when you’re sending two guys to the Senior Bowl.

"This season has been an exciting season. These young men have worked awfully hard to get to this point and they’ve earned everything they’ve gotten and hopefully they will get an opportunity at the next level."

The exposure this week will certainly help Bentley and Green’s cause. And the exposure will continue to help the Cajuns’ cause.

UL has as many players playing in Saturday’s game as the entire Big East Conference, which will be represented in the game by Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead and Connecticut defensive lineman Kendall Reyes.

"Winning the bowl game and getting our name out across the country was huge," Hudspeth said. "Getting our brand out in as many homes as we did was great for our program and great for the university.

"Hopefully it will just continue to lead to more bigger and better things."