Football: Sheriff recalls days on UL team 12/17/11

Brandon Kane, Daily Advertiser, Dec. 17, 2011

NEW ORLEANS — On the eve of UL’s first bowl game appearance in 41 years, former All-American linebacker, Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom spoke with The Daily Advertiser about his former team, the current players and the success that is to come.

Commenting via telephone interview Neustrom paused for a moment when remembering his playing days, saying, "I’m getting chills thinking about it."

Neustrom, who played for UL from 1965 to 1968, missed out on UL’s last bowl game, but he was no stranger of success, as UL won two conference championships during his career.

"That was a big deal to us," Neustrom said. "We played against some big name people back then."

Those big name people, Neustrom said, included the likes of Roger Staubach and Terry Bradshaw, who both had wildly successful careers in the NFL. It was clear he, as with most players, got excited when talking about playing days, but that excitement also showed itself when he was asked about the current program and its recent success.

"I think (UL’s success) is long overdue, and I think the community is behind the team," Neustrom said. "We’ve got the right coach, and we’ve got the right players."

According to Neustrom, UL had the building blocks of a good team for years, but he said something just did not let it get over the bowl-game hump, until now. He said he feels that a combination of the new coaching staff, the players and the ever-growing support of the community was the spark that helped ignite the Cajuns.

"I think it’s a team effort to have what it takes to get a winning team on the field," Neustrom said. "I think that it used to be a party in the parking lot instead of on the field."

He said he plans on traveling to New Orleans early today to take part in the fan activities, and Neustrom added he cannot wait to see the game.

"That’s all people are talking about, asking, ‘You going to the game, you going to the game, you got a ticket?’ and things like that," Neustrom said. "There are a lot of good vibes in the air."

When asked, he even offered a prediction of the outcome of the game, giving a final score that would be closer than most people would like.

"I would say we will win it by 3," Neustrom said. "I think winning by 3 would sound good to me."