Time of reflection: UL sports in review

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • January 1, 2009

As the final hours of 2008 ticked away, now is a great time to reflect on the year that was in UL athletics.

There were plenty of big team wins and impressive individual performances from which to choose, but only 10 stories can crack this top 10 list.

These are only one person’s choices, so there’s room for argument. Some you’ll agree with. Some you won’t.

But this we can agree on: these moments will be hard to top in 2009.

1. UL running back Tyrell Fenroy breaks multiple team, Sun Belt records

If Tyrell Fenroy had things his way, UL’s star running back would never get any attention for his individual accomplishments on the field.

Instead, Fenroy was in the spotlight for most of his senior season. In addition to becoming only the seventh player in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons, he ended the year as the nation’s active rusher leader with 4,646 yards. That’s the most in school, league and state history.

His 48 rushing touchdowns are the most by a Cajun and Sun Belt player. Fenroy also set school and league records for single-game rushing yards (297 against ULM on Oct. 4) and UL’s single-season mark with 1,375 rushing yards. He also ran for 19 touchdowns, ending the year 11th in the nation in rushing and eighth in scoring.

Fenroy was also named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, given each year to the nation’s top running back, and was the Sun Belt’s player of the year. He also had his No. 32 jersey retired before his final game, a 42-28 win over Middle Tennessee.

2. UL softball reaches the Women’s College World Series; shocks No. 1 Florida

It truly was a magical season for the Cajuns softball program, which made its first WCWS appearance in five years despite having 10 newcomers and a pitching rotation with two freshmen and one sophomore.

The trip to Oklahoma City got off to a historic start as UL knocked off top-ranked Florida, 3-2, on the opening day. That came after the Cajuns upset LSU and Houston on the road in Regionals and Super Regionals. They ended the season ranked sixth in the final national poll at 55-17.

UL lost only three starters from last season, so a repeat postseason run is not out of the question in 2009.

3. UL men’s basketball wins a share of the Sun Belt’s West Division title

Even with the nation’s third-youngest roster, three seniors and no juniors, the Cajuns men’s basketball team shared the Sun Belt’s West Division championship with Arkansas-Little Rock. That easily exceeded expectations as UL was picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the division coming off a 9-21 campaign.

It marked the first time since 2003-04 that the Cajuns won a divisional title. They last posted a .500 record in 2004-05.

A balanced scoring attack coupled with a stingy defense helped UL go 15-15 overall, including an 11-7 mark in league play.

4. UL football finishes second in the Sun Belt and just misses bowl bid

There was some frustration mixed with the excitement that surrounded the 2008 football season at UL.

The Cajuns went 6-6, including a 5-2 record in Sun Belt action, and finished second in the league standings after being picked to finish sixth in the conference.

UL appeared to have a strong chance of going to a bowl for the first time in 38 years, but the Cajuns were one of four bowl-eligible teams left out of the postseason. Getting passed over exposed the fact the Sun Belt’s secondary agreement with the Papajohns.com, St. Petersburg and Independence bowls was not a contract but a Memorandum of Understanding.

5. Individual honors in softball, baseball and football

Sometimes team success gets more attention than the individuals that make it possible.

UL softball player Holly Tankersley got plenty of individual attention in 2008. The senior outfielder was a first team All-American and selected to the Women’s College World Series all-tournament team. She finished her career in the program’s top five in eight offensive categories, including batting average, home runs and RBIs.

In baseball, senior pitcher Hunter Moody earned first team all-conference honors and became the program’s career victories leader after going 31-7. He ended his career third in league history in victories and in the top 10 in career innings pitched and strikeouts.

The Cajuns football team also brought home two top honors. Running back Tyrell Fenroy was voted the Sun Belt’s player of the year. Quarterback Michael Desormeaux was named the league’s offensive player of the year. No UL football player had ever won either award in the program’s history.

6. UL softball and football ravaged by injuries

Both the Cajuns softball and football teams got bit hard by the injury bug in 2008.

The softball team went through it first as All-America outfielder Holly Tankersley (pneumonia), third baseman and all-Sun Belt tournament selection Melissa Verde (torn anterior cruciate ligament in knee) and sophomore pitcher Brittany Cuevas (shoulder) all missed time during the year with injuries. Still, the Cajuns advanced to the Women’s College World Series.

In football, the Cajuns lost nearly a dozen starters down the stretch to various injuries. That included linebackers Grant Fleming and Richard Brooks at midseason to season-ending knee injuries. Desormeaux (partial tear of posterior cruciate ligament) and Fenroy (head, neck, shoulder) also played most of the year at less than 100 percent.

7. UL baseball has an up-and-down season

After opening the year nationally ranked and picked to win the Sun Belt, the Cajuns baseball team struggled defensively and offensively in 2008. That resulted in a 30-29 season that ended in the league tournament at home. It was the program’s fewest victories since going 30-30 in 2003.

Moody was a bright spot. So was sophomore reliever Justin Robichaux, who set the program’s single-season record with nine saves. Freshman starter Michael Cook became the team’s No. 2 starter after opening the year in the mid-week rotation and went 5-5 with a 4.82 ERA.

Freshman Matt Goulas was a pleasant surprise in left and right field for the Cajuns. He finished second on the team in hits (61), second in stolen bases (16) and third in runs scored (34) and batting average (.287).

8. UL pitchers Danny Farquhar and Hunter Moody drafted by Toronto Blue Jays

Right-hander Danny Farquhar had a frustrating junior season at UL but was picked in the 10th round over the summer by the Toronto Blue Jays. Lefty Hunter Moody enjoyed tremendous success as a senior for the Cajuns and got selected in the 35th round by Toronto.

Both players found success in the minors and closed the year as teammates for the Single-A Auburn Doubledays in the New York-Penn League.

UL has now had at least one player drafted every year since 1982.

9. Long-time UL golf coach Bob Bass retires

Bob Bass wrapped up an 18-year stretch as UL’s head golf coach when he retired in June. He was replaced by former Cajun golfer Theo Sliman.

Bass, who golfed for UL in the 1960s, led the program to nine of its 12 NCAA tournament appearances and won four conference titles.

He was named coach of the year in the American South Conference in 1991 and in the Sun Belt in ’93 and ’97.

10. New era begins as Joseph Savoie replaces Ray Authement as UL’s president

Some people might rank this move higher, but there’s no doubt that the addition of Savoie will play a big role in UL athletics taking a huge step forward in the future.

Savoie, a graduate of UL, has expressed the importance of fielding competitive athletic teams. Under his guidance, the program’s overall athletic future appears to be bright.