UL fans leap from childhood to cheerleading

Megan Wyatt, Daily Advertiser, Dec. 19, 2013

Cydni Angelle, who is graduating in biology Friday, and Jesse Boles, who is a junior mechanical engineering major, lead cheers for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns. / Megan Wyatt, The Advertiser

Athletic Network Footnote: Click here for video of Cajun Walk prior to team departure on Tuesday.

Some of the most enthusiastic Ragin’ Cajuns fans are found not in the stands, but on the sidelines.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette cheerleaders Cydni Angelle and Jesse Boles show spirit for their university in a big way at every game.

Boles is a junior mechanical engineering student. Angelle will graduate Friday with a degree in biology before meeting the rest of the cheerleaders in New Orleans for the New Orleans Bowl game Saturday.

“I’m really looking forward to just seeing all the red in New Orleans the whole weekend,” Angelle said.

As Acadiana natives, Boles and Angelle grew up cheering for the Cajuns.

“We’ve pretty much grown up around this area,” Boles said. “This is all we know, really.”

As Angelle prepares for graduation Friday, she is reflecting on her favorite Cajuns moments.

The memory that stands out most is the Cajuns’ first bowl game in 2011.

“It was just a really good experience for the whole town, the whole university,” she said. “And it was really fun for us to experience that with everybody.”

Something Boles holds close to him is coach Mark Hudspeth’s catchphrase “Don’t let go of the rope.” He most looks forward to celebrating a win Saturday with the Cajun Nation.

And to Tulane Univerity, UL’s opponent Saturday, he has a simple message: “They better show up to play because we’re coming.”