The Ragin’ Cajun pre-game tradition of tailgating beat out former UL football players Jake Delhomme and Brian Mitchell as ESPN.com’s Face of the Program. The results were released on Tuesday.
"It’s no secret that Cajun people love food, music and drinks, which makes the parking lots around Cajun Field on (UL) game days as festive as anything you might encounter on Bourbon Street or in the French Quarter," wrote ESPN.com’s Chris Low. "In short, it’s one big party. Fans are out in full force hours before the game whether the Cajuns are winning, losing or hovering around .500.
"You never know who you might run into, a political candidate one game or a bunch of fraternity brothers the next."
UL’s sports information director Daryl Cetnar was also quoted in the story.
"That’s kind of the Cajun way," he said of the tailgating festivities. "There’s always a party going on … win or lose."
Moving on up
Former Cajun catcher Jonathan Lucroy, in his second year in the minors with the Milwaukee Brewers, went 0-for-2 on Tuesday night while representing Low-A West Virginia on the Northern Division team in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in Greensboro, N.C.
Lucroy got better news when he was promoted to High-A Brevard County. The Charleston Daily Mail reported the 2007 third-round draft pick by the Brewers was expected to join his new team on Wednesday.
With West Virginia, Lucroy hit .310 with 74 hits, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs.
On the mend
The Canadian Football League career of former UL offensive tackle Jesse Newman has been slowed as he continues to recover from knee surgery. The Calgary Stampeders selected Newman with the third pick in the first round of the CFL’s Canadian college draft in April.
"Just being able to put my helmet on today felt great," Newman recently told the Calgary Herald. "I haven’t been in pads for two weeks now, so it feels good to be back out there, and to do anything on the field is awesome."
Newman has yet to win a starting job because of his injury, the Calgary Herald reported. The CFL’s regular season begins June 26.
Last fall, Newman capped his college career by helping the Cajuns rush for a school-record 3,019 yards. They boasted two 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Michael Desormeaux and running back Tyrell Fenroy and ranked seventh nationally in rushing. Newman’s play up front earned him first team all-conference honors.
Calgary went 7-10-1 last season and finished third in the West Division. The Stampeders advanced to the playoffs but fell in the division semifinals to eventual Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan and quarterback Kerry Joseph of New Iberia.
