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UL Notebook: Football – 13 Seniors, Tyrell Fenroy, History, Block Party, SB News, More

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • December 4, 2008

Before Wednesday’s game against Middle Tennessee, UL honored its 13 seniors and retired the No. 32 jersey of running back Tyrell Fenroy.

The Cajuns made the unprecedented move to retire Fenroy’s jersey after airing a video on the scoreboard of his career highlights. Overcome with emotion, Fenroy kneeled with his parents by his side on the field when the announcement was made.

Fenroy, the nation’s active career rushing leader, is only the seventh player in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Earlier this season the LaPlace native became the career rushing leader in school, Sun Belt and state history.

On Wednesday, Fenroy broke Brian Mitchell’s single-season rushing record (1,311 yards) and his career mark for rushing touchdowns (47).

Other seniors that were honored included cornerback Justin Branden, wide receiver Jason Chery, defensive tackle Lanier Coleman, quarterback Mike Desormeaux, kicker Drew Edmiston, tight end Erik Jones, strong safety Derik Keyes, fullback Chancellor Roberson, cornerback Scooter Rogers, wide receiver Caleb Rubin, wide receiver Derrick Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vance.

"It’s going to be hard to leave this behind," Desormeaux said. "Those guys always gave everything they had and left everything they had on the field."

The 2008 senior class will leave its mark on the program. All but Branden and Rogers were on the 2005 team that won a share of the Sun Belt title – the first ever by the Cajuns. UL also posted a winning record that season for the first time since 1995.

"This is the closest football team I’ve ever been around," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "It’s due to our tremendous senior leadership.

"Every senior group is special for different reasons, but the 2008 class is one that everyone associated with our football team will never forget."

Into history

With Desormeaux going over 1,000 rushing yards for the season on Wednesday, he and Fenroy became the second quarterback-running back combo in NCAA history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

West Virginia quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton did it in 2006 and ’07.

Desormeaux is only the eighth quarterback in NCAA history with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

On Wednesday, Edmiston set UL’s career record for successful point-after attempts and the Sun Belt’s single-season PAT record.

Block party

UL’s Orkeys Auriene blocked a punt by MTSU’s David DeFatta midway through the first quarter. It was the team’s third blocked kick of the season – and first since blocking two extra points against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 15.

Derrick Smith was the last Cajun to block a punt, doing so last season against McNeese State.

Since 2002, the Cajuns have blocked 35 kicks. That’s the third-most in the FBS during that stretch, behind only Fresno State (44) and Texas (41).

Sun Belt news

The national bowl picture got a little clearer on Wednesday.

Southern Miss will represent Conference USA in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21. The winner of Saturday’s Troy-Arkansas State game will play the Golden Eagles in New Orleans.

If Troy loses, the Trojans have already accepted a bid to play in the PapaJohn’s.com Bowl in Birmingham on Dec. 29.

More news

Coming into the week, there were 71 bowl-eligible teams for 34 games.

Wednesday’s winner between UL and MTSU needed to win to become bowl eligible, as do Louisville (5-6) and Arizona State (5-6) this weekend.

Louisville plays Rutgers tonight at 6:30 in New Jersey. Arizona State takes on Arizona at 7 Saturday night in a game that will air on ESPN.

Odds and Ends

UL’s Chris Fisher, Antwyne Zanders, Brad Bustle and LaQuincy Williams represented the team during the pre-game coin flip. Joe Craddock, Ivon Hickman, Wes Hofacker and Trevor Jenkins served as team captains for MTSU … The Cajuns had a total attendance this season of 107,342. The per-game average of 21,468 was the largest since 1996.

… UL made four defensive changes to its starting lineup. Seniors Justin Branden and Scooter Rogers started at cornerback in place of redshirt freshman Dwight Bentley and sophomore Orkeys Auriene. Senior Antwyne Zanders started at middle linebacker in front of true freshman Kyron Benoit, a Crowley native. Junior Jezreel Washington took Zander’s spot on the outside … UL scored on its opening drive for the first time since a Nov. 1 win over Florida International … MTSU led from start to finish in its previous three games.