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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. Jerry Babb
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Home Phone: 337-981-1908 Football: Strong departure for UL’s Babb Senior exits as Cajuns’ most accurate QB Dan McDonald Jerry Babb remembers the first thing members of the senior class told him when he arrived on the UL campus in the fall of 2002. He didn’t believe them. Nor does any freshman. Four or five years seems such a long, long time when you’re 18 years old. Now, only a matter of hours before the kickoff of his final regular-season collegiate game – maybe his final football game of any type – he realizes the wisdom of his elders. Babb will be among 18 seniors making their final regular-season appearance in a Cajun uniform Saturday when UL hosts UL Monroe. They’ll be honored pre-game, and barring some odd circumstances, it’ll be the last time most of them will don shoulder pads. “You try not to think about it, that whole Senior Day process,” Babb said. “Coming back up the tunnel, or when we go over and shake hands with the students, it’ll hit me that this is the last time I’ll do that. I’ll probably get a little emotional.” So should a lot of fans, and maybe some of the Cajun coaches. That’s the impact that the ex-St. Thomas More standout has had on the UL program. Unless he goes something like two-for-50 throwing against the Warhawks, he’ll leave as the most accurate passer in Cajun football history. His 57.0 career percentage going into Saturday is well ahead of Jake Delhomme’s 52.6 career mark. In fact, Babb’s never had a season in which he’s completed less than 53 percent, and that’s in four years as a starter. He’s started 37 games and played in four others, missing four with injuries, and he’ll finish his career ranked in UL’s top three in every major passing and total offense category. The numbers might have been even better, but the Cajuns found the joy of running the football over the past two seasons – ranking in the top 10 nationally – and Babb converted from an aerial assaulter to an all-around field general. It’s not a coincidence that the 12 wins the last two years are the most in over a decade. And you’ll never hear Babb complain about throwing it less and enjoying it more. He’s all about winning. Besides, tear away all the numbers, and even the victories, and Babb still holds a special place in UL football lore. He was the first. When Rickey Bustle took over a program that had become an embarrassment to Cajun supporters, taking UL’s head coaching post on a lucky Dec. 13, 2001, one of the first names he contacted on the recruiting list was Jerry Babb. Only a couple of weeks later, not long after STM’s narrow loss at Baker in the Class 4A state semifinals, Babb was the first player to verbally commit to Bustle, a brand-new coaching staff and a UL program filled with questions. “For him to want me said something,” Babb said. “It says a lot that we’ve been able to turn it from 3-8 to hopefully 7-5, and for that to be a little bit of a disappointment. How far we’ve come.” It didn’t happen overnight, but the fact remains that every year Babb was under center, UL’s record was better than its previous season. “I hope we’ve left the program where it can continue to grow,” Babb said, “and keep going in the right direction.” Saturday may not be his final time to take snaps. Should Florida International pull a shocker over Troy, the Cajuns will almost definitely wind up in some type of bowl game if they win on Saturday. And playing after college has been on his mind for a while. “I’ve definitely got the desire to do that,” Babb said, “if the opportunity is available. I’m not going to force the issue, but if there’s a chance I’ll work hard and take that chance … NFL, CFL, I’ll just hope for a shot to get there and show what I can do.” Babb has two semesters left to earn his degree in engineering, and that’ll also play into any decision. It also means he’ll likely be around when this year’s freshman recruits start coming in for a first-hand look at the program he helped resurrect. What’ll he tell them? “I’ll tell them the time goes by in a hurry,” he said. “It may seem like it’s forever away, but it’s not.” Originally published Dec. 1, 2006 Football: BABB WINS SUN BELT RECORD THIRD STRAIGHT PLAYER OF THE WEEK October 09, 2006 – LAFAYETTE – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback Jerry Babb won his third consecutive Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week award, as announced by the conference office Monday. The senior quarterback becomes the first player (in any category) to be named player of the week three consecutive weeks. He was named player of the week on Oct. 2 with 233 rushing and passing yards and three touchdowns in the Cajuns 33-14 win over Eastern Michigan. He also earned player of the week honors on Sept. 25 with a three touchdown performance in UL’s 48-7 win over North Carolina A&T. Jamario Thomas holds the record for total player of the weeks in one season with 4 (2004). On Saturday, Babb led the Cajuns to an incredible 31-28 comeback victory at Houston. Trailing 21-0 in the second quarter, Babb got Louisiana-Lafayette on the board with a 14-yard touchdown run (he had 12 rushes for 73 yards). He came out in the second half and led UL to a score on every offensive possession. The Cajuns dominated the second half, outgaining UH 249-113 and outscoring the Cougars 21-7. Babb directed scoring drives of 14-plays, 62 yards, 9-plays, 47 yards, 7-plays 54 yards and the game-winning TD drive with 62 seconds remaining on an 18-play, 85-yard drive. He personally converted 6-of-9 third downs in the second half either rushing or passing (including 4-of-4 in the fourth quarter). With 62 ticks left, Babb hit tight end Kevin Belton with the go-ahead score and then upped the Cajuns margin with a two-point conversion pass. The individual Sun Belt weekly honor is the fifth of Babb’s career. Louisiana-Lafayette All-Time Sun Belt Players of the Week Oct. 2, 2006 Special Teams Drew Edmiston – So. Oct. 2, 2006 Offense Jerry Babb – Sr. Sept. 25, 2006 Special Teams Jason Chery – So. Sept. 25, 2006 Offense Jerry Babb – Sr. Nov. 28, 2005 Special Teams Sean Comiskey – Sr. Nov. 28, 2005 Offense Tyrell Fenroy – Fr. Oct. 31, 2005 Special Teams Sean Comiskey – Sr. Oct. 31, 2005 Defense Tyler Norman – Sr. Oct. 31, 2005 Offense Tyrell Fenroy – Fr. Oct. 24, 2005 Defense Eugene Kwarteng – Sr. Sept 19, 2005 Defense Johnny Felders – Jr. Sept 19, 2005 Offense Derrick Smith – Fr. Oct. 4, 2004 Special Teams Sean Comiskey – Jr. Sept. 6, 2004 Offense Jerry Babb – So. Nov. 17, 2003 Special Teams Sean Comiskey – So. Nov. 17, 2003 Offense Jerry Babb – Fr. Oct. 27, 2003 Defense C.C. Brown – Jr. Oct. 20, 2003 Special Teams Sean Comiskey – So. Sept. 29, 2003 Special Teams Sean Comiskey – So. Sept. 1, 2003 Special Teams Patrick Lamy – Sr. Nov. 11, 2002 Offense Eric Rekieta – Jr. Sept. 16, 2002 Offense Fred Stamps – Jr. Sept. 9, 2002 Special Teams Nick Dugas – Jr. Oct. 22, 2001 Offense Jon Van Cleave – So. Sept. 3, 2001 Special Teams Jonathon Knott – Jr. Originally published October 9, 2006 Football Banquet: Babb, Brown top honorees January 23, 2005 – Jerry Babb, C. C. Brown and Jerrell Carter would do well to follow the leads of the men that presented them with their awards Saturday at the University of Louisiana’s football banquet. Babb was named the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Offensive Most Valuable Player, Brown the Defensive MVP and Carter the Special Forces Award for special teams at the banquet held at the Cajundome Convention Center. Babb’s award was presented by former Cajun and current Carolina Panther quarterback Jake Delhomme. Carter won the award named after ex-Cajun standout Brian Mitchell and presented by the NFL’s all-time career leader in kick return yardage. Brown, who was participating in Saturday’s Hula Bowl in Honolulu and was unable to attend the banquet, accepted his award on video from Chicago Bears defensive back Charles Tillman, himself a two-time winner of the Cajuns’ defensive MVP award. The top awards were voted upon by members of the UL squad, which finished 4-7 during the 2004 season. The team also voted on the Captain’s Awards, which were presented to running back Dwight Lindon and center Ronnie Harvey on offense, Brown and linebacker Stanley Smith on defense and Carter on special teams. The Cajun players also voted awards for the biggest hits of the season, with Lindon winning the “Thumper” award on offense for a block against Arkansas State, Smith and Rodney Hardaway sharing the “Hammer” award on defense for hits against Troy and North Texas respectively, and Carter winning the “Kahuna” award on special teams for a hit against UL Monroe. UL Football award winners Offensive MVP – QB Jerry Babb Defensive MVP – SS C. C. Brown Special Forces (special teams MVP) – CB Jerrell Carter Captain’s Awards – RB Dwight Lindon, C Ronnie Harvey, LB Stanley Smith, SS C. C. Brown, KR Jerrell Carter Big Hit Awards – “Thumper” (offense), RB Dwight Lindon; “Hammer” (defense), DE Ronnie Hardeway and LB Stanley Smith; “Kahuna” (special teams), KR Jerrell Carter Coaches Awards – “Champion” (offensive newcomer), OL Justin Ernest; “Top Gun” (defensive newcomer) DE Ronnie Hardeway Blue Collar Awards – DL Eugene Kwarteng, defense; OL Brandon Cox, offense Top Point Awards – DL Tony Hills, CB Mike Adams, LB Stanley Smith, SS C. C. Brown All-Conference Awards – SS C. C. Brown, first team; WR Bill Sampy, second team Victory MVP’s – SS C. C. Brown vs. Northwestern State; DB Antwain Spann vs. Middle Tennessee; K Sean Comiskey vs. Florida International; WR Bill Sampy vs. Arkansas State Originally published January 23, 2005 Bruce Brown October 14, 2004 LAFAYETTE — Don’t ask Jerry Babb how many career passing yards he has at UL Lafayette. For the record, the sophomore quarterback has accumulated 2,952 yards in 14 career starts for the Ragin’ Cajuns and is fifth all-time in school history. But the St. Thomas More product is unlikely to have those figures at his fingertips. Babb is more likely to focus on the number three, as in the number of victories for this year’s Cajuns and also the number of turnovers his offense suffered last week, preventing a fourth triumph. “I just try to play every game,” Babb said. “If the statistics come, they come. The most important thing is to get wins.” The Cajuns won four of their last five games last season, responding to Babb’s leadership after losing their first seven games of 2003. They are 3-3 this season and in contention for a Sun Belt Conference crown with a 1-1 league mark. Averaging 151.7 yards per game rushing and 241.7 passing, the Cajuns are cruising at 393.3 yards per game and scoring at a 25.5-point clip. The 1995 squad, the last one at the school with a winning season record, averaged 434.5 yards per contest. Again, the winning is what matters most to Babb. “Offensively, we’re a lot better than we were in our first game against Northwestern State,” Babb said. “We still have a long way to go.” With Chester Johnson (319 yards), Babb (267) and Dwight Lindon (235) running the ball, and Babb throwing to Bill Sampy (30-409-3), B.J. Crist (28-311-2) and 10 other receivers, this year’s Cajuns are quickly developing an identity as a team that can damage foes in a number of ways. “I just try to get the ball to different people, so we can keep the defense guessing,” Babb said. “Being able to run the ball is a big thing. It’s nice to spread the ball around in the passing game. “Receivers always say they’re open, and I do listen to them a lot.” “We can throw better, catch better, run better and block better, and we’re getting production out of the offense,” coach Rickey Bustle said. “I want to be able to run the ball, but I want to get the ball downfield, too. “I think it’s just our style. We want to call aggressive plays, and that’s just our style of offense.” As the Cajuns find more and more ways to score, Babb is using more and more of the playbook. “Coach (Rob) Christophel tutors me throughout the week, and I’m confident in every play we install,” Babb said of his developing relationship with UL’s offensive coordinator. “That confidence filters down to the running backs and receivers, so they’re comfortable with it.” The Cajuns were not comfortable in last Saturday’s 35-32 loss at New Mexico State, despite 500 yards of offense, because they gave the ball to the Aggies three times on fumbles. Two of the bobbles killed UL drives, while a third set up a scoring opportunity for NMSU. Those kind of things add up in a three-point game. “In order to be successful, we have to finish off drives,” Babb said. “To do that, we have to just keep plugging away. I don’t think it’s happened (three lost fumbles) all year.” Babb is right on that hunch, and he’s also on target saying the Cajuns have to start more quickly after wasting their first three possessions at NMSU. “I don’t know if there’s any particular reason for that,” Babb said. “We didn’t know what defense New Mexico State was running, and we did make some adjustments to it. But we’ve got to come out of the chute faster.” They’ll get that opportunity on Saturday at Idaho, playing on artificial turf in the 16,000-seat Kibbie Dome. It’s the third step in an extended three-week road trip for UL. “We have to stay focused,” Babb said. “We can’t get off task. I don’t really worry about our surroundings (inside on turf). It’s still football, and it’s still 100 yards. We have to focus on playing our game. “The Sun Belt is still up for grabs. Whoever wins out has the best shot.” If there are some gaudy numbers attached to the Cajuns’ stretch drive, that’s fine with Babb … as long as they’re also attached to wins. ©The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
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