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A Prideful Nation

By: Aniyah T. Foley

They’ve already scoped out the landscape and identified their target; now they’re

ready to attack. The Southern University Jaguars have begun their hunt to crush the dreams

of their rivals in an effort to bring home the SWAC Western Division Championship once

again. Southern University has been a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference

for 81 years, has claimed 18 conference titles during their membership, and are preparing

to be the sole SWAC victor of this 2015 season to add to the Jaguar pride. This year the

Jags will be in Ruston, Louisiana to kick off their season against the LA Tech Bulldogs on

Saturday, September 5, and they’ve already begun their preparation to avoid the possibility

of being mauled. As a supporter of all things Louisiana, all things football, and an advocate

for fair fights, I hope the Bulldogs have been deeply investing their attention to the weight

room, because the Jaguars will be coming at them heavy and they have no intention to ease

up. The Jaguars reported to fall camp this past Sunday to pick up their equipment for their

first fall practice of the season which is scheduled for August 3. As the season opener ap-

proaches, head coach Dawson Odums will be preparing to enter his third full year at

Southern University and it’s certain that he’s ready to accomplish a lot more than he’s

ever done before. In his short history with SU, Coach Dawson has already been

acknowledged as a SWAC coach of the year. This title was given to him in 2013 after

his first complete season with the Jags. It’s a safe bet to say that this accomplishment

was only the “field goal after the touchdown” knowing that he managed to close out

that same season with two major victories: a SWAC West Title Championship and an

overall SWAC Championship.

With success in their past, the Jaguars have been yearning to bring triumph

to their school. Technically Baton Rouge, Louisiana is known as the stomping ground

of the Jaguars, but Ace W. Mumford Stadium is specifically where the Jags get things

done. Seven players from the Jaguar Nation were selected to be a part of the 51 mem-

ber 2015 Preseason All- SWAC team. These nominations are product of last season’s

sensational grind and determination which resulted in a number of Jaguars receiving

2014 All SWAC Honors. This year, players such as DL Gabe Echols, RB Lenard

Tillery ,and WR Willie Quinn were honored by the entire Southwestern Athletic Con-

ference for their astounding athletic capabilities, perfected tenacity, and tremendous

presence on the field. With such recognition, the anticipation for this season is bor-

derline unshakeable. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to capture the entire South-

ern University Football experience. You’ll be able to watch the Jaguar’s first three

games on broadcast networks such as ESPNU, ESPN3, and ASN (American Sports

Network), but merely watching the Jags from a screen this season simply won’t cut it.

Come be a part of the Jag Nation Saturday, September 19! Living your fan

life as a virtual supporter of the Southern University Jaguars will never measure up to

actually being present for SU’s first home game of the season. Southern University will be taking on Jackson State University in their own hunting ground,

and it’s in your best interest to be there to witness the Jaguars in their prime for yourself. As a trophy for being such a devoted fan, you will be able to take

home your own first-hand memory of the SU Jags demanding respect from the Jackson State Tigers while also being serenaded by SU’s own highly ac-

claimed Human Jukebox. The combination of Southern University’s remarkably talented marching band and the athletic precision of the Jaguars will make

you proud. However, if you aren’t able to catch the Jaguars take on the Jackson State Tigers or any other of Southern’s home games during the season, it

would be a sad day in SU fandom if you miss the 42nd annual Bayou Classic. Grambling State University and the Southern Jags will be continuing tradition

as they both journey towards the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. They will once again challenge each other to a match that showcases the epit-

ome of college football rivalry. The Bayou Classic has always been known for being held on the last Saturday in November, so guess where I think you

should be this year? Become a member of the Jaguar Nation today!


Cajuns Look to Keep Streak Alive in 2015 Dave Parks, Louisiana Gridiron Football Intern

The Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off an incredible four straight bowl wins, each coming in

the New Orleans Bowl. This is a feat only four other teams in the nation can claim. Last year the

Cajuns started slow with one win in their first four games, but finished strong by winning eight of

their last nine games. Head Coach Mark Hudspeth returns for his fifth year after four-straight nine

-win seasons. He knows that expectations are high and recently told NOLA.com that, “Four years

ago we picked this challenge of turning this program around. After four straight bowl wins, we're

fixing to have another big challenge. It's another big opportunity.''

On offense, the Ragin’ Cajuns lost two important playmakers, quarterback Terrance

Broadway and running back Alonzo Harris, to graduation, but reigning Sun Belt Player of the

Year Elijah McGuire is back and ready to carry the load. McGuire also won the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Year. He had 1,848 all-purpose yards last

season and could have his sights for over 2,000 this season. Senior running back Effrem Reed will help take some of the load off McGuire in the backfield.

The Cajuns will have a nice combination of size and speed this year at the receiver position with Jamal Robinson standing over 6’4” as a nice end zone target

and speedy Al Riles making plays in the open field.

At quarterback, Brooks Haack looks to be the starter after backing up Broadway the previous two years. The quarterback position also includes dual

-threat Dion Ray, who headlined the Sun Belt’s top-ranked recruiting class for the Cajuns. The offensive line will return three starters and looks to continue

its solid play from previous years.

On the defensive side, there will be many changes and plenty of new faces. The Cajuns will be playing under their third defensive coordinator in

five years. This year’s Co-Coordinators, Melvin Smith and Charlie Harbison, will be sharing play calling duties. Both bring impressive resumes with experi-

ence from coaching at top SEC schools.

The linebacker core will be strong with Dominique Tovell, nine tackles for loss last year, leading the way. Tre’maine Lightfoot and Otha Peters are

also there adding support. The defensive line may not have much playing time under their belts, as of yet, but they have great size and will be hard to push

back. The secondary will rely on strong safety T.J. Worthy for big plays. This defense looks ready for the challenge after showing signs of improvement dur-

ing spring practice. There will also be new faces at kicker and punter this year with two strong footed freshman taking over each spot.

The season opens up with a big game in Lexington versus the Kentucky Wildcats. The Cajuns will have in-state showdowns with Louisiana Tech,

Northwestern State, and UL Monroe. Sun Belt Conference games include match-ups with Appalachian State, Arkansas State, and the season finale against

Troy at Cajun Field could determine if UL can claim the top spot in the Sun Belt this year.

Ragin’ In “The Swamp”

By: Aniyah T. Foley

Move-- get out the way! The Ragin’ Cajuns will be on the road to Kentucky this

September and they’re ready to play. I’m aware that my sense of humor may seem a bit

ludicrous, but UL’s 7-1 2014 Sunbelt Conference record will never be mistaken as a joke.

Saturday, September 5, 2015 will mark the day that the University of Kentucky Wildcats

will have an opportunity to taste what the University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have been

cooking up all summer long, and it’s neither crawfish nor gumbo. This matchup between

the Wildcats and UL will mark the first time that both schools will have ever had an oppor-

tunity to challenge each other’s skills. It’s more that understandable why the anticipation

for this match-up has been building. Luckily, it’s thrilling to know that ESPNU will be

broadcasting the season opener for Ragin Cajun enthusiasts all across the country, and

taking away any reason we’d have to miss this historic kick off. Leading UL’s football

program UL’s head coach, Mark Hudspeth, has officially been with The Ragin’ Cajuns

since 2011. This year, UL will be entering the season as the current 2014 New Orleans

Bowl Champions! The University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have fearlessly remained the

sole New Orleans Bowl Title Holders for all four years of their consecutive appearances. In fact, this remarkable accomplishment by UL has rewarded the

Ragin’ Cajuns with the accreditation of being the only school within the NCAA to hold this title for all four years in a row!

With success on the radar, Coach Hudspeth has transformed Cajun Field Stadium into a land marker for where things get hectic. Notably known as

“The Swamp”, Cajun Field has become the visible definition of what a home field advantage looks like because of UL’s 18-4 home game record that reflects

all four of Coach Hudspeth’s previous seasons. Knowing this, it’d be in your favor to be in the presence of the Ragin’ Cajuns on September 12. It will mark

the 15th Annual Herbert Heymann Classic and it’ll also be the Cajuns first home game of the season against the Northwestern State Demons. Considering that

this game will be airing on ESPN3, you’d shouldn’t miss it. After tuning in, be sure to catch a good look at the Cajun’s running back, Elijah McGuire. His

outstanding offensive performance during his sophomore year deemed him as the 2014 Sun Belt

Conference Player of the Year and also the title as the Offensive Player of the Year. Most recently,

he has been acknowledged for being placed on the watch lists of both The Paul Hornung and The

Maxwell Awards. If selected, these awards will showcase his rapid and continuously evolving

versatility as a proficient player. Alongside him are his fellow teammates who have also been

exerting phenomenal effort both on and off of the gridiron. As a result, senior tight end, Evan Tat-

ford has been selected amongst 11 other well-rounded student athletes within the Sun Belt Confer-

ence as members of its Leadership Team. As the Ragin’ Cajuns take on another thrilling season,

I’m sure that they are more than ready to claim another winning record.


Contents

Nicholls State 4 McNeese State 5 Northwestern State 6 Tulane 8 LSU 9 Grambling State 9 La Tech 10 Louisiana College 11 Southeastern 12 ULM 13 University of Louisiana 14

Southern 15

Louisiana Gridiron Football (LGF) By Andy Bryson

This was an unique year for us here at LGF. We saw an increase in our viewership unlike anything we had ever witnessed. In the spring of 2015

we wanted to bring our fans something they had never seen before, an around the state tour of every college football team. We got dozens upon dozens of

interviews from College Coaches, Players, and former Players. We posted those interviews to our website, YouTube channel, Twitter, and Facebook page

and received a large positive response from everyone. That is when we realized that 325,000 people were watching these videos everyday on our Facebook

page alone!

One thing that jumped out at me during the spring tour was that every team in the state has a ton of playmakers and can compete for their respective

conference championships. Our pre-season prediction is that LSU, UL, ULM, Tulane, and La Tech will all be playing in December/January Bowl games.

Meanwhile we predict that LSU, La Tech, Tulane, and UL can all win their respective conferences. In the FCS, Southeastern, McNeese, and Northwestern

can all be in the hunt for the Southland Title while Nicholls is still building. Then we have Louisiana College, this state’s only DIII program. They are return-

ing most of their team from last year, so they are in a good spot to not only win their conference but a DIII National Title.

It is simply amazing how much talent is in this state. Did you know that every program in the state has at least one player in the NFL? To our

knowledge, no other state can say that. Or did you also know that Louisiana has more players in the NFL than any other state, per capita? LSU leads the

nation with the most players in the NFL from any university. So why would anyone want to go to an out of state school when there is a better chance you

could go pro by staying home?

As the 2015 season approaches, you will see many new and exciting ways we at LGF intend to promote the 12 football schools. Starting with the

weekly newsletter or our monthly magazine, our fans can read stories about their local teams, and interviews from current and former players. If your are

interested in getting involved in what we do, call (985) 789-9351or email us [email protected]. We have several ways you can get involved as

an advertiser.


A Colonel Reborn

By: Aniyah T. Foley

It’s always been fascinating to realize the similari-

ties between two things that aren’t exactly alike. For instance,

even though we’ve all been raised differently, it’s highly

likely that we’ve all been told an old legend or two while

growing up. Actually, some legends and characters were so

epic to us that we can still recall them till’ this day. Coinci-

dentally, Manning Field in Thibodaux, Louisiana, may soon

be thought of as a setting in which legends and reality collide.

This season, Coach Tim Rebowe will be entering John L.

Guidry Stadium as the Nicholls State Colonels head football

coach, after a stunning season with the University of Louisi-

ana,. Coach Rebowe has been cleared to enter Nicholls State

Colonel territory as a high-ranking New Orleans Bowl coach-

ing veteran. After this past 2014 season, Coach Rebowe re-

spectfully closed out his 11 years of experience as the assis-

tant coach of the UL Ragin’ Cajuns by finishing the season

with an incredible 7-1 Sunbelt Conference record. Even with-

out taking his most recent achievements into consideration,

Coach Rebowe might already be considered as a coaching legend amongst the

Nicholls State fans that are caught up on their Colonel football history. Before his

successful career with the Cajuns, Coach Rebowe kicked off his college-coaching

career by dedicating five seasons of hard work and extensive effort to his beloved

Nicholls State Colonels and it definitely paid off.

Excelling as a defensive back coach from 1995-99 and later as a wide

receiver coach in 2000, Coach Rebowe’s role on the NSU coaching staff lead the

Colonels to one of the biggest one-year turnarounds in NCAA Division I football

history. Ending the Colonels devastating 0-11 season in 1995, Coach Rebowe and

his fellow staff answered the Colonels call to destiny by taking NSU to the post

season that following year. After claiming an 8-4 season record, the ’96 Colonels

earned their first play-off appearance following a decade of tough luck. With that

history, it’s safe to say, “Once a Colonel, always a Colonel.” Revisiting my previ-

ous thoughts about similarities and legends, Coach Rebowe’s newest journey as

NSU’s head coach seems to definitely parallel the journey of the legendary phoe-

nix. The phoenix originated from an old Greek legend and is described as a myth-

ological bird-like creature that burns up once its old life journey is complete, and

is then reborn from the ashes of it past-life to begin anew. Taking with him the

knowledge from his past coaching experience, Coach Rebowe is ready to burn up

the stigma from last season’s tough year and soar into his new journey with this

season’s Colonels. Nicholls State will shake things up as they bring in their new

season on September 12, 2015 in Malone Stadium as they take on the University

of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Combined with the exhilarating preparation

they’ve undergone with Coach Rebowe for the upcoming season, and their own

fiery determination to surpass last season’s record, the 2015 Nicholls State Uni-

versity Colonels are completely ready to sound off!

SR #5 Tobias Lofton , RB and SO #14 Christian Boutte, DB; Spring Game 2015


Soaring into History

By: Aniyah T. Foley

If it’s always been your dark and slightly twisted fantasy to witness a duel between a Warhawk and a Bulldog, I have beautiful news for you. The

ULM Warhawks will glide into their 2015 season Saturday, September 5, and land at Stanford Stadium in Athens, GA to match up with the University of

Georgia Bulldogs. The scenario I described to you earlier sounds like something you would only be able to catch on National Geographic or Animal Planet,

but don’t set your DVR to Animal Planet just yet. ULM’s season opener will be available to

spectators everywhere if they tune in to the SEC Network that Saturday. The University of

Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks’ second game will be against Nicholls State Universi-

ty ,and is accessible on TV too. If you decide to tune in to ESPN3 that following Saturday,

September 12, be sure to cheer for the Warhawks and their Head Coach, Todd Berry, as he

celebrates his sixth year of coaching ULM with his first home game of the season. If a tele-

vised sporting event doesn’t quite appease your needs as a determined ULM fan, go be

apart of the entire football experience in JPS Field at Malone Stadium. For those of you

who aren’t familiar with the Warhawks in Monroe, former ULM receiver and Hall of

Famer, Al Miller, has now earned a NFL Lifetime Achievement Award as a successful

strength and conditioning coach.

Warhawks have always been equipped to soar, especially if they’ve gained flight

school experience from Coach Berry. Just recently, another former student from the Uni-

versity of Louisiana at Monroe has graduated and began his career with the NFL. Justin

Manton has finished his four year career as a student-athlete at ULM, and has transformed

from a Warhawk to a Raven. During his senior 2014 ULM career, Manton was a specialist

for Coach Berry who earned the title as a First Team All-Sun Belt Kicker. Now, Justin

Manton will begin his football career as a free agent with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens

while his former fellow teammates cheer him on and continue to put in work towards that

same goal. Current wide receiver, Rashon Ceaser, is making a name for himself for the

second year in a row during the preseason as he reclaims his slot on the watch list for the

Paul Hornung Award. As Coach Todd Berry continues to utilize his 32 years of coaching

experience to pierce through the profound relentlessness of college football, his wisdom

and skill will continue to effectively navigate his Warhawks towards success as they pre-

pare to graduate from flight school. Talons Out!!


Who’s On the Menu?

By: Aniyah T. Foley

Lions have to eat, but will it be your team for dinner? Opposing fans will be asking themselves this question all season long when they visit the

Southeastern Louisiana University Lions in their own den. Last season it became evident that there’s nothing sweet about what goes on in Strawberry Stadi-

um. Blessed with a flawless home game record, SELU fans all across the board were able to boast about their team’s 9-4 overall 2014-season record, and

also commend head coach, Ron Roberts, for training their Lions to devour their Southland Conference competitors. After posting up a 7-1-conference record

during the regular season, SELU was able to claim their title as Southland Conference 2014 Co-Champions. After taking home the Southland Conference

Championship for a second year in a row, the Lions returned

to Hammond, Louisiana to both prepare for the 2015, and to

welcome new members to the pride. SELU has welcomed

transfer student-athlete, Justin Alo, an aspiring starting quar-

ter back for the Lions into the family. Alo has showcased his

ability to be called “Lion-worthy” by claiming the All-City

and Marine League Player of the Year Titles during his high

school career. Relocating from his former community college

in California to continue his college career under the skilled

guidance of Louisiana Coach of the Year, Ron Roberts, Alo’s

challenging made promising stride toward his future.

Alongside Coach Roberts this season will be his

new offensive line coach, Matt Applebaum, a former NFL

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive assistant. Matt has the elite

skills to develop college level players into powerful pre-

professional athletes. With the preseason at hand, the Lions

have been making major moves for the upcoming 2015 sea-

son both on and off of the field. Southeastern Louisiana Uni-

versity has managed to have four of their Southland Confer-

ence football games to be broadcasted on either ESPN3 or

American Sports Network (ASN). With the acquisition of this extended full coverage, fans will be able to enjoy watching the talents of their favorite players

for themselves. Considering that Lions have sixteen of their players on the 2014 All- Southland Conference team, merely telling you about the excitement for

this upcoming season would be underselling the accomplishments that have been achieved by the SELU football program. Players such as Harlan Miller,

whose name was placed on STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year watch list, because of his 66 tackles and seven interceptions, are craving the fast ap-

proach of fall practice. August 3 marked the beginning of a new practice season for the SELU as they prepared to conquer even more territory during the

2015 season. Catch the live hunt for the Lions’ new title this season as they close in on the Northwestern State Demons in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Thursday,

September 3, 2015.

SR #5 Kody Sutton , RB; 2015 Spring Game

Southeastern Fall Practice

By: Andy Bryson

Intensity, brotherhood, passion are three things that come to mind when I left practice

this preseason. Coach Roberts and staff look to three-peat as Southland Conference Champions

this season as they begin the season with in state rival Northwestern. Southeastern starts the sea-

son ranked 19 in the FCS rankings. Now before you start making jokes about the FCS, note that

the Southland Conference is the SEC of Division I AA. The only difference between I A and I AA

is the number of scholarship players. Division IAA has some really great talent. Players such as

Jahri Evans, Marcus Colston, and even Hall of Famer Jerry Rice all came from Division I AA

schools.

Southeastern continues to produce NFL talent every season under Coach Roberts. In

Coach Roberts’s second year as Head Coach of the Lions, he coached up second round pick, Rob-

ert Alford, cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons. Since being drafted, Robert has become a premier

shutdown corner and has intercepted Drew Brees in every game they have played in together.

This season looks to be no different. The Lions are going to field the best secondary in

all of the FCS and will have a top 10 defense this season. Many teams are going to underestimate

the Lions this season due to the loss of quarterback Brayan Bennett to the NFL. But that will be a

huge mistake, because their competition at Quarterback looks really good.

In conclusion, the Lions are going to continue their winning ways this season. As long

as they keep Coach Roberts as their head ball coach, they will continue to dominate the FCS. The

new coaching additions made in the off-season, makes Southeastern a powerhouse. Bringing in a

new defensive coordinator like Blake Williams, former Super Bowl winning coach from the

Saints, is going to bring NFL attention to Hammond this year. See you at the game. Lion Up!!

Southeastern Lions

2015 Schedule

Day Date Oppo-

nent

Thur. 9/3 at NSU

Sat. 9/12 vs Florida Tech

Sat. 9/19 at Ohio

Thur. 10/1 vs Lamar

Sat. 10/10 at McNeese St

Sat. 10/17 vs Stephen F. Austin

Sat. 10/24 at Houston Baptist

Sat. 10/31 at Central Arkansas

Sat. 11/7 vs Incarnate Word

Sat. 11/14 at Abilene Christian

Thur. 11/19 vs Nicholls


Saddle Up

By: Aniyah T. Foley

Will it take a Cowboy to tame the Bengal from

the bayou? Saturday, September 5, 2015 will round up the off-

season’s hard work, and release it’s rigorous momentum into Tiger

Stadium. McNeese State University and the Louisiana State Univer-

sity Tigers will be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana schools battling one

another, as they simultaneously break open their 2015 season. If

you’re a fan of either school then you should know that things are

bound to get “rowdy”. McNeese’s mascot definitely hasn’t been the

only one developing some new skills over the summer. Extreme

strength and conditioning has been at the top of McNeese Football’s

list in order to demonstrate to fans how real Cowboys exhibit

“Excellence With A Personal Touch,” as the school’s motto would

say. Head Coach Matt Viator and the blue and gold Cowboys will be

representing the Southland Conference of the NCAA and their cher-

ished city, Lake Charles, LA. As a Division I school, McNeese

State University has developed a 68-32 record while under the ten-

ure of Coach Viator. He has transformed from a McNeese alumni

into a revered coach. He has surpassed the expectations that were pre-set by many of

his honorable predecessors. His esteemed accomplishments have earned Coach Viator

the title of the third winningest coach in McNeese University history and also the dis-

tinction of being a multi-year finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the

Year. The standard his players must acheive to are unbelievable, but with the hard-

working principles instilled in them by Coach Viator, the Cowboys are destined to

become victors in life.

Seeking, building, and uniting a strong league of Cowboys has required

flexibility, effort and commitment from Coach Viator’s proficient coaching staff. The

product of this devotion can be witnessed in the willingness and determination shown

by his players. Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Lance Guidry, was

able to mold last season’s McNeese State Cowboys into the Southland Conference’s

second ranked school for total defensive coverage. As a result of Guidry’s effective

defensive strategies, two-thirds of the twelve McNeese football players who were

selected to be on the 2014 All-Conference team were from Coach Lance’s defensive

squad. While under the fine direction of McNeese’s coaching staff, the Cowboys have

been able to lasso-in preseason All-American recognition that is sure to bring attention

to Cowboy Stadium this upcoming season. Brent Spikes, a senior defensive back,

finished his HS career with 352 tackles and has continued to prosper in his college

career by being selected for the STATS FCS Preseason All-American Team. The

McNeese State University Cowboys have only been warming up for the blazing future

seasons that are ahead of them. Saturday, September 12, distant fans across the coun-

try will be able to pier into Cowboy Stadium for McNeese’s first Southland Confer-

ence matchup of the 2015 season. Make sure you catch McNeese State University on

American Sports Network as they take on the UIW Cardinals from San Antonio, Tex-

as and show them the true definition of a Cowboy.

Date Time Opponent Location

9/5/2015 6:30 p.m. Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA

9/12/2015 6 p.m. Incarnate Word Home

9/19/2015 6 p.m. Stephen F. Austin Nacogdoches, TX

9/26/2015 6 p.m. Mississippi College Home

10/3/2015 3 p.m. Nicholls Thibodaux, LA

10/10/2015 6 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana Home

10/17/2015 6 p.m. Central Arkansas Conway, AR

10/24/2015 6 p.m. Northwestern State Home

10/31/2015 2 p.m. Abilene Christian Abilene, TX

11/7/2015 6 p.m. Sam Houston State Home

11/21/2015 6 p.m. Lamar Beaumont, TX


Link It Up

By Dustin Nothnagel

In 1998, the Northwestern State football team brought together a community unlike any other team in school history. The success of the NSU did

not hinge on any particular quality, rather, success was found because of a multitude of factors. Tragedy and heart-break united a program of talented play-

ers, gifted coaches, and a resilient community.

According to head coach Sam Goodwin, the success of the ’98 team began the season before. Coach Goodwin recalls that a baby of a player had

passed away that really took its toll on the team. Along with the passing of an infant son, dehydration became an issue during the beginning of camp with 6

lineman going down. The setbacks of ’97 greatly affected the comradery of the team. Coach Goodwin noted that the team didn’t “gel” until after the ’97

McNeese State game in which the Demons were blown out by almost 50 points. The beat-down seem to light a spark within the core of the team; Coach

Goodwin noting that “the players and coaches committed themselves to one another.” After the McNeese game, the Demons won their last 6 games which

got them a playoff spot and share of the Southland Conference title. The key to the ’98 success would be to keep the commitment and momentum rolling

from the 1997 team, and a return of leadership would make that possible.

The 1998 team was one of the most talented teams in NSU history. Four NFL draft picks including Jermaine Jones, Kenny Wright, Mike Green,

and Robert Daniel, the return of All-American center William Broussard, and more professional players than any other team in school history made the ’98

team primed for success. The coaching staff at NSU was led by head coach Sam Goodwin. According to NSU play-by-play announcer, Mr. Lynn Rollins,

Coach Goodwin began his football career as a success. Mr. Rollins recalls that Coach Goodwin “played on the only state championship football team from

Rapids Parish, at Pineville High School, in 1960.” That level of success was always an expectation for Coach Goodwin. Mr. Rollins could not have spoken

more highly of Coach Goodwin referring to him as “first class,” and “one of the classiest coaches on any level of the sport.” Rollins is convinced that “every

aspiring, young coach should be required to spend time with Coach Goodwin.” But, Coach Goodwin’s offense would not have been as successful as it was

without the help of an aggressive and clutch defense led by Bradley Dale Peveto. Coach Peveto, who is now an assistant with LSU and former NSU head

coach, was the defensive coordinator for Coach Goodwin’s 1998 team. According to Mr. Rollins, Coach Peveto was “young, full of vinegar, and very ag-

gressive; he seemed to be a volcano of enthusiasm. The two coaches mixed together in a profound and extraordinary manner.” Coach Peveto’s defensive

was a very opportunistic squad that won many games on late defensive stands in the ’98 season. Along with Goodwin and Peveto, the coaching staff includ-

ed other great leaders like Doug Ruse and Jack Curtis. Many times, great teams are built around a central, encompassing theme. According to Dr. William

Broussard and Coach Goodwin, the theme for the ’98 season was “link it up.”

The “link it up” theme meant that each member of the team was a link in a chain, and no one person wanted to be the weak link that caused the

chain to break. For many years after, Coach Peveto had an actual chain link installed in the football facilities that each player would rub on their way out

onto the playing field. For Dr. Broussard, the team realized many things through the adversity that occurred before the ’98 season began; he believes the

team learned that “friendships and lives were so much more meaningful than a game, and that playing that game was a privilege and an honor, but ultimate-

ly, only one aspect of their lives.” That sort of bond does not occur on every football team, but it is the type of connection that will remain in those players’

and coaches’ memories forever. A bond like the one the 1998 NSU football team had is what took that team from being a playoff contender in 1997 to ex-

pected champion in 1998. But, championships are not won because teams have the desire to win them; the NSU team had to drudge through a tough, unfor-

giving season.

The season began with the “Clash of Champions” game against the defending SWAC champion Southern Jaguars. Coach Peveto’s de-

fense was known as the “Purple Swarm,” and that name lived up to the pre-season hype against Southern. The Purple Swarm set the tone early with a pick-

six by future NFL draftee Jermaine Jones. Along with plays on the back-end, the Swarm went on to set a school record for rushing yards allowed holding

Southern to minus thirty-one yards. With a win on opening day, the Demons had momentum going into their next game against USL (now known as ULL)

in Lafayette. In a tough, hard-fought game, the Demons were able to pull out a 2 point victory against USL. In the third game of the season, Henderson State

travelled to Turpin Stadium resulting in a 53-7 rout of the Reddies. Quarterback Warren Patterson tied a school record with 4 touchdowns passes in a game,

all of which came in the first half. After Henderson State, the Demons travelled to San Marcos, Texas, to take on the Southwest Texas Bobcats. The Purple

Swarm led the Demons to victory by tallying 10 sacks against the Bobcats. In the 5th game of the season, NSU had to travel to Columbia, Missouri, to take

on the nationally-ranked Missouri Tigers. Missouri proved to be too much for the Demons handing NSU their first loss of the season. The next week would

pose a match-up between the two co-champions of the Southland Conference between NSU and McNeese State at Turpin Stadium.

McNeese state was ranked No. 1 in the country and had only one loss on the season. McNeese State had an incredibly efficient team,

especially on offense, but they had not faced the ’98 Purple Swarm. The Swarm forced 4 interceptions in the game; McNeese had not thrown an interception

the entire season. In a dead-lock, Warren Patterson was able to scramble for a touchdown to give NSU the securing touchdown with 9:51 left to play in the

game. Running back Ronnie Powell carried the NSU offense with 141 yards on the ground and one score. 14 points were enough to defeat the top-ranked

Cowboys who were held to only 10 points. The victory was not only exciting for NSU, but put a target on their back as one of the top-ranked teams in the

country. For their 7th game of the season, the Demons had to travel to Thibadeaux, Louisiana, to take on an upset-minded Nicholls State team. Nicholls was

able to score late in the 4th quarter bringing their deficit to only 2. A failed onside-kick attempt with only 1:38 left to play in the game would seal the game

for the Demons, 26-28. Homecoming for NSU the next week presented a challenge for the Demons as Troy State travelled to Turpin Stadium. Inefficiency

in the red-zone proved disastrous for the Demons as they fell on their home-field 14-13. In an attempt to redeem themselves, NSU travelled to Jacksonville,

Alabama, to take on Jacksonville State. After started the game 3-5 for 95 yards and a touchdown, quarterback Warren Patterson with an injury leading to the

insertion of Brad Spangler. Coach Goodwin noted that “the team seemed to rally around his underdog mystic.” The Jacksonville State game was also the

break-out performance for redshirt-freshman running back Tony Taylor. Taylor, who would end his career as NSU’s all-time leading rusher, had 230 yards

on the ground and 3 touchdowns. The Demons were able to finish off Jacksonville State and carry that momentum into another blow-out victory against Sam

Houston State. Brad Spangler had a big performance, 326 yards and 3 touchdowns, giving the Demon team confidence in his abilities. Knowing that they

had a great team, the NSU coaching staff reminded their team to only take the season “one game at a time;” that mantra would certainly be a necessity going

into the latter part of the season.

The last regular season game of the season, against Stephen F. Austin, proves to be one of the fondest memories in the mind of Coach Goodwin.

Coach remembered being up 28-0 at the end of the half, but then SFA was able to grasp momentum before half-time with a last second hail mary. The Lum-

berjacks were able to hold onto that momentum closing the gap to only 7 points in the 4 th quarter. With a chance to tie the game at 28, the NSU defense held

SFA out of the end-zone on 4 plays inside of their own 10 yard-line. Coach Goodwin recalls that moment as “one of the greatest defensive holds he had ever

seen.” The victory against SFA secured the Southland conference title and a top-ranking going into the playoffs.


Welcome To the Wild

By: Aniyah T. Foley

The Louisiana College Wildcats will be exploring the promising possibilities of this year’s season utilizing the continuous guidance of Head Coach

Dennis Dunn and the fresh outlook from new Special Teams Coach Chris Boniol. Coach Dunn has been a great force for Louisiana College’s football pro-

gram since 2006 progress has been “wild”. Coach Dunn was originally chosen by the LC athletic program because of his success at Evangel High School.

Seeing as though he claimed 14 District Championships during his 14 year stay with Evangel HS, I can see why the Wildcats wanted Coach Dunn .

“Amazing” doesn’t fully cover Coach Dunn’s 200-39 overall record which provided nine state championships. After dedicating himself to reworking Evan-

gel’s football program, Coach Dunn made the decision to begin his college football career. Today, the Wildcats currently have a 52-28 overall record under

Coach Dunn, and are now ready to welcome previous Dallas Cowboy, Coach Boniol, to their well-rounded coaching roster. Originating from the state of

Louisiana, Chris Boniol played as a place kicker for Alexandria High School and completed his college student athlete career at Louisiana Tech University

where he was named as Louisiana Freshman of The Year in 1990. His professional career began as a free agent for the Dallas Cowboys where he assisted his

team in winning Super Bowl XXX in his rookie season. While playing for the Cowboys, Coach Boniol also was accredited for becoming their first player to

achieve three consecutive 100 point seasons. In 2010, as a result of Coach Boniol’s prior success with his beloved Cowboys, he earned a special teams coach-

ing position. After spending three seasons in Dallas and a

year with the Oakland Raiders, Coach Boniol has returned to

Louisiana with more than enough experience to raise the

Wildcats to a new level.

Considering his extensive history with football as

both a player and coach, Coach Boniol will be able to easily

relate to his players and help them understand what he ex-

pects from them in order to succeed. With Coach Dunn’s and

Coach Boniol’s combined professional experience the Wild-

cats are bound to claw away the competition. In preparation

for the season, Coach Dunn has been pushing his athletes to

in order to create an unstoppable dynamic. The Wildcat’s

first game of the season will be September 5th against the

Huntingdon College Hawks in Montgomery, Alabama. Later

in the Wildcat’s line up will be a match up against Sul Ross

State University which will mark LC’s first home game of

the season in Wildcat Stadium. Follow the development of

this season’s Louisiana College Wildcats as they embark on

their quest to bring home an American Southwest Conference

Championship to Pineville, La. Go Wildcats!

Wildcats look to Win Big in 2015

By: Andy Bryson

We had the opportunity to visit Louisiana College this preseason up in Pineville. If I can say only one thing about the Wildcats, it would be

“Family.” Every time I go to Pineville, I see Coach Dunn as more than a coach but as a

mentor to his team.

Coach Dunn continues to build a power house DIII football program. This year

was no different. Coach Dunn continues to find that rare talent and bring them to Louisi-

ana College.

One player to watch this season is junior quarterback Easton Melancon. He is a

five star quality athlete and is bringing some true excitement to Wildcat fans everywhere.

Melancon’s natural talent is being honed by Coach Dunn’s penchant for training exempla-

ry quarterbacks. Most notably while working at Evangel, Coach Dunn worked with for-

mer USC and NFL quarterback Josh Booty and former Miami Hurricane and current NFL

quarterback Brock Berlin. Easton is just another quarterback mentored by Coach Dunn

who could turn a lot of heads.

But Wildcat fans would expect no less from a man who led his Woodlawn High

School football team to three district championships and the state playoffs all five years of

his time there. Coach Dunn’s pedigree further includes coaching at Evangel Christian Academy where he turned the Eagles into one of the most successful

high school programs around. More impressively during all the years he was there, the Eagles never lost a district game. He coached 19 All-Americans

while at Evangel. And with an overall high school coaching record of 200-39, Coach Dunn certainly knows how to train very talented athletes.

This year the Wildcats have a ton of talent returning and a young group of talented freshmen. This team could turn a lot of heads and be very spe-

cial. Make sure you get your tickets today by contacting Jonathan Small with questions or to order your tickets! For athletics ticket information call (318) 487

-7965.

Louisiana College #7 Quarterback Easton Melancon, JR

QB Easton Melancon connects with his Receiver


Unleashed

By: Aniyah T. Foley

Maybe it’s a little nostalgic, but it’s well known that when you’ve been “sent to the dog house”, it means that you’re in trouble. At their own ex-

pense, opponents who attempted to challenge these “canines” of an elite breed last season discovered that this old statement had come back to bite and remind

them that it was still painstakingly true. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl Champions, marked their territory last football season by

going 7-1 in the Conference USA West division, and also returned home

from the season with nine overall wins. With a mind that is set on surpas-

sing their adversaries in athleticism, the Bulldogs are in a constant state of

rigorous training as they challenge themselves to achieve yet another intim-

idating conference record this year. Declaring that La Tech Head Coach,

Skip Holtz, is surrounded by talent is an understatement. Starting offensive

lineman Kirby Wixson and wide receiver/kick returner Carlos Henderson

have both selected for watch lists that exclusively highlight athletes who

have talent and precision. Opportunity is evidently unending amongst this

breed of Bulldog in light of Louisiana Tech’s recently acquired preseason

credentials. The 2015 All-Conference USA teams list by Athlon Sports

noted that fifteen league- best selections were earned by LA Tech football

players. Six of those players received first team honors, as a result of their

tremendous effort, the Bulldogs out ranked any other Conference USA team

in All-Conference player selection. Coach Holtz and the Bulldogs are sum-

moning attention from across the country as they all continue to develop

together as a stronger team both individually and as a whole. As summer’s

temperatures continue to take it up a notch, I am certain that the Bulldogs

have been in Aillet Stadium doing the same.

Joe Aillet Stadium can be found in Ruston, Louisiana. The stadi-

um is capable of holding 30,600 faithful, die-hard La Tech Bulldog fans

per game. This upcoming season you should be one of them! September 9,

2015, will light the torch for the LA Tech Football Team as they undergo

their season opener against Southern University. The Jaguars will travel to Aillet Stadium to compete on the Bulldogs’ own, freshly re-done turf. To add to

the already existing excitement for this upcoming season, a sports coverage crew will be welcomed as well. This forthcoming 2015 season will mark the first

year that all Louisiana Tech football games will be televised! And all I can say is it’s about time! For both old and new non-local Bulldog fans who aren’t

able to witness this approaching season in the flesh-- this means everything! Louisiana Tech Football’s new partnership with American Sports Network

(ASN), will allow dedicated fans from across the country to capture every moment of this season’s Bulldogs showing their teeth to their opponents to signify

that trouble has made its presence known now that it’s time to play. Go Dawgs!

1984, A Year to Remember

By: Chassity Oubre

La Tech historic team was the one that played during the

1984 season. During that season, the Bulldogs finished with a

10-5 record overall, while going 5-1 in the Southland Confer-

ence. The Bulldogs won the Southland Conference Title and

entered the Division I-AA playoffs. They swept through the

playoffs and landed in the Championship game. While on their

playoff march, they defeated Mississippi Valley State, who at

that time had the star wide receiver Jerry Rice on their team. La

Tech’s 1984 historic football team was coached by second year

coach, A.L. Williams. Williams’ first season was not so good,

the team only won four games. Quarterback Kyle Gandy, led

the Bulldogs on their march to the Division I-AA Champion-

ship game. Gandy completed nearly 50% of his passes. Alt-

hough, Gandy only played in six games, he passed for 804

yards and 7 touchdowns, with a quarterback rating of 117.9.

One of the strongest reason that propelled La Tech through the

1984 historic football season, was the running game. Running

back David Green was the second leading rusher on the team

even though he only played in six games that season. The Bull-

dogs was only one game from being Division I-AA Champions

in 1984, but they lost to Montana State in the championship

game that historic season.


Leave that ouija board in the depths of

your attic and just come to Harry Turpin Stadium

instead. The Northwestern State University De-

mons and Head Coach Jay Thomas are summon-

ing NSU fans across the grid to Natchitoches,

Louisiana for a season unlike the rest. The mere

thought of demons appearing through your televi-

sion screen might sound a little too much like

Poltergeist, but don’t let that spook you out of

tuning in to American Sports Network to witness

NSU take on the Southeastern Lions. The North-

western State University Demons’ first game of

the season will be against Southeastern Louisiana

University on Thursday, September 3. As a mem-

ber of the Southland Conference, NSU has been

preparing for a challenging upcoming season

against their fellow conference competitors. De-

spite the journey ahead, Coach Jay Thomas has

been inspiring his athletes to reach their highest

potential.

Coach Thomas is going into his fifth

year at NSU football’s program, however he is in

his third year as the head coach at Northwestern

State. Coach Thomas’s continuously developing

relationship with the Demons was founded on his

prior experience as NSU’s assistant and defensive

line coach. His coaching career started long be-

fore that with eighteen years of combined South-

land Conference experience. After only two sea-

sons as head coach, Jay Thomas has already lead

the NSU Demons to the best two consecutive sea-

sons in the past decade.

As the new season continues to rapidly race towards its debut, both new and current De-mons are soon going to truly understand the im-portance of leaving everything on the gridiron. August 6 was the first fall preseason practice for Northwestern State University football program, and I’m sure NSU fans were just as eager as the players. The athletes were suited up to show fans what they are going to do in the Southland Confer-ence rankings this year. The performance of last season’s NSU players gained the Demons a total of six first-team slots on the 2015 Southland Pre-

Season All Conference team this summer. Amongst the selectees were: Srs. Pace Murphy (OL), Leroy Armstrong (DE), Adam Jones (S), and Ed Eagan (WR) . Most notably Ed Eagan has distinguished his multiple talents as a punt returner and receiver by being highlighted as a candidate for the STATS FCS Offensive Player of The Year. Current NSU Demons have excelled and have used their accomplishments to set the bar for their rookie counterparts this season. Coach Thom-as’s excellent guidance as NSU’s “Head Demon” has been leading his players in the right direction since his arrival in Natchitoches. Be sure to follow the development of this season’s 2015 Northwest-ern State University Demons. You’d have to be possessed to miss it! NSU WR during Spring Workouts

The first round of the 1-AA playoffs matched NSU with an over-

whelmed Illinois State team. Illinois State had put up more than 42 points in

the last 4 games leading up to the playoffs; the Purple Swarm would prove too

much holding the potent offense to only 28 points. The NSU offense, led by

Brad Spangler, would go on to break the school record for total offense in a

game with 650 yards. Spangler himself would throw for 344 of those yards

and tying Patterson’s record of 4 touchdown passes in a game. NSU would

then take on 7th seeded Appalachian State at home. Two long passes from

Spangler to receiver Eric Granger would boost the NSU team to a 31 to 20

victory. The 11th victory of the season marked only the second time in school

history NSU had won 11 games. The semi-final game would prove to be one

of the best moments in NSU school history.

The University of Massachusetts came into Turpin Stadium with the

ability to play with the Demons. Only having lost 3 games in the season, it

was evident that NSU would have to play their best ball of the season in order

to beat the Minutemen. Both teams had played their style effectively in the

first 3 quarters of the game; NSU led 24-21 going into the 4th quarter of play. Driving down the field in order to put the game out of reach, NSU made an un-

characteric play by throwing an interception the Minutemen returned to Demon-territory. UMass would score on the very next play giving them a 28-24 lead

on NSU. After stopping the NSU offense, the Purple Swarm allowed a rare score in a clutch situation putting the game out of reach, 34-24, with only 2

minutes left to play. In a moment of desperation, NSU allowed the Minutemen to gain possession and another late score putting the game of ice. It was at that

moment, when the score was out of reach, that the significance of the NSU team was displayed. Dr. Broussard, Coach Goodwin, and Mr. Rollins all recall

this moment as being extraordinary. According to multiple sources, the 350 member band began to play and the fans stood up and saluted Coach Goodwin as

they sang along with the music. Dr. Broussard said “the success of the ’98 team united a university and surrounding community in a way I had not observed

many organizations do in my lifetime. I am proud moment to be a part of that moment, and it demonstrated to me how sport can be a uniter of peoples.” Mr.

Rollins recalls that the “disappointment of that game was almost reversed by the support of the crowd, a rare and unusually spectacular moment.” UMass

would go on to beat a sloppy Georgia Southern team to win the national title.

Very rarely in sports does a team bring together a community the way the 1998 Northwestern State football team did. The success of that team can

be contributed to many factors, plethora of NFL talent, a uniquely talented coaching staff, and a supportive and relentless community, but nothing trumps the

human desire to come together. The players, coaches, staff, and community of that NSU team created a bond within themselves that will never be broken nor

forgotten. We can only look back on what occurred in 1998 as a reminder of what sports are able to contribute to the human spirit.

Haunting the Competition

By: Aniyah T. Foley


Tidal

By: Aniyah T. Foley

Ride the wave into Yulman Stadium this football season as Tulane

University enters their second season within the American Athletic Confer-

ence. Head Coach Curtis Johnson will be entering into his fourth year along-

side the Green Wave in his hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana. Knowing

that Coach Johnson once served as the wide receivers coach for our state’s

beloved New Orleans Saints, it’s no surprise that he’s been training his ath-

letes at Tulane to perform at a whole other level of precision. With 28 years

of coaching experience under his cap, Coach CJ has left his imprint on the

turf-loving hearts of Tulane Fans across the state. Fondly known as Coach

CJ, his athletes have all learned from Coach Johnson what it means to be

truly dedicated to the life you love. Coach Johnson focuses his recruiting in

the Crescent City because some of the best talent in the country is found in

New Orleans. Sixty-one athletes are from Louisiana , with 42 of

them hailing from the Crescent City. His dedication to football and

Tulane University has provided an amazing opportunity for players

across the state who aspire to polish their athletic careers in their

own “back-swamp.”

During his tenure with Tulane University so far, it has

been noted with awe that at least seven players from the Green

Wave have been recruited by National Football League teams.

Furthermore, since Coach CJ is credited with Tulane’s immaculate

2013 turnaround season (a season in which they had the most wins

since 2002 and went to their eleventh bowl), I can’t wait to see how

this season progresses. The Green Wave will be transforming slight

ripples into an overwhelming tsunami as they kick off their first

game of the season on Thursday, September 3, against Duke Uni-

versity. This will be the first home game of the season.

New signees such as Darius Black, Devin Glenn, and Keeyon

Smart all share a few common characteristics such as their three-star recruit

status given to them by ESPN.com and their common origin from the state of

Louisiana.. I am sure that these factors will provide cohesion for Tulane’s

football program this year. Ensuring success in the present will be returning

players and All- Conference candidates such as: Sophomore RB Sherman

Badie, Junior LB Nico Marley, and Senior DE Royce LaFrance. Recently

LaFrance and his teammate Chris Taylor have both been spotlighted for be-

ing placed on the 2015 Rotary Lombardi Award watch list. During his sopho-

more year, Taylor made a splash as an offensive line starter. Through a col-

lective effort, Tulane’s offense averaged 346.8 yards per game last year and

looks to improve on that this year. Keep your eyes on the horizon for this

season’s Green Wave, or get swept by the surge!

#12 Tanner Lee, QB connects with #89 Ardoin, Kendall , TE for a TD

Tulane Fall Practice

By: Andy Bryson

While I attended practice I watched Coach Johnson run a well oiled machine.

Tulane had true freshmen starting at every position on the field last season. With all that ex-

perience , the Wave is looking to make a huge splash this season in the AAC. Quarterback

Tanner Lee is an excellent quarterback who took over the starter position last season as a true

freshmen. He acquired the job from Nick Montana, son of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe

Montana.

Coach Johnson continues to build the Green Wave to its former glory by recruiting

local guys from New Orleans. Why would he leave the state to get athletes when the best

athletes are right in his back yard in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Coach Johnson

feels passionately that in order to improve/grow the community the young talent needs to stay

in the area. He also believes that education comes first. So it is no surprise that he chose to

work at Tulane a school that has always been heralded as having excellent academic pro-

grams and course work.

Practice told me a lot about the players on this young team. The Wave’s players

are excited to be on the field and are ready for regular season to start as soon as possible.

They have been very busy with strength and conditioning in the off season and now they are

ready to put cleats to the field.

Tulane may be a young team but after all the experience they had last season, they

are playing like a veterans. Last season that young defense kept the Wave in every game and

if the offence improves on the turnovers this season, they will have a huge turnaround. Roll-

Wave!

Date Opponent / Event Location

09/03 vs. Duke (Thurs.) Yulman Stadium

09/12 at Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga.

09/19 vs. Maine Yulman Stadium

10/03 vs. UCF Yulman Stadium

10/10 at Temple Philadelphia, Pa.

10/16 vs. Houston (Fri.) Yulman Stadium

10/24 at Navy Annapolis, Md.

10/31 at Memphis Memphis, Tenn.

11/07 vs. UConn

(Homecoming)

Yulman Stadium

11/14 at Army West Point, N.Y.

11/21 at SMU Dallas, Texas

11/27 vs. Tulsa Yulman Stadium

2015 Tulane Green Wave

Schedule

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LSU Fall Camp

By: Andy Bryson

After attending LSU’s practice, I came away with several conclusions. First being that LSU is severely underrated going into this season. Now that is a great thing for Tiger fans because the Tigers will be able to surprise a bunch of teams this season. There is some great competition at Quarterback now that Anthony Jennings has returned from suspension. I feel that when the Tigers line up this season in the Spread, there will be mismatches all over the place. LSU currently has one of, if not, the best running back duo in the backfield. At Tight End, LSU has the best two receiving Tight Ends in the nation. The Offensive Line has gotten massive in recent years, and have also improved their overall football skills under Coach Grimes. Do I even need to say anything about LSU Wide Receivers? No, I don’t but I will. The Wide Re-ceiver core at LSU is fast, agile, and ready for the long run. Now on the Defensive side, the Tigers always place in the top of all colligate teams, and this year should be no different.

Why I am so confident about the Tigers? Good question. When the Tigers line up in a spread, there is so much speed and talent on the edges that everyone will have to spread out their defense . The opposing team’s Safeties will have to come out of the box and play on the edges. What does that mean for us? That means that there will be holes in the middle for our running backs to run through; and I, for one, am looking forward to watching some 5’11”, 190 lbs Safety try and stop 6’1”, 235 lbs Fournette. The only question concerning the Tigers is at the Quarterback position. To be honest, I did not see that as a problem when I was at LSU. Both Jennings and Harris were connecting with their receivers and backs on both deep and short passes. As long as Miles allows the offense to throw the ball about 40-60% of the time, the Tigers will be a mismatch for any team in the best possible way. In short, the Tigers are going to be in a great position this season with all those athletes they have signed in the past three years. LSU has recruited a top five class in all of the past three years depending on which recruiting source you quote. I look to see the Tigers have a 10 win to undefeated season this year. LSU is just too talented and experienced to do any less. After all, LSU started and played 22 true freshmen last season. Geaux Tigers!

#15 Malachi Dupre, SO

Tigers are Bound to Roar By: Aniyah Foley

We are only days away until the black and gold Tigers make their 2015 foot-

ball season debut. Grambling State University will be representing the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) on September 5th in an away game as they take on the University of California at Berkeley. Personally, a weekend rendezvous to the Gold-en State in effort to support the revered Tigers that Saturday sounds incredibly enticing yet astoundingly out of the realms of my current pay scale. Luckily, their first home game will be that following Saturday, September 12th, against Bethune-Cookman Uni-versity, so let’s get those season tickets ready. It’s been noted that Grambling’s motto is: “Where Everybody is Somebody” but it’s evident that not just anybody is their Head Coach. After coming away with a 7-2 final conference record and a 7-5 overall record during their 2014 season, we know that the Tigers and Coach Broderick Fobbs are more than ready to bring on a season of victory in the name of Grambling State Athletics this upcoming season. Coach Fobbs is entering into his second year as GSU’s Head Coach. Once a running back for Grambling State during the years 1992-96, Coach Broderick Fobbs has shifted gears on the Tiger’s and is now leading his Alma Mater on a promising journey of diligence, dedication, and perseverance. Stats have made it blatantly clear that this past season Grambling State Univer-sity not only dominated their conference in sacks, but also the entire nation with an unbe-lievable 45 sacks in total. These tigers have some serious bite! It’s an understatement that GSU has more than mastered the art of sacking; so you better believe that they are now focused on recalibrating and fine-tuning other aspects of their game. Grambling’s Offensive Coordinator Eric Dooley provided some key insights during an interview after the Tiger’s Annual Black and Gold game that players participated in during March of this year. After analyzing his players going helmet-to-helmet with one another during the rainy day scrimmage, he shared his thoughts that it would be beneficial to his offensive line if they would continue to develop their running game during the off-season. These off-season workouts will greatly influence players like Senior QB, No. 17 Johnathan Williams, recipient of the 2014 Eddie G. Robinson Most Valuable Player Award, as well as Sophomore FB, No.49 Dre’ Fusiler who exerts promising potential. The Tiger’s ex-ceedingly rigorous preparation for this upcoming season only continues to build the an-ticipation that’s growing in wake of their highlighted matchups. Watch out for the GSU Tigers against their SWAC rivals such as Texas Southern and Southern University.

http://www.tulanegreenwave.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kendall_ardoin_884644.html

Documents

Preseason magazine 2015