Remembering Lili

[NewsCopy]

The University of Louisiana football team's focus was on its first game against LSU in over 60 years, and wasn't paying a lot of attention to the Gulf of Mexico. Acadiana residents had been lulled into a false sense of security, since the state hadn't been victimized by a hurricane in several seasons. In fact, no hurricane had made U.S. landfall in over two years. That all changed on Oct. 3-4, 2002, a Thursday and Friday when Hurricane Lili made landfall at Intercoastal City, and eventually brought its wrath on south central Louisiana. It made things tough on the Ragin' Cajun squad, disrupting its Thursday and Friday preparations. The Cajuns had just rolled over UAB in a surprisingly easy 34-0 victory two weeks earlier, but UL was only a shadow of that team 48 hours after Lili inflicted $860 million worth of damage on the state. It was ugly early, and the host Tigers embarrassed the Cajun squad 48-0. "We had a rough week," said Cajun coach Rickey Bustle. "We were absolutely flat. I don't think we had any kind of edge out there." The Cajuns were in the middle of a 3-9 season and the Tigers were on the way to an 8-4 mark before a Cotton Bowl loss to Texas. But it shouldn't have been that lopsided early, and Lili's effects could have had something to do with that. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[RonMexico]

NOT FAIR TO BRING LILI UP IN CONVERSATION!

we all know that there is only one team in this state that is ever impacted by hurricanes.

L'Ronte'

ps its not Tulane.

[JamesTheJeweler]

NOT FAIR TO BRING LILI UP IN CONVERSATION!

we all know that there is only one team in this state that is ever impacted by hurricanes.

L'Ronte'

ps its not Tulane.

he-he

[TGK4LSU]

Open mouth, insert foot. I guess LSU didn't have to deal with Katrina issues last year going to Tempe & winning at Arizona State.

[CajunFan64]

Not saying that LSU didn't have issues with Katrina but, for some reason some national media organizations (not saying all) have not mentioned anything about our struggles through both hurricanes, when refering to our game on 9/2. I beleive thats what was alluded to by RonMexico. Personally I don't really think it was a valed comment by him in the first place, I mean of all the things to argue about, who got hit the worst by Katrina and Rita, I think your really reaching for an argument now.

But, if your referring to UL not getting any national coverage, well thats gonna take time, one winning season isn't gonna put us on College Gameday. But all in all, RonMexico, although I don't agree with your statement, I appreciate the fact your like me, trying to fight for our place at the table.

Geaux Cajuns

[TGK4LSU]

Not saying that LSU didn't have issues with Katrina but, for some reason some national media organizations (not saying all) have not mentioned anything about our struggles through both hurricanes, when refering to our game on 9/2. I beleive thats what was alluded to by RonMexico. Personally I don't really think it was a valed comment by him in the first place, I mean of all the things to argue about, who got hit the worst by Katrina and Rita, I think your really reaching for an argument now.

But, if your referring to UL not getting any national coverage, well thats gonna take time, one winning season isn't gonna put us on College Gameday. But all in all, RonMexico, although I don't agree with your statement, I appreciate the fact your like me, trying to fight for our place at the table.

Geaux Cajuns

Everyone was effected in some way last year by the hurricanes. But from a national perspective, LSU and Tulane got most of the attention. Why is that? Well, Tulane for obvious reasons. As far as LSU? To prove my point about National perception and Louisiana, LSU is college football in Louisiana and the school that represents Louisiana. Until anyone else can win "the hearts & minds" of at least half the people of Louisiana, thats the way it will be.

[crazycajun]

Everyone was effected in some way last year by the hurricanes. But from a national perspective, LSU and Tulane got most of the attention. Why is that? Well, Tulane for obvious reasons. As far as LSU? To prove my point about National perception and Louisiana, LSU is college football in Louisiana and the school that represents Louisiana. Until anyone else can win "the hearts & minds" of at least half the people of Louisiana, thats the way it will be.

but why should only football be the thing affected most by the hurricanes? I think there was alot more to worry about after those a hurricanes than football. I love football to death but people's lives are a little more important tha havnig to change a home game to a road game don't you think.

[ATXCajun]

Open mouth, insert foot. I guess LSU didn't have to deal with Katrina issues last year going to Tempe & winning at Arizona State.

There was a hurricane in Tempe?

[Damon]

There was a hurricane in Tempe?

I think the game was supposed to be home and was moved to Tempe.

[ATXCajun]

Everyone was effected in some way last year by the hurricanes. But from a national perspective, LSU and Tulane got most of the attention. Why is that? Well, Tulane for obvious reasons. As far as LSU? To prove my point about National perception and Louisiana, LSU is college football in Louisiana and the school that represents Louisiana. Until anyone else can win "the hearts & minds" of at least half the people of Louisiana, thats the way it will be.

I'll keep this in the narrow perspective of college football, since that is part of your argument.

The national perception is simply this: "I've heard of LSU. I have seen them on national TV playing football often. I may or may not have heard of any other school in Louisiana, depending on how much time I spend following college football."

When the national perception becomes "College football in Louisiana is good," it won't be because LSU is good (point already proven, since LSU is good and national perception remains as written above), it will be because LSU and several other colleges in Louisiana are good.

I disagree with the comment that LSU "represents" Louisiana, to the extent that you mean exclusively. There's no college football senate, with a single representative from each state. When any college in Louisiana competes against an out of state foe, they are representing Louisiana.

[kracka75LSU]

Not saying that LSU didn't have issues with Katrina but, for some reason some national media organizations (not saying all) have not mentioned anything about our struggles through both hurricanes, when refering to our game on 9/2.

The national media obviously used that same formula when they forget about all the mass devistation in mississippi from katrina.

[kracka75LSU]

Everyone was effected in some way last year by the hurricanes. But from a national perspective, LSU and Tulane got most of the attention. Why is that? Well, Tulane for obvious reasons. As far as LSU? To prove my point about National perception and Louisiana, LSU is college football in Louisiana and the school that represents Louisiana. Until anyone else can win "the hearts & minds" of at least half the people of Louisiana, thats the way it will be.

Do you think it's possible for you to enter just one thread that didn't mention the fact that LSU is the school that is the face of louisiana? Or that LSU is college football in Louisiana. It may be true but I would imagine that 99.4% of people in here don't want to hear that. Just Sayin.

[TGK4LSU]

Do you think it's possible for you to enter just one thread that didn't mention the fact that LSU is the school that is the face of louisiana? Or that LSU is college football in Louisiana. It may be true but I would imagine that 99.4% of people in here don't want to hear that. Just Sayin.

Point taken. But I didn't bring up the issue. I was just offering an explanation of why the other schools in the state got little or no hurricane hardship coverage.

[RonMexico]

Point taken. But I didn't bring up the issue. I was just offering an explanation of why the other schools in the state got little or no hurricane hardship coverage.

I'll bet in real life your probably a decent guy. Please, give us a break.

L'Ronte'