University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Weekly Notebook: Cajuns Hosting Mardi Gras Classics This Weekend
2/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004
SEASON QUICK FACTS...
Overall record: 8-1
Home Record: 3-0
Away Record: 3-0
Neutral Record: 2-1
Current Streak: Won six
Current Rankings: No. 10 (NFCA); No. 9 (ESPN/USA
Softball)
THIS WEEKEND'S SCHEDULE...
1ST ANNUAL LOUISIANA'S
MARDI GRAS CLASSICS
Friday-Sunday, Feb. 20-22, 2004
Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park - Lafayette, La.
Friday, Feb. 20, 2004
6 p.m. - Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Prairie View
8:15 - Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004
1:30 p.m. - Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Southeastern
Louisiana
6 p.m. - Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Missouri
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004
2:30 p.m. - Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Stephen F. Austin
NOW BATTING...
The 10th-ranked
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team is back at home
this weekend, hosting the 1st Annual Louisiana's Mardi
Gras Classic at the Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park...The
field includes Big 12 members Missouri and Texas Tech,
Southland Conference members Southeastern Louisiana and
Stephen F. Austin, and Prairie View A&M...This is UL
Lafayette's third in-season tournament of the
season...Each team will play five games in a round-robin
format beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20...The Ragin'
Cajuns (8-1) carry a season-high, six-game winning
streak into this weekend's action and have won 26
straight games at Ragin' Cajuns Park.
1st Annual Louisiana's Mardi Gras Classic Schedule of Games
Results will be posted on the web site at:
http://www.ragincajuns.com/softball/Stories/2004/mardigrasclassic.htmFriday, Feb. 20, 2004
9 a.m. – Missouri vs. Southeastern Louisiana
11:15 a.m. – Missouri vs. Stephen F. Austin
1:30 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Texas Tech
3:45 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin vs. Prairie View
6 p.m. – Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Prairie View
8:15 p.m. – Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004
9 a.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Prairie View
11:15 a.m. – Texas Tech vs. Prairie View
1:30 p.m. – Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Southeastern
Louisiana
3:45 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin vs. Missouri
6 p.m. – Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Missouri
8:15 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin vs. Texas Tech
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004
10 a.m. – Missouri vs. Prairie View
12:15 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Texas Tech
2:30 p.m. – Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Stephen F. Austin
ON DECK...
Following this weekend's Mardi Gras Classic, Louisiana-Lafayette will close out its current seven-game homestand with a 2 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday, Feb. 25 against in-state rival Louisiana-Monroe.
Next weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns will play in their fourth in-season tournament as they travel to Lake Charles, La., for the McNeese State Cowgirl Classic Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-29. At the McNeese Tournament, the Cajuns will face McNeese State, Nevada and Texas Southern.
SO FAR THIS WEEK...
Louisiana-Lafayette (8-1) extended its season-high win streak to six games with a doubleheader sweep of Nicholls State by counts of 3-1, 3-0 on Wednesday in Thibodaux, La...The set marked the Cajuns first twinbill of the season and improved them to 3-0 on the opposition's home field this season...Junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell tossed a pair of complete-game, one-hitters striking out 24 batters in both games combined...Mitchell recorded 12 strikeouts in both games, giving her six double-digit strikeout performances through seven starts so far this season...The Cajuns were perfect in the field, extending their errorless streak to three games and have committed just one error in the last six games.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND...
The Ragin' Cajuns claimed their seventh consecutive Louisiana Classics championship with wins over in-state foes McNeese State, Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech...UL Lafayette outscored its competition 24-3 and belted nine home runs and two doubles as 11 of the team's 25 hits went for extra bases...Brooke Mitchell continued her dominance in the pitching circle fanning 27 batters in two appearances and throwing a no-hitter against McNeese State...At the plate four Cajun hitters hit above .400, but none was more impressive than true freshman Holly Tankersley...Tankersley, who would eventually be named the Sun Belt Hitter of the Week, went 4-for-8 at the plate with three home runs and six RBI...Tankersley also got it done in the circle, tossing six innings and allowing just two hits while striking out seven against Louisiana Tech...Tankersley was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Louisiana Classics while teammates Lacey Bertucci, Hillary Guidry, Brooke Mitchell and Joy Webre were all named to the All-Tournament team.
CAJUNS VERSUS THE MARDI GRAS CLASSICS FIELD...
Missouri (0-1) - Missouri won the only previous meeting between the two schools taking a 6-0 decision on March 2, 1996, in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga...This is MU's first trip to Lafayette.
Prairie View A&M (2-0) - Cajuns lead the series 2-0...Friday's meeting will be the third all-time...Two teams met for the first time last season on March 28, 2003, in a doubleheader...Cajuns won 10-1, 4-0.
Southeastern Louisiana (44-1) - Cajuns lead the series 44-1...UL Lafayette is 1-0 vs. SLU under Lotief...The Cajuns have won the last 28 meetings between the two schools since SLU's lone victory on March 22, 1991...Teams last met on Feb. 16, 2003, at the ULM Mardi Gras Classics with the Cajun posting a 9-3 victory...The last meeting between the two teams at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park took place on April 15, 1999, when then-USL swept a twinbill 9-1, 9-1.
Stephen F. Austin (2-4) - SFA holds a 4-2 edge in the series, although all Ladyjack wins came in the 1980s...UL Lafayette hosted SFA on March 8, 2002, and swept a twinbill by scores of 6-1, 8-0...The Cajuns have won the last two meetings and hold a 2-1 edge in meetings played in Lafayette.
Texas Tech (2-1) - Louisiana-Lafayette leads the series 2-1...Last meeting took place on March 12, 1998, at the HIT Tournament in Houston (Cajuns won 2-0)...Other two meetings took place at the UTA Tournament in Arlington, Texas, during the 1984 season...This is Texas Tech's first visit to Lafayette.
TEXAN DUO SWEEPS WEEKLY SUN BELT HONORS...
NEW ORLEANS - On Tuesday, the Sun Belt Conference named true freshman Holly Tankersley and junior Brooke Mitchell its hitter and pitcher of the week, respectively.
The weekly award is the first given by the Sun Belt this season.
The Cajuns have won SBC hitter or pitcher of the week 25 times in three-plus seasons under former Cajuns pitching standout and current head coach Stefni Lotief.
Tankersley was named Most Outstanding Player as the Cajuns won the 18th Annual Louisiana Classics this past weekend. The Kirbyville, Texas native finished the tournament 4-for-8 at the plate with three home runs, six RBI and a 1.625 slugging percentage.
Tankersley leads the Cajuns this season with four home runs, 21 total bases and a 1.050 slugging percentage. She ranks second on the club with a .400 average and eight RBI.
Mitchell was named SBC Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time in her career.
The Pasadena, Texas native has picked up right where she left off last season sporting a 0.72 ERA through five starts with 60 strikeouts to just
nine walks in 29 1/3 innings.
Mitchell had a terrific weekend, as she combined with Heather Bobbitt for a no-hitter on Saturday vs. McNeese State, then turned around and tied the school record with 16 strikeouts against Northwestern State on Sunday. She struck out 27 batters, allowing just one earned run in 11 1/3 innings. Last weekend, Mitchell was named MVP of the UL Monroe Mardi Gras Classics.
CAJUNS IN THE POLLS...
Two weeks into the 2004 season and Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team remains in the Top 10 of the national polls.
Louisiana-Lafayette is ranked No. 10 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll, dropping one spot from its preseason ranking of No. 9.
In the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25, the Cajuns are back at their preseason ranking on No. 9. After the loss to Georgia Tech on opening weekend, Louisiana-Lafayette slipped three spots to No. 12 in that poll. Last weekend's sweep pushed them back up three spots.
HOME, SWEET HOME...
There's no doubt that Ragin' Cajuns Park has been the perfect home for UL Lafayette softball.
Now in its 20th season of service to the nationally recognized program, UL Lafayette has posted a 413-69 (.857) record all-time at the park.
UL Lafayette's 26 home wins last season marked the fifth straight season that the Cajuns posted 20 or more home wins.
Under head coach Stefni Lotief, the Ragin' Cajuns have posted a 77-8 mark (.906) in the friendly confines.
Dating back to 1999, Louisiana-Lafayette has gone 129-12 for a .915 winning percentage.
UL Lafayette has never had a losing season at home in 19 seasons.
HOME WIN STREAK ON THE LINE...
The Cajuns ended the 2003 home season on a 23-game winning streak.
That streak continued last weekend when the Cajuns swept through the Louisiana Classics field.
Louisiana-Lafayette enters the Mardi Gras Classics having won 26 straight home games.
The school-record home win streak is 53 games set during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. From Feb. 20, 1993 through May 22, 1994 the Cajuns were undefeated at home.
LAST TIME OUT...Feb. 18, 2004 at Nicholls State
THIBODAUX-Junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell combined to strikeout 24 batters to help lead the No. 10-ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team to a doubleheader sweep over Nicholls State Wednesday here at Lady Colonel Diamond. The Cajuns won game one 3-1 and game two 3-0.
The pair of victories gives the Ragin' Cajuns an 8-1 overall record and a five-game winning streak, while dropping the Colonels to 0-2.
In the night cap, Louisiana-Lafayette began game two where they left off from game one. Shortstop Tiffany Hebert led off the game with a single up the middle. Freshman Hillary Guidry brought her home with an RBI double to left field, giving the Cajuns a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first frame.
The Cajuns scored another run in the second inning to give them a 2-0 advantage.
After surrendering a first-inning hit, Mitchell (6-1) retired the next 20 Colonel batters to seal the win in game two for the Cajuns. Mitchell pitched another complete game, striking out 12 batters in game two, while Nicholls State's Nichole Wagner (0-1) struck out six.
In the top half of the fifth, Hebert led off with a walk, followed by a Guidry single. After Gomez fouled out to second base, catcher Joy Webre plated Hebert on a sacrifice fly to give the Cajuns an insurmountable 3-0 cushion.
In game one of the doubleheader, it took four-plus innings before a run crossed the plate for either team. Sophomore and Pasadena, Texas, native Leslie Pierce hit a towering, two-run homerun over the left field fence to give the Cajuns the early advantage in the top of the fifth inning.
UL Lafayette starting pitcher Mitchell (5-1) held the Nicholls State batters at bay offensively through four innings, before a Colonel could cross the plate.
In the following half of the sixth, sophomore All-American Danyele Gomez blasted her second home run of the season, a solo effort, to give the Cajuns a 3-1 lead.
After the Colonels' lone run in the fifth, Mitchell settled down and retired the last nine NSU batters to seal the Cajuns victory. Mitchell went the distance, finishing with 12 strikeouts, while allowing only one run on one hit.
THE FLAME THROWER...
Junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell has fanned opposing batters at an alarming rate so far this season and is showing no ill-effects from her bicep injury suffered at the end of the Cajuns postseason run last season.
Mitchell has 84 strikeouts this season in seven (7) appearances - that's an average of 12 strikeouts per game.
She has now tallied at least five (5) strikeouts in 36 of her last 48 appearances and has 16 double-digit strikeout performances dating back to last season.
The right-handed hurler has posted double-digit strikeouts in her last four starts. She tied the school record for strikeouts with 16 against Northwestern State last Sunday in the Louisiana Classics.
Mitchell has had double-digit strikeouts in six of her seven starts.
Last season, she broke the single-season record of 256 strikeouts, set by Cheryl Longeway in 1995, with 279 strikeouts and averaged 8.84 strikeouts per game – another school record.
BROOKE MITCHELL'S STRIKEOUT
TALLY
2/7/04 vs. Kentucky 12K
2/8/04 vs. Ga. Tech 9K
2/8/04 at UL Monroe 12K
2/14/04 vs. McNeese 11K
2/15/04 vs. Northwestern St. 16K
2/18/04 at Nicholls State 12K
2/18/04 at Nicholls State 12K
---------------------------------
Seven-game totals 84K
HALF CENTURY WORTH OF STRIKEOUTS...
Brooke Mitchell recently moved past 500 strikeouts in her young and brilliant career.
On Sunday, Feb. 15 against Northwestern State, Mitchell notched her 500th career strikeout with her 13th victim of the game.
With 527 strikeouts recorded in two-plus seasons, Mitchell is within striking distance of the career Top 5 list.
The Pasadena, Texas, native is 26 strikeouts shy from tying former Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Melissa Coronado for fifth place.
Mitchell needs 49 strikeouts to tie co-head coach Stefni Lotief's 576 tally set from 1987-1990 which is third place.
When she moves over 600 strikeouts, she will become just the third pitcher in program history to do so joining Kyla Hall and Kim Eisnaugle.
Kyla Hall (1991-94) holds the program record with 820 strikeouts. Eisnaugle is second with 612 from 1983-86.
CAREER STRIKEOUTS TOP 5
1. Kyla Hall (1991-94)
820K
2. Kim Eisnaugle (1983-86) 612K
3. Stefni Whitton (1987-90) 576K
4. Jennifer Clendenin (1993-97) 554K
5. Melissa Coronado (1999-2002) 553K
-----
6. Brooke Mitchell (2002-pres.) 527K
MILESTONE WIN...
Last Sunday's 5-2 win over Northwestern State was the 50th career win for junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell.
Mitchell enters this weekend's action with a career mark of 52-16 (.765).
POWERFUL LINEUP AWAITS YOU...
Opposing pitchers will not have it easy this season when facing the Ragin' Cajuns lineup - all the way from top to bottom.
The Cajuns have already hit 18 home runs through nine (9) games with nine (9) different players contributing.
Holly Tankersley leads the way with four dingers including three last Sunday in Louisiana Classics action.
All but one in the starting nine have hit at least one home run this season. Tiffany Hebert is the lone starter still searching for that elusive home run.
Last season the Cajuns had every one of its starting nine with at least one home run. That team went on to hit a school-record 79 dingers.
At the current pace of nearly two home runs per game, the Cajuns are on pace to eclipse the century mark this season.
Louisiana-Lafayette has clubbed nine home runs at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park (in three games).
GOOD EYES...
Cajun hitters have drawn 54 walks through nine games so far this season - an average of six per game.
Against Gardner-Webb on Feb. 7, the Cajuns were issued a season-high 13 free passes.
Tiffany Hebert leads the way with nine walks. Lacey Bertucci (8), Brittany Bryant (7) and Danyele Gomez (7) are close behind.
NOTHING IS FREE...
When it comes to facing Brooke Mitchell.
The junior hurler has issued just 11 walks through seven starts and 43 1/3 innings.
Her strikes:walks ratio is an astounding 7.6 k/bb.
As a team, the Cajuns pitching staff has surrendered just 14 walks in 59 innings and sports a 7.2 strikes:walks ratio.
HERE'S A STAT...
Of the Cajuns 16 runs allowed this season only seven (7) are earned.
PULLING AWAY...
In a trend opposite of the past two seasons, the Ragin' Cajuns are outscoring the opposition 43-8 in the final four innings through nine games.
Last season, the Cajuns dominated the game's first three innings outscoring opponents 187-37. This season the Cajuns are outscoring opponents 24-8 in the game's first three innings.
Last season UL Lafayette scored 73 runs in the first inning. Through nine (9) games this season, Louisiana-Lafayette has scored just two runs in the opening frame.
FINE TUNING...
Since committing an uncharacteristic eight errors in the season's first three games at the UL Monroe Mardi Gras Classic, the Cajuns have limited their mistakes since then.
In the last six games, the Cajuns have committed just one error over a span of 117 chances - a stellar .993 fielding percentage.
UL Lafayette enters the Mardi Gras Classics on a three-game errorless streak.
ATTACKING FROM ALL ANGLES...
The Cajuns have five players who have at least two multiple-hit games and seven different players with multiple-RBI games.
Opposing teams will have a hard time trying to single out which player to pitch around.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE...
Of the Cajuns four hits against McNeese State last Saturday in the Louisiana Classics, all four hits were home runs.
Wednesday at Nicholls State, two of the three hits were homers.
GRAND BEGINNING...
Danyele Gomez and Brittany Bryant did it last season.
This season it was Lacey Bertucci's turn.
The true freshman and Folsom, La., native began her career with a solo home run in her first-ever collegiate at bat in the season opener against Kentucky at the ULM Mardi Gras Classic in the top of the second inning.
MISTAKES WILL COST YOU...
Louisiana-Lafayette learned that lesson the hard way last Sunday against Georgia Tech at the ULM Mardi Gras Classic.
The Cajuns committed two crucial errors in the second inning allowing the Yellow Jackets to scratch for four unearned runs.
With the bases loaded and one out, catcher Joy Webre picked off a GT runner at second base seemingly getting the Cajuns out of the jam.
However, a grounder to third a couple of pitches later rolled between the legs of third baseman Danyele Gomez and into left field for the first of four unearned runs.
UL Lafayette suffered a 4-1 loss as Tech's Jessica Sallinger cooled off the red-hot bats allowing just three hits - only two after Holly Tankersley's home run in the top of the second.
MAKING THE SWITCH
Last season it was Jill Robertson switching from second base to shortstop. Robertson was moved to short, replacing departed All-American Alana Addison.
This season it's Danyele Gomez moving from right field to third base. Gomez was moved to third, replacing three-time All-American Becky McMurtry.
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES...
Several Cajuns are getting used to being in new positions this season.
Only three position starters from last season's team are currently playing in the same spot.
Brittany Bryant (second base), Crystal George (left field) and Joy Webre (catcher) are the only mainstays from 2003.
Here's a rundown of who is making a position debut this season: Lacey Bertucci (first base), Ashley Evans (right field), Danyele Gomez (third base), Hillary Guidry (center field), and Tiffany Hebert (shortstop).
ON THE SHELF...
The Cajuns lost the services of senior Jill Robertson before the season even started.
Robertson suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first day of spring practice.
The Lafayette native was slated to move to an outfield position before the injury cut her season short.
CAJUNS SELECTED AS SUN BELT FAVORITE ONCE MORE...
Three seasons; three championships; only two starters gone from last season's Women's College World Series appearance.
More than enough evidence to support the selection of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team as a unanimous choice to win the 2004 Sun Belt Conference championship, according to a preseason coaches poll announced on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The Cajuns, preseason No. 9 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25, received all six first-place votes from the league's six head coaches and 36 total points.
Louisiana-Lafayette, coming off a 47-11 season last year and a No. 8 ranking in the final national polls, claimed their third straight Sun Belt regular season title and fourth straight Sun Belt Tournament crown last season. In the postseason, the Ragin' Cajuns became the first Sun Belt school to advance to the WCWS.
Florida International, coming off its first NCAA Regional appearance last year, finished second in the poll with 28 votes.
Western Kentucky was selected third, while Middle Tennessee was picked fourth. North Texas, which is putting a softball team on the field for the first time since 1988, was picked fifth. New Mexico State was picked sixth.
2004 SUN BELT PRESEASON POLL
Preseason poll according
to the Sun Belt school head coaches. First place votes
in parentheses
1. Louisiana-Lafayette (6) 36
2. Florida International 28
3. Western Kentucky 21
4. Middle Tennessee 17
5. North Texas 14
6. New Mexico State 10
CAJUNS DEBUT AT NO. 9 IN NFCA TOP 25...
Just one day after being tabbed the Sun Belt Conference's favorite in the 2004 race, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team received one more preseason honor Wednesday, Jan. 28.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its first poll of the 2004 season Wednesday and Louisiana-Lafayette once again found itself among the nation's top 10.
The Cajuns debuted at No. 9, the same identical ranking as the ESPN/USA Softball preseason poll which was released two weeks prior to the NFCA announcement.
Louisiana-Lafayette received 425 votes from the panel of 27 Division I head coaches.
Like the ESPN/USA Softball poll, the Cajuns were the lone ranked Sun Belt school and were ranked ahead of in-state rival No. 14 LSU.
GOMEZ DONNED THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE...
Two years ago, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program sent the first Louisiana native to the USA Softball Team Camp trials. Now, the program has sent two Louisiana products and a representative for the third straight year.
USA Softball invited 46 athletes to participate in the 2003 Olympic Trials, Sept. 2-7, 2003 at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
On the list were current Louisiana-Lafayette sophomore and Metairie native Danyele Gomez and former All-American third baseman Becky McMurtry.
"Our players' being invited to the Olympic trials is the highest compliment to our program and our team and our community,” said head coach Stefni Lotief. “These girls are considered to be among the best in the nation."
In the past three years, UL Lafayette has been the lone softball program in the Sun Belt Conference to send representatives to a USA Softball camp. This year, the program will was the only one from Louisiana represented.
CAJUNS RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESSES...
It's been a longstanding tradition that excellence on the field and in the classroom goes hand-in-hand for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program.
The 2003 season proved to be no different.
A trip to the Women's College World Series highlighted the accolades on the playing field while a total of six players being named scholar-athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association along with a team grade point average that ranked 21st in Division I were the highlights in classroom performance.
The NFCA bestows the distinguished honor to those athletes who conclude the academic year with a 3.5 GPA or better. The Cajuns total of six meant that 1/3 of the entire 2003 squad sported a 3.5 GPA or better.
“I am continued to be amazed at the resolve that this team shows for excellence on and off the field,” said UL Lafayette head coach Stefni Lotief. “These are our future community leaders and I know that they will continue the pursuit of excellence.
“I am proud to be on the same team with them,” Lotief added. “This university, our community and their families can be proud of their academic accomplishments.”
The recipients of the scholar-athlete award were: Tiffany Hebert (exercise science), Summar Lapeyrouse (exercise science), Becky McMurtry (general studies), Rachel Reese (pre-med), Jill Robertson (mechanical engineering) and Joy Webre (chemistry).
Both Reese and McMurtry were named the Outstanding Graduates for their respective colleges. Reese is currently enrolled at the University of Texas Medical School while McMurtry is in Phoenix pursuing her goal of playing professional softball.
DID YOU KNOW???
The Ragin' Cajuns softball team has appeared in the NCAA Regionals in 13 of the last 14 seasons and the last five straight (1999-present)…UL Lafayette appeared in the 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2003 Women's College World Series…Last season's appearance in the WCWS marked fourth in program history and first under head coach Stefni Lotief.
DID YOU KNOW???
The Louisiana-Lafayette softball program has produced 32 All-Americans and 13 Academic All-Americans since the 1989 season…Current head coach Stefni Lotief was the first All-American in Cajuns softball history and was the first first-team member as well…Last season, senior Becky McMurtry and freshman Danyele Gomez were both named All-Americans marking the fifth straight season that the Cajuns have had at least one All-American and 14th in the last 15 seasons.
A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY...
When it comes to the NCAA Division I Women's Softball Championships, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program has been a fixture over the past decade.
In 2003, the Cajuns made their fifth straight NCAA Regionals appearance and 13th in the last 14 years. Since 1990, UL Lafayette has missed the “Field of 64” only once (1998).
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
