University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Sampy Accepts Magnolia Grid Iron Classic Invitation
12/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sampy Accepts Magnolia Grid Iron Classic Invitation
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005
LAFAYETTE
- The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced
on Tuesday that wide receiver Bill Sampy has accepted an
invitation to the inaugural Magnolia Grid Iron Classic.
Sampy becomes the fourth Cajun to accept a post-season
bowl invitation under head coach Rickey Bustle. Former
Cajuns/current NFL'ers C.C. Brown (Houston Texans),
Charles Tillman (Chicago Bears) and Ivan Taylor
(Pittsburgh Steelers) all played in the Hula Bowl.
The Carencro native caught a pass in 40 consecutive games in which he played – a streak that ranked fifth nationally. Sampy finished his career with 1,988 career receiving yards, the fifth most all-time in school history. He led the Cajuns in receptions, yards and yards per game in 2005 for a team that ran the ball on 69.1 percent of its plays. He had 29 of the 108 (26.9%) receptions by Cajuns wide receivers.
“I'm very proud for Bill and his family that he gets the chance to play in an all-star game,” said Bustle. “He is following in the footsteps of some very good Cajuns that have played in post-season bowl games.
“He is graduating on Saturday, and this gives him the perfect ending to his Ragin' Cajuns career.”
Following their appearance in the Hula Bowl, Brown was taken by Texans in sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft, Tillman was selected in the 2003 NFL draft by the Bears with the third pick of the second round, while Taylor went to the Steelers in the fourth round of the '03 Draft.
The 2005 MGIC will be played on December 24 in Jackson, Mississippi at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 11am. The game is designed for Division I college football players that have the potential to play in the NFL, but whose team was not invited to a bowl or playoff game.
The game will pit I-A players against I-AA foes. Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker Phillips will lead the I-A team, while Northwestern State head coach Scott Stoker guides the I-AA squad.
Television rights will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
In future years, the MGIC will be played on Christmas Day, but due to Christmas falling on a Sunday in 2005, the game was moved up a day to Saturday. More information can be found at www.magnoliagridironclassic.com beginning Wednesday, Dec. 14.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
