SB Nation 2011 College Football Bowls
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The site of the title game got a workout, as hordes of Ragin' Cajuns fans and probably some San Diego State fans witnessed a down-to-the-wire thriller.
The San Diego State Aztecs had seemingly used all of the New Orleans Bowl's miracles against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. With 1:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Aztecs trailed 29-24. On fourth-and-2, from the Aztecs' 39-yard line, quarterback Ryan Lindley's pass fell incomplete, but a pass interference call kept the drive and San Diego State alive.
Nine plays later, with 35 seconds to go, Colin Lockett's 12-yard touchdown catch put the Aztecs up 30-29. They missed the ensuing two-point conversion, but what did that matter?
It mattered. Only down one point, the Ragin' Cajuns had 35 seconds to drive down the field and get in field goal range. In those 35 seconds, Louisiana-Lafayette, led by quarterback Blaine Gautier's two completed passes to Javone Lawson for a combined 39 yards, made it to San Diego State's 43-yard line. Brett Baer hit a 55-yard field goal and the Ragin' Cajuns raged all night in a 32-30 victory.
Everyone heard it, but nobody had a clue what the referee said on the second-to-last play in the New Orleans Bowl. As Louisiana-Lafayette lined up for a 55-yard field goal to win the game, there was movement on both sides before the snap. The referee signaled the infraction was on the defense, making a similar motion to that of an illegal procedure, but the confusion began when he tried to explain.
Simply put, the defense lurched towards the line of scrimmage first, and the officials determined the movement caused the offense to false start. The call from the head referee sounded like "illegal spinning," but he later clarified the call was illegal stemming. The rule is meant to prevent a defense from inducing a false start by feigning movement before the snap.
I'd never heard of it referred to as illegal stemming, or spinning, or simming, or what have you. Instead, the penalty is typically called delay of game, which is how the NCAA rulebook refers to it.
Linebacker B56 is stationary within one yard beyond the neutral zone. As the offense is calling its snap signals, B56 feints toward the line in an obvious attempt to induce a false start by the offense. RULING: Deadball foul, delay of game. Five-yard penalty at the succeeding spot.
Thanks to the penalty, the Ragin Cajuns moved five yards closer, and the 50-yard field goal was good. It wasn't pretty -- the kick was a knuckleball that just barely stayed inside the left upright -- but Louisiana-Lafayette secured the win in what was a wildly entertaining game for those who stayed up.
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns have won their first-ever Division I bowl game, upending the San Diego St. Aztecs, 32-30, in the 2011 New Orleans Bowl. They came out hot, played like madmen, bled from their foreheads, took every available risk and made endless mistakes, but in the end, the team that wanted to win more did.
Blaine Gautier was heroic, throwing for 469 yards, including the game-winning drive, and taking shots aplenty while dealing with constant center exchange issues. Ladarius Green and Javone Lawson combined for 275 of those yards. SDSU's Ryan Lindley was quite impressive as well, producing 413 yards despite facing a blazing fast secondary and lacking the running game the Aztecs have relied on all year.
With six minutes left, the Aztecs pulled within two on a Adam Muema run up the middle, and ULL's many and creative special teams mishaps from earlier in the evening loomed large.
In response, Darryl Surgent made a one-handed, self-tipping catch while having his arm yanked, gaining 55 yards despite being interfered with. In true UL-Lafayette fashion, some snapping difficulties followed, but a spectacular Lawson catch (while being interfered with) later and it was first-and-goal. A successful field goal followed, shrinking San Diego State's window.
The Aztecs followed with a two-minute drive, needing a touchdown. With a minute left, Lindley ran for a first down to ULL's 30. Fullback Chad Young took a screen inside the red zone. He struck a seam-splitting Colin Lockett from 12 yards out with 35 seconds left to give SDSU its first lead since early in the first quarter. The two-point attempt was no good.
With just seconds remaining, Gautier powered the Aztecs within range of a 55-yard field goal try for Brett Baer. A penalty drew him within 50, but it would've been good from the original distance.
The nation's third-leading rusher, SDSU's Ronnie Hillman, may have seen his profile dinged just a bit. He averaged only two yards per carry, but it's hard to do much beyond that when the athletically superior opposition is clearly keyed to shut down the run.
For more on this game, visit Big East blog Big East Coast Bias and Mountain West blog Mountain West Connection. Surely one of those covers SDSU. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
Louisiana-Lafayette still leads the San Diego St. Aztecs in the New Orleans Bowl, but does so by a very non-football score. The teams traded touchdowns early in the third quarter, as Blaine Gautier hit Ladarius Green and Ryan Lindley found Colin Lockett to make it 19-10, Cajuns, after some more kicking challenges. Lindley led a 99-yard scoring drive later in the third, and now it's 19-17.
In one game, UL-Lafayette's special teams has returned a punt for a touchdown, missed an extra point, had an extra point blocked, had a field goal nullified, and downed two straight punts at the one-yard line. And 20 minutes remain. All over the place.
With Ronnie Hillman all but deleted from the game (36 yards until finally breaking loose for one noteworthy gain on this drive), SDSU's entire offense is now just Lindley hurling the ball great distances. Sometimes it works (he has 291 yards), sometimes it doesn't (consecutive near-interceptions just now), but this game might end with some serious mayhem.
For more on this game, visit Big East blog Big East Coast Bias and Mountain West blog Mountain West Connection. Surely one of those covers SDSU. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
They say bowl games are decided by effort. To get to a bowl, you have to be at least an OK team or UCLA, but so many bowls pit teams with nothing much to play for against teams with reasons to care. Louisiana-Lafayette has reason to care, playing in its first I-A bowl ever in front of a wildly stacked crowd, and the halftime score reflects that: it's 13-3, Ragin' Cajuns.
For one thing, they've held San Diego St. Aztecs star running back Ronnie Hillman to a 1.9 yards-per-carry average on 17 attempts. Minus one 13-yard burst, he's compiled only 19 yards. The good news for SDSU: they're down at the half. Five times this year, that's resulted in an Aztecs win.
UL-Lafeyette's last offensive drive shows where their heads are at, even though it didn't result in points. The Cajuns went for two fourth down conversions, converting one -- a fake punt pass from Brad McGuire to Dwight Bentley -- and getting picked off at the goal line on the second. Along the way, Javone Lawson achieved this one-handed, diving grab:
For more on this game, visit Big East blog Big East Coast Bias and Mountain West blog Mountain West Connection. Surely one of those covers SDSU. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
As the New Orleans Bowl's second quarter began, Louisiana-Lafayette led the San Diego St. Aztecs, 6-3, after a Blaine Gautier touchdown to Javone Lawson was followed by a blocked extra point.
One minute into the new period, Darryl Surgent tore off an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown -- after which ESPN's Shelley Smith reported ULL's sports information director admitted Ragin' Cajuns players sometimes feign injuries to slow down the clock, I think? Things are getting weird.
Just after that, footage from pregame showed Cajuns players AND COACHES engaging in a spirited Oklahoma drill on the sideline, risking actual injury all over the place. Perhaps this was how one coach ended up bleeding from his head. Louisiana-Lafayette everyone's my new favorite team ever.
For more on this game, visit Big East blog Big East Coast Bias and Mountain West blog Mountain West Connection. Surely one of those covers SDSU. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
In a stadium filled with rowdy Ragin' Cajuns fans, UL-Lafayette strength coach Rusty Whitt is perhaps the most rowdy and ragin' of all:
The San Diego St. Aztecs enjoyed a home field advantage in last year's bowl game, but the 2011 New Orleans Bowl crowd is all Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns. Startling analysis.
SDSU took the first lead when a 46-yard Dylan Denso catch set up a Abelardo Perez field goal. The Cajuns responded with a Blaine Gautier rollout prayer that Ladarius Green brought in for a backpedaling 44-yard gain, despite being interfered with. But a penalty pulled UL-Lafayette back out of the red zone, and 3-0 it remained.
Some punts were fired back and forth, Mark Hudspeth yelled at a ref for a very long time, and R+L Carriers explained to us that they are a trucking company. On we go.
For more on this game, visit Big East blog Big East Coast Bias and Mountain West blog Mountain West Connection. Surely one of those covers SDSU. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
The San Diego St. Aztecs and Louisiana Ragin Cajuns meet in a battle of 8-4 teams in the 2011 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Saturday night.
After their second straight 8-4 season, the Aztecs are playing in a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. The Aztecs are led by running back Ronnie Hillman, who rushed for 1,656 yards and 19 touchdowns and added a 20th touchdown on one of his 20 receptions in 2011. Quarterback Ryan Lindley added 20 touchdowns with his arm, which accounted for 2,740 yards, mostly to wideouts Colin Lockette and Gavin Escobar, who combined for 99 receptions for 1,595 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Following a 61-34 loss to the Oklahoma St. Cowboys, first-year head coach Mark Hudspeth guided the Ragin' Cajuns to six straight wins, making the eligible to go to a bowl for the first time in 41 seasons. Junior quarterback Blaine Gautier leads the Ragin Cajuns offense, passing for 2,488 yards and 20 touchdowns and ranks second behind running back Alonzo Harris (638 yards, eight touchdowns) with 464 rushing yards and three touchdowns, earning second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
Game date, time: 9 p.m. ET, Saturday, December 17, 2011
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV channel: ESPN
Odds: Aztecs are favored by 4.5 points
For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns are making their first post-season appearance in 41 years, taking on the San Diego State Aztecs in their own backyard. The Cajuns will be facing of the the nation's lesser known but better running backs in Ronnie Hillman, who is third in the NCAA in rushing yards per game with 138.0 yards per game. "He's a force," Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley said. "He does some amazing things when you put the ball in his hands. I think he is just a guy that is plain dangerous." Stopping Hillman will be a point of emphasis for the Cjauns, as when Hillman rushes for over 110 yards, the Aztecs are 12-2.
In order to win their first bowl game in 41-years, Hillman has to be stopped. "They've got one of the most talented backs that we'll face this year," Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth said. "Our goal is to stop the run first. That to me is what they do the best. ... We'll have to play well up front and be physical because he's a guy that has hurt a lot of teams so far." The Cajuns defense is giving up nearly 30 points per game and nearly 400 yards per game, so slowing down the Aztecs offense will be a big point of emphasis.
Game date, time: 9:00 pm ET, Saturday, December 17
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV channel: ESPN
For more on each bowl game as it's announced, stay tuned to SB Nation's 2011 college football bowl game coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
You may be less aware of Louisiana-Lafayette football than you are of that other Louisiana school's team, but let there be no mistake that the state's second biggest university is every bit as Bayou State:
As somewhat of a preview of the night to come Thursday, the Paint the Quarter Red parade started off with a dance-off between the Ragin' Cajuns mascot and man wearing a "UL Dad" T-shirt.
The UL Pride of Acadiana Marching Band played as a crowd of several hundred gathered at the team hotel on Canal Street, blocking off an entire lane of traffic.
They're gonna do it again Friday night, too.
Most fish-out-of-water fans this bowl season: San Diego State fans in New Orleans, or Iowa State fans in the Bronx?
The San Diego State Aztecs will meat the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns in the 2011 New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans, LA. The Cajuns will be hosting their first ever bowl game in their own backyard. On the other hand, the Aztecs will be making a cross country trip to the bowl game. For a while however, the Aztecs weren't sure which bowl game they would wind up in.
"We almost laughed when (head coach Rocky Long) told us they didn't know," SDSU quarterback Ryan Lindley said. "It was a little worrisome too." The Aztecs were passed over on all of the Mountain West bowl tie ins and they weren't even sure they would make a bowl game. Even though they'll be in the Cajun's back yard, it's better than no bowl game. "We just hope we get a following," Lindley said. "We know we're kind of going to be the away team there."
Stay tuned to SB Nation’s 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage.
There will be a very important bowl game played in the Louisiana Superdome in a few weeks. And the R& L Carrier New Orleans Bowl will be played there, too. The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will also set up shop in the New Orleans, making their first-ever bowl appearance, where they'll draw San Diego State, according to Brent Schrotenboer.
Traditionally the bowl that reminds you that the Sun Belt Conference is still happening, you can usually expect to see the likes of Troy, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee playing here. Southern Miss and North Texas have called made this their final destination four times while the Troy Trojans have been three times, all of which were in the past five years.
Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Shelley Smith will be your television crew for ESPN.
Game date, time: 9:00 pm ET, Saturday, December 17
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV channel: ESPN
2010 winner and loser: Troy 48 - Ohio 21
For more on each bowl game as it’s announced, stay tuned to SB Nation’s 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are going bowlin' for the first time ever at the FBS level, accepting a spot in the nearby New Orleans Bowl. They'll await their opponent, which would usually be a Conference USA team, but teams like Syracuse, Purdue, and Florida International are looking to snag that bid. The C-USA is top-heavy, you see.
This is the third of RIGHT AROUND SEVENTY bowl bids to be taken off the table, so we're going to be here a while. Elsewhere, the BYU Cougars have reserved their seat at the Armed Forces Bowl, and the Arkansas St. Red Wolves are prepared to take MACtion to the 12th level by entering the Godaddy.com Bowl.
The Cajuns are 8-3, and 6-2 in the Sun Belt, with a game left against Arizona. Mark Hudspeth might not be long for Cajun Field, but he's turned the otherwise lowly program into at very least a one-year wonder during his time on campus. A nine-win campaign would be their best since 1972, when they played in the Southland.
The Second-Most New Orleans Bowl Photo
by Jason Kirk
(Behind only this one, of course.)
New Orleans, man:
Dec 19 12:12p