Louisiana football... coaching staff Rickey Bustle Louisiana head coach Rickey Bustle has guided the Cajuns for seven seasons and enters his eighth year in Cajun Country in 2009. The Bustle File Bustle’s Cajuns have won six games in three of the past four seasons, a stretch not equaled since UL was a member of the Big West Conference from 1993-95. In fact, since the 2005 season, only three Sun Belt schools can boast three six-win seasons. Coach Bustle was victorious 23 times in his first five seasons with the Cajuns Head Coach from 2002-06, including 11 of the last 17 games. UL won only nine games in the five seasons prior to Bustle’s arrival from 1997-2001. Clemson, ‘76 Bustle saw his winning percentage increase each of the first four seasons since Eighth Season taking the job in 2002, but regressed to .500 in 2006. His 6-6 record in 2006 was only deemed a regression because of the high standards and raised levels of Personal expectations by the Cajuns and their fans. In fact, Bustle’s 12 wins from 2005-06 Born: August 23, 1953 were the most in a two-year period since 1994-95. One of Bustle’s proudest moments was watching four-time All-Sun Belt Hometown: Summerville, S.C. selection and 2008 SBC Player of the Year, Tyrell Fenroy, become just the seventh Wife: Lynn player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons. Son: Brad Under Bustle, the Cajuns have been .500 or better at home in six of his seven seasons. Louisiana went 4-1 at home in 2008, giving Bustle a 20-18 (.526) career record at Cajun Field. By comparison, the Cajuns were 6-19 (.240) at home Education from 1997-01. Clemson, 1976 In addition to raised expectations, Bustle has brought professionalism and discipline to the program. From 2002-08, the Cajuns 525 penalties are the Playing Experience fewest in the Sun Belt Conference and UL boasts the fewest penalties per game Clemson, (wide receiver, 1973-76) over that span. The fans have also taken notice, as 651,977 have attended games since 2002 for an average of over 17,000 per game. UL has topped 100,000 fans in a season twice Noteworthy since 2004. The Bustle-era has seen three of the 15 biggest crowds in Cajun Captured the 2005 Sun Belt Championship with a season-ending Field history, including the third largest crowd ever. UL owns the Sun Belt record five-game winning streak for largest home stadium crowd (33,828) and largest conference game attendance First career win came on September 21, 2002 with a 34-0 win over (29,031). The Cajuns led the SBC in attendance in 2004 and 2008. UAB at Cajun Field UL began 2003 with an attendance of 24,211 vs. Louisiana Tech, the largest Finished second in the Sun Belt in 2003 and 2008 crowd in seven seasons. Then, in 2004, UL saw a crowd of 25,083 for the Sun Belt UL won six straight home games between the 2003-04 seasons opener vs. Middle Tennessee and a five-game total of 107,006, the most since 1996 and has been .500 or better at home in six of seven seasons and the eighth best average (21,401) in Cajun Field history. In 2005, UL played Over 650,000 have attended games since 2002 for an average of before a homecoming crowd of 21,204 en route to a solid two-season average more than 17,000 per game. UL has topped 100,000 fans in a of 19,496 – the best two year average at Cajun Field since 1992-93. In 2006, the Cajuns homecoming crowd increased to 22,093, marking the third straight season season twice since 2004 with 20,000+ fans for homecoming. Since 2004, the Cajuns have averaged Since 2002, the Cajuns 525 penalties are the fewest in the Sun Belt 21,548 on homecoming. Conference and also the fewest penalties per game in that span The Cajuns went 6-5 (.546) in 2005 to mark UL’s first winning record since The Cajuns running game has been ranked seventh in the nation 1995. Along with a winning season in 2005 came a share of the Sun Belt in 2005, 2007 and 2008 and 11th in 2006. Conference championship. After starting 1-5 (0-2), Louisiana roared back into 44 players have been named to the All-SBC Team under Bustle the SBC race with a come-from-behind road win at Middle Tennessee. From there 18 Cajuns coached by Bustle have either been drafted or signed came a homecoming win over Troy in overtime and a second comeback road win, free agent contracts in the NFL this time at North Texas. A Senior Day victory over Florida International set-up the Bustle coached Jesse Newman, who was the third overall pick in season finale at Louisiana-Monroe. The Cajuns rocked the Indians 54-21, claiming the 2008 Canadian Football League Draft the first school title since the 1994 Big West crown. Bustle was rewarded with a two-year contract extension following the 2005 Tyrell Fenroy (2005-08) became just the seventh player in NCAA campaign, which lengthens his contract through 2010. history with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons 74 LOUISIANA FOOTBALL ...Geaux Cajuns! Rickey Bustle Year-by-Year as Head Coach coaching staff Year School Overall Sun Belt Notes 2002 Louisiana 3-9 2-4 2003 Louisiana 4-8 4-3 Finished Second in Sun Belt Conference 2004 Louisiana 4-7 2-5 Team flagged for just 61 penalties - the lowest since 1990 2005 Louisiana 6-5 5-2 First Sun Belt Football Championship in school history 2006 Louisiana 6-6 3-4 First Back-to-Back six-win seasons since 1994-95 2007 Louisiana 3-9 3-4 2008 Louisiana 6-6 5-2 Finished Second in Sun Belt Conference Seven Seasons 32-50 24-24 as Assistant Coach Year(s) School Position Postseason 1977-78 Clemson Graduate Assistant 1977 Gator Bowl (vs. Pitt); 1978 Gator Bowl (vs. Ohio St.) 1979 Gardner-Webb Defensive Coordinator 1980-81 East Carolina Defensive Backs 1982 East Carolina Wide Receivers 1983 Arizona (USFL) Running Backs 1984-85 ULM Running Backs 1986 ULM Quarterbacks/Offensive Coor. 1987-92 Virginia Tech Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers 1993 Virginia Tech Quarterbacks/Offensive Coor. 1993 Independence Bowl (vs. Indiana) 1994 South Carolina Quarterbacks/Offensive Coor. 1994 Carquest Bowl (vs. West Virginia) 1995-01 Virginia Tech Quarterbacks/Offensive Coor. 1995 Sugar Bowl (vs. Texas); 1996 Orange Bowl (vs. Nebraska); 1997 Gator Bowl (vs. UNC); 1998 Music City Bowl (vs. Alabama); 1999 Sugar Bowl* (vs. Florida St.); 2000 Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson); * - National Championship Game 2001 Gator Bowl (vs. Florida State) During his tenure at UL, 18 of Bustle’s players route to a second place finish in the Sun Belt. on Tech’s career list for touchdown passes and have either been drafted or signed NFL contracts, More importantly, Bustle’s popularity across guided players who have accounted for eight of including Charles Tillman and Ike Taylor. Both were Acadiana had a significant impact in the stands. the Hokies’ Top 10 all-time single-season offensive selected in the 2003 NFL Draft and both have played As a result, the Cajuns’ season ticket base rose by totals and seven of Tech’s Top 10 all-time single in the Super Bowl. Taylor signed a five-year, $22.5 substantial amounts. season passing totals. million contract extension in Sept. 2006 that included The 1999 Hokies averaged a national-best 41.4 a $6.4 million signing bonus. In addition, 10 players The Ragin’ Cajuns have been bowl eligible points per game, as Tech played in the national have been invited to play in post-season all-star in three of the past four seasons and have championship game. bowl games, with a handful of those players earning led the Sun Belt Conference in attendance In Bustle’s first seven seasons as offensive multiple invitations. during the 2004 and 2008 seasons. coordinator, the Hokies fielded seven of the The Summerville, S.C., native, became the 24th eight highest-scoring teams in school history. head coach in Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns football For seven seasons prior to his appointment as head The team posted a 67-17 record and won three history on December 13, 2001. coach of the Cajuns, Bustle served as offensive Big East Conference championships. VT went to Bustle earned his first collegiate victory as a head coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Va. Tech. a bowl game every year he served as offensive coach on Sept. 21, 2002 with a 34-0 victory over UAB. With the Hokies, Bustle developed some of the finest coordinator, winning the 1993 Independence Louisiana held the Blazers to just eight first downs quarterbacks the college football world has seen in Bowl, 1995 Sugar Bowl, 1998 Music City Bowl and and only 94 yards passing. recent years. 2001 Gator Bowl. In 2002, Bustle helped the Cajuns to their first The list includes former 49ers quarterback Jim Bustle spent all but one season at Va. Tech from winning record at Cajun Field in six seasons with Druckenmiller and Atlanta Falcons quarterback 1987-2001, leaving the Hokies in 1994 for a one- impressive back-to-back victories over Sun Belt foes Michael Vick. Vick was the first overall selection in the year stint as the offensive coordinator and QB’s Idaho and Arkansas State. 2001 NFL Draft. coach at South Carolina.