2008 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team

2008 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football
Conference Sun Belt Conference
2008 record 6–6 (5–2 Sun Belt)
Head coach Rickey Bustle
Home stadium Cajun Field
Seasons
« 2007 2009 »

The 2008 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football during the 2008 season. Louisiana competed as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, and played their home games at Cajun Field. The Ragin' Cajuns were led by seventh-year head coach Rickey Bustle. UL-Lafayette finished the season with a 6–6 record (Sun Belt: 5–2).[1]

UL-Lafayette came close to an upset against 24th-ranked Illinois at home but ultimately lost, 20–17. The Ragin' Cajuns were also competitive against Kansas State, trailing by 42–37 late in that game, but Louisiana-Lafayette was hindered by ten penalties, twice as many as called against their opponent. Louisiana-Lafayette beat Arkansas State with a touchdown in the last 0:42 to play and won, 28–23. They defeated Florida International decisively, 49–20, before losing to UTEP in Lafayette. lost to Florida Atlantic after trailing, 40–7, in the final quarter. The following week, they were routed by eventual Sun Belt champions Troy, 48–3. UL-Lafayette won their finale against Middle Tennessee, 42–28, which gave the Cajuns their sixth win, and with it, bowl eligibility. The Ragin' Cajuns also finished second in the Sun Belt Conference with a 5–2 mark in league play. It was the third season in four years that the Cajuns became bowl eligible, but the Cajuns did not receive a bowl bid.[2]

Schedule

Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
August 30 at Southern Mississippi* M.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, Mississippi L 21–51   32,792[3]
September 13 at #24 Illinois* Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois L 17–20   58,632[3]
September 20 Kent State* Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana W 44–27   18,241[3]
September 27 at Kansas State* Bill Snyder Family Stadium • Manhattan, Kansas L 37–45   45,558[3]
October 4 at Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana W 44–35   21,929[3]
October 11 at North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, Texas W 59–30   17,106[3]
October 18 Arkansas State Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana W 28–23   23,684[3]
November 1 Florida International Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana W 49–20   29,031[3]
November 8 Texas-El Paso* Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana L 24–37   21,065[3]
November 15 at Florida Atlantic Lockhart Stadium • Fort Lauderdale, Florida L 29–40   14,338[3]
November 22 at Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, Alabama L 3–48   19,443[3]
December 3 Middle Tennessee Cajun Field • Lafayette, Louisiana W 42–28   15,321[3]
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

References

  1. ^ Louisiana–Lafayette 2008, College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved June 28, 2009.
  2. ^ Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, vol. 15, p. 289, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Combined Team Statistics". University of Louisiana-Lafayette. http://www.ragincajuns.com/fls/15400/stats/football/2008/teamcume.htm.