Sports > Ragin' Cajuns Seek Relief in Football

Ragin' Cajuns Seek Relief From the Devastation Left by Hurricane Katrina in Football

"I tried to give them structure this week, maybe give them a few hours each day to get their mind off it," Bustle said as his team prepared for Saturday night's season opener at No. 2 Texas. "I'm really proud of what they've done."

The Ragin' Cajuns have about 20 players from the New Orleans area, and all of them had family members who fled before the storm hit. Most went to Lafayette, where they are safe but now have no hope of a quick return after the city plunged into chaos.

The players and assistant coach Tim Rebowe have had dozens of family members in their apartments and homes this week. Rebowe has had more than 20 at his home.

Bustle has offered his house if more storm refugees arrive and his players are out of room.

"We may run out of beds," he said. "We'll never run out of room for more heads."

Bustle said it's hard to tear away from the footage of the disaster that unfolded in New Orleans, but he's tried to keep the team focused as much as possible on the game.

"I can't say anything that takes things away," he said. "But we're surrounded by people who love each other."

The Ragin' Cajuns are one of the few teams from Louisiana playing football this weekend. The hurricane forced the cancellation or postponement of five games involving teams from Louisiana and Mississippi.

Bustle hopes the game in front of a whipped-up crowd of about 82,000 Longhorns fans will offer some fun.

"We've got probably a third of our football team making their first bus ride or plane ride," Bustle said. "We're going to a whale of a place for their first time. If we can just make it from the locker room to the sideline, we'll be OK."

Texas coach Mack Brown spent three years in New Orleans as coach at Tulane.

"Their families are obviously in our thoughts and prayers, and it sounds like New Orleans is really in a mess," Brown said this week. "We're going to focus on the game and get ready to play."

For Texas, the opener is the start to what the Longhorns hope will develop into a national championship season. The No. 2 ranking to start the season is their highest since 1970.

The 'Horns are led by quarterback Vince Young, whose five-touchdown performance in last season's Rose Bowl has him among contenders for the Heisman Trophy.

While Texas is a heavy favorite, Brown remembers the last time the Ragin' Cajuns came to Austin to open the 2000 season. With a long drive for a field goal and an interception return for a touchdown, Louisiana-Lafayette bolted to a 10-0 lead before Texas scored 52 straight points.

"We couldn't make a first down running the ball. They were tough and got after our tail," Brown said. "They'll bring an excited bunch in here. I'm sure they'll want to get away from the distractions of the family issues with the flood, and they have nothing to lose."

2005-09-03