The Daily Advertiser from Lafayette, Louisiana • 19

(2) USC 50 (7) Nebraska 7 Arizona (19) Colorado (4) W.Virginia 35 (9) Auburn 20 Rutgers 25 (17) Georgia IO (19) Alabama 17 26 USL Tech 19 (12)LSU 20 Southern 10 Miss. St 3 Tennessee St 7 SFA 20 NLU 17 McNeese 3 Sam Houston 3 tf' mm 'mWCi (6) UCLA 27 (11) Arkansas 25 Stanford 17 Texas 20 Spurts Slje $unbatj Abuertteer Sunday, November 13, 1988 Page 19 Pun chloss Cajuns fall to Alabama 1 7-0 i ITii Bruce 5ff Brown 1 I Guidry 's hit sets the tone But USL earns Bama's respect Last chance to salute By BRUCE BROWN Sports Editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Randy Guidry set the tone early, and in the end he had the perfect evaluation of USL's defensive effort in Saturday's 17-0 loss to Alabama It was Guidry, the senior inside linebacker from Lafayette High, who broke through to drop Bama tailback David Casteal for a one-yard loss on a first quarter fourth and one play at the Cajuns' goalline. USL's offense had lost a fumble on its first snap at the 18, and the defense had its backs immediately pressed to the wall. When Guidry slammed Casteal down, the first of his game-high 13 tackles on the day, it signalled the Tide that the Cajuns were in no mood to give the game away.

"We studied films all said Guidry, "and I read the offensive linemen's eyes to know when they were going to their big guy USL's offense totalled just 142 yards, and gave up four turnovers, but Guidry and the defense kept sticking the Tide. "It was very frustrating," Guidry said, "but we stayed together as a defense and played hard. We had nothing tlose, and we left it all on the field." "We were just in our base goalline said Coach Nelson Stokley. "I think our kids just played hard We really didn't have any tips or any idea what they were going to do. It was just our base goalline and we just tried to execute and play hard." Another such case came in the third quarter.

Again it was fourth and goal at the one. and again By BRUCE BROWN Sports Editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. USL's Ragin' Cajuns didn't get what they came for here Saturday, but they did get something to bring with them the next time they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Coach Nelson Stokley's Cajuns earned the grudging respect of their victorious foes, which will in turn improve their own self-image when next they meet. USL lost two fumbles and two interceptions, gained just 142 total yards, and had the ball for just 23 minutes of the game before 66,537 fans at Legion Field.

And yet, thanks to a defense which deserved a Purple Heart citation this Veteran's Day weekend, the final score was just 17-0, Tide. It was still a loss, but it was a far cry from the 37-14 disaster of 1984 or 1987's 38-10 tally in Stokley's second year. The difference, clearly, was the suffocating Bama defensive unit, which allowed the Cajuns absolutely nothing. "What can you say?" said Stokley. "Alabama just played outstanding on defense and never gave us a break.

They never gave us a breath of air at any time where we could feel like we were going to get the job done on offense and get the ball in the end zone. That was, by far, the biggest factor in the game. They just did such an outstanding job." Stokley, who watched his defense stage two stirring goalline stands and hold Bama to 293 yards, added "Even though their offense didn't score a lot of points, they never gave us anything. They never gave us the (See ajuns. page 20) I Wh (See tiuidr page 20) I SL8 Randy Guidry (30) surges to stop David Casteal (28) on goalline stand i O'Regan, Deason race to Cajun Cup victory CIRCLE October 6, 1990 on your calendar.

That's when Alabama comes to Cajun Field and USL's Cajuns get a chance to repay some of the hospitality dealt them these past few years in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. When Bama does hit town, you'll likely see some 6,000 Tide fans come to Lafayette, which is exactly what fans of major college programs do. USL fans should take note. It's not that the Cajuns' loyal supporters aren't there every week they are, as witnessed by the large throng in the Superdome for the Tulane game. And there have been backers at other road trips, as well.

But one of the criteria for landing a bowl bid is how fans support a team on the road, because bowl people like to make money, after all. When the time comes that USL has a bowl-worthy club, it would be a shame to miss out for lack of support. CAJUN FIELD holds 31,000 fans, and it hasn't been full in over a decade despite some good football. Home support is another mark of a solid program, and the Cajuns aren't quite there yet. Indeed, there's some talk that the Bama fans in 1990 may be seated on the student side, because it's never fully utilized.

The only game in Cajun Field history to draw over 30,000 was the 1976 23-14 win over Arkansas State. That was an exciting year counting two forfeits led by Roy Henry and company, but this year's edition is the highest-scoring Cajun club in modern history. Nelson Stokley's club has given fans much to cheer against a rugged schedule, and there's still time for one final salute. IRONICALLY ENOUGH, the opportunity comes against Arkansas State, in next week's season finale at Cajun Field. Surely seniors like Chris Gannon, Joe Redding, Mark Hall, Steve McKinney, Randy Guidry, Willie Culpepper, Patrick Taylor, Dwight Willis, Robert Johnson, Theron Harrison and Charlie Levert deserve a memorable swan song.

Not to mention safety Thomas King, who broke a leg in the Tulane win and is sidelined. He has been one of the best athletes ever to grace Cajun Field, and one of the program's most agreeable personalities through the years. They've given much to the program, most starting under Sam Robertson and seeing it through the transition with Stokley The players' salute to the fans after each game is a great college touch They appreciate the support they get, and it is time to give just a bit more. SURE, there is no bowl game, as the team wanted in August. Not this year, there's not.

But that time will come. And, sure, you've got 1987 national champ Miami playing at LSU the same night on TV. But that starts an hour later, and you'd have time to get back for that finish. Besides, there's always the attractive prospect of constructing your own doubleheader, watching the Cajuns finish on a high note against Arkansas State, taping LSU on your VCR, and then settling in for the Hurricanes and Tigers later when you get home. It is said you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

Don't let that happen with the 1988 Cajun seniors. They deserve a special finale. With this kind of weather, I wasn't going to be a said O'Regan, from Cork, Ireland. "There's too many heroes in the cemetary that's tried to go all out in hot weather. in Europe, it's a lot cooler.

Running in this climate is wicked. Parker, who finished second for the third year in a row, said he was just out-dueled by O'Regan. I broke wind stayed in front for just about the whole race, and I usually don't do that," Parker said. "I slowed down, I moved from side to side, and he just wouldn't take the lead." But that was exactly O'Regan's intention. By BILL WEBB Staff Sports Writer The third time wasn't the charm for Lyle Parker, but for USL runner Leonard O'Regan, Saturday was just fine, albeit hot.

O'Regan won a 10-kilometer duel with Parker to pass him with two-tenths of a kilometer to go and win the 1988 Cajun Cup 10-K road race. O'Regan finished in 31:33, nine seconds aheaad of Parker's 31 :42 finish. The Irishman stayed right on Parker's heels until the six-mile marker, then blew past for the win, his first. In the women's race, Joyce Deason, who finished second in last year's race, won in 37 12. (See Cup.

page 20) Joyce Deason Leonard O'Regan LSU polishes off MSU 20-3, claims share of SEC title Archer, in his second year at LSU, said his team "didn't play very consistently" and "when we fumbled on the 1 yard line, I started thinking about the 1984 game" in which Mississippi State upset the then-ranked Tigers 16-14. Mississippi State Coach Rockey Felker said his Bulldogs had a good game but, "We were our own worst enemies in come cases, whether it was a dropped pass or a penalty here or there. Jones' second quarter touchdown was all the scoring the Tigers needed, despite several botched drives. Jackson's endzone interception with 16 seconds left killed a closing Mississippi State scoring attempt. Mississippi State held the ball for 8:40 in the first quarter and opened scoring on its first possession with Joel Logan's 33-yard field goal.

LSU, which saw two drives die with interceptions in the first half, marched 90 yards in 13 plays to take the lead with 9:40 left in the half on Jones' scoring plunge. The Tigers threatened again late in the second quarter but an in- (See Users, page 20) By RON HARRIST Associated Press Writer STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -Louisiana State coach Mike Archer knows victory, even when tarnished a bit by inconsistency, is sweet when it earns his No. 12 Tigers at least a share of the Southeastern Conference championship. "Nobody said we even had a chance to win this conference," Archer said after LSU polished of Mississippi State 20-3 in a nationally televised conference showdown before 30,019 in Starkville.

"I think this is a credit to our coaching staff and our players." LSU, which had its share of miscues, used a 1-yard plunge by Victor Jones in the second quarter, two field goals by David Browndyke and a 100-yard interception return by Greg Jackson to outclass the victory -starved Bulldogs. The win gave LSU a 7-2 record overall and 6-1 in the SEC, while Mississippi State suffered its eighth straight loss with only one triumph. "We've done a super job," Hodson said of his teams's season. "We've won a lot of close games that we weren't supposed to win. Nobody expected us to do this.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Laserphoto LSU's Slip Waikins (2) heads upfield against the MSU defense.