UL 7-2 Next stop ULM at home! (+179 at 1-3 nl)

Well unfortunately I reduced my cable plan from cox to save $50 a month with the baby coming in, and this upswing in poker has definitely been helping. But, basic cable SUUUUUCKS and I didn't have any good sports channels so I couldn't watch my Ragin' Cajuns play MT on Cox Sports Network. I thought I had the plan all figured out and was going to go to my buddy Tommy's house and watch it on his Big screen because he was going to rig it up where he put ESPN3.com on there and we just watch it as usual. Well turns out the ESPN network wanted to regionally black the game out to the only area in America that really gave a crap about it and that's where the Sun Belt Conference was....I think it was because It was being televised on another network. I found this crappy information out at about 3pm and the game started at 6:30 pm, so I had to find out a new plan and do it quick. I called the poker room to make sure they had the channel and asked if my buddy wanted to go to the Shorty's Poker Room to watch the game and play some cards. This way I could get paid to watch UL go for their 7th win. He found a babysitter for his little girl and we were off to the Casino!

We get into the room just in time and I ask for them to turn on the game and put my name (and Tommy's name) on the 3 6 12 and 1 3 NL list. There is a new Cashier in her 40s or 50s that acted like she never counted money before in her life (I think she was just extremely nervous...for what idk) so that was annoying. I noticed there are 2 open seats at 3 6 12 limit. I really hate this game but didn't want to be bored out of my mind so I sit down and watch the game. I am absolutely card dead and get 3 big pocket pairs get cracked by sets and after losing $113 I decide not to risk anymore money on this game and cash out like $55 and just wait and see if a 1-3 NL opens up. UL quickly gets up to a 14-0 lead and people in the poker room are surprised The Cajuns are on TV! So far Tommy and myself have opened up the bandwagon even more to the depths of the St. Mary Parish and I am proud to say that I assisted in this. By Half Time the score was UL 21 MT 0 and the Cajuns were rolling and in control on the Blue Raiders home field (which was freezing in Tennessee from what I understood) So I was loving this. Tommy also cashed out being down $60 as we both enjoyed watching the new cashier cash out our chips and recount our money about 3 times. We decide to go play Flop Poker for the hell of it during half time and go back into the poker room to watch the 2nd half of the game. Tommy started out with $80 and I started a little bit later with $50 and we both just win hand after hand, then split pot after pot, and before we knew it, we both won back the money that was lost in 3 6 crap poker.

Alonzo  Harris

My buddy Beaver is a Limit poker guru apparently because every time he plays that game he ends up profiting $100-200 and I just don't fathom how he runs so well in the game of bingo haha. I can pull a profit every now and then, but not as consistent as I can in NL Holdem. Well we go get some grub and check the stats of the UL game and find out that Alonzo Harris already has 160 yards and 1 TD. The dude is a Man Child and only a Freshman. He was recruited as a FB and some people were thinking he was going to be put on the defensive side of the ball as a LineBacker but I'm glad they didn't because that would have been stupid in my eyes since we struggled so bad the past few years at RB. Having 2 beastly freshman, and others that are either red shirted or incoming We will be unbelievable on offense for the next few years! BTW Devon Lewis-Buchanon, a senior Linebacker, gave UL their 6th INT for Touchdown of the season which is leading the Nation! Harris finished the game with 189 yds and 2 TDs!

The game starts up again and my buddy and I are still waiting to play NL when we continue to watch the Cajuns Destroy the Blue Raiders. I was loving it and I was loving even more that those everyday LSU fans were cheering on the Cajuns in the poker room and in awe by the dominant performance that was being displayed for everyone tuning in. I also learned that the game was being shown in the Off Track Betting room and one of the bars of the casino as well! Just goes to show that getting wins will fix all the problems an athletic program encounters. UL had the talent for many years with Rickey Bustle. Even though Bustle had a great football mindset, he did not have the motivational speeches, the intense personality, or the high spirit to encourage others to believe in his program. That is what was needed at UL. That is the final piece of the puzzle to Turn this program into a great one that can compete with bigger programs and possibly move up to a more reputable conference! By the end of the 3rd Quarter the score is 38-7 and I am seeing myself standing in the Super Dome for UL's first bowl game since 1970 surrounded by a sea of red. This was the first time UL has gotten 7 wins since 1993. It's such a great time to be a Ragin Cajun.

As the 4th Quarter is about to begin they FINALLY call people to start the 1-3 NL game.I go to the cashier with $165 and as for $40 in white (1 dollar chips) and the rest in Red (5 dollar chips). She proceeds to say "OK so you want a stack of Red $100 and 2 stacks of white $40??" I just looked at her with this face like...you're kidding me right? then basically walk her threw counting the chips to make sure she doesn't short change me. Then she tries to give my buddy an extra $20 when he as for $20 in white and $80 in red lol it was hilarious! There were only 2 people that I recognize (as regulars). The rest are your mediocre poker players (even had a guy call me down with bottom pair for an $80 pot lol) after that hand He was the first fish I wanted to get involved with. Then I noticed a guy over bet a pot where I flopped 2 pair and after I called he froze and checked it down then mucked when I showed....so Fish number 2 targeted. Finally There was a hand where a player raised to $13 (standard raise) and I had position on him and called with 5h 6h and then the BB reraised to $25 (this guy was overly aggressive but with skeptical hands, very readable) The original raiser only had $31 so I called cause he couldn't reraise and the 3 bettor called. with $93 in the pot the flop came Qs 6c 2h and I get this gut feeling that I could be ahead but wasn't 100% sure. Then the 3bettor immediately goes all in. He has an additional $94. He did this multiple times before but didn't have to show and I just had a really good feeling about my hand. Either that I was ahead or that I was going to draw out and improve. I had about $210 at this point and didn't want to risk half of my stack on a hand I was unsure about so I folded and told him I really think I have the best hand. He turns over Ace Jack and the all iner had J 10 so I would have held and won the pot bleh... I just didn't have the right pot odds with my read (I was thinking he had a pp from AA, KK, JJ, 1010, 99. If I would have even put him on 2 overs I wouldn't have been 100% comfortable with my read and sweat out half my stack. I just didn't want to gamble at that point since I was so confident I could out play the opponents on later hands. I made a decision that would help me play profitable in the long run and that is what made me satisfied with my play. I continued to pick good spots and the table was respecting my bets. I ended up cashing out $344 for a profit of $179

There is also a little NFL Pickem Contest that Me and Tommy played and so far we only missed 2 of the games. If you get the most picks right and have the tie breaker, 1st gets $500, 2nd $400, 3rd $300, 4th $200, 5th $100. The best thing about it is all you need is a players card and to be there when they announce the winners. I only would go if I get 10 or more right out of 13 games. and so far I missed the Saints (cause who would have picked St. Louis to win?? seriously) and the Panthers. If the Eagles and Chargers win I will have 11 out of 13 right...but so will Tommy and the tie breaker is guessing the point total for the MNF game. I guessed 48 and Tommy guessed 49 lol so that should be interesting! hopefully I can pull some bonus NFL pickem money as well though!

Geaux Cajuns!!

White out Cajun Field vs. ULM! Hope to see you there!!!

-Matt Stroud

MVP Comeback to cash 2nd in a row!

After contemplating going play the Louisiana Fall Poker Classic ME in Lake Charles, then backing out for different reasons, I hung out with family during the day. listened to my beloved Cajuns get their second loss of the year vs. WKU on their homecoming (meh 6-2 4-1 on the season), then went to Cypress Bayou to see if there was a 1-3 NL cash game going on. As I expected, with the Bad Beat Jackpot hit Wednesday, it was like a ghost town with only a 3 6 12 bingo game going... I decided to play that for a little while and ended up donating $150 and not winning a single hand so I got another $150 and put it on Pai Gow (the only other game I like to play at the casino) and Hit a straight flush for $250 to put me back even. I played for a little bit longer to try and pull a profit and noticed my seat got cold and lost $80 so I headed home.

After getting an ear full of complaints the next day as I told my wife I was gonna go play the rebuy tournament on Sunday I made my journey to go register and got there just in time. I was actually on the waiting list 7 deep and each table had 11 players (5 tables) but they were short one dealer so we had to wait for their decision to open the table or not. Well an extra dealer was called in and the Poker Room Mgr (Mr. Deon Brent, kudos to him for getting the extra table opened) started giving everyone their chips to get us started and there was 6 tables and an hour away from the break. We started with 8,000 in chips for $75 and nothing really spectacular happened as I won a couple pots, then lost a couple pots to keep me about even of a chip stack. At break I had 9,600 and with the Add on for $50 we got an additional 10k in chips with blinds going to 150 300.

When we get back from the break (19,600) everyone is near even in chips then I get involved in a hand where a semi loose player raised in early position to 550. I called with KJ os and the SB (a solid TAG player) also called for a 3 way pot to see the flop. 1950 in the Pot and the flop comes Kh9h4d. The SB checked in the dark and Early Position also checked. I bet out 1500 and the SB raised to 4000 and Early Position folds. I asked if he checked raised and the early position guy reiterated that it was a checkdark raise so this made me suspicious to the strength of his hand. I was pretty confident I had the best hand and made the call leaving me with 15,050 behind and having my opponent covered by about 2-3k. The turn was a 5c and SB thinks for a while then shoves all in. There was about 9-10k in the pot. I'm not getting pot odds to call, but for some reason I feel like he is trying to push me off of this hand so he can take down the pot. I feel like he has a piece of the flop but I was thinking more like a flush draw as well. I'm kind of annoyed that I have to make this decision so early in the tournament but can't played scared poker and decided to stick with my read. I called and he shows K10 os! the river is an 8h and I hold to double up to 38,500ish

We continue to play and I am winning small pots getting respect from players and work my stack up to about 50k then move tables. The table I move to has 3 other stacks around 30-40k but there are only 3 or 4 decent players that I have to worry about on this table. One player that had a 40k stack just seemed like he was targeting me as every time I raised he would call. I don't know if he just liked playing alot of flops (Which could have been the case, or he just wanted to take my stack and try to intimidate me.) The first 2 times I faced him I semi bluffed and lost small pots then won a small pot against him in the 3rd hand. Next I look down at 55 and blinds are 600 1200. I am in Late position and a player calls in EP (good post flop player) and a woman I wasnt familiar with in MP raised to 3k, I called and EP called as the blinds folded. Pot had 11k in it and I had 45k behind. MP had about 36k and EP had 13k. Flop comes out and I see my 5 in the window and the dealer spreads out 5 4 2! Perfect flop for me in this spot and then the action was just being fed to me. EP shoves all in and MP just calls. She seemed very confident in her hand but I knew I had her crushed so I figured she was going to call if I shoved all in. I shove and she didnt take much time before she decided to call and now there is a main pot of 50k and a side pot of another 50k!. What makes it even better is the 5 comes on the turn to give me quads and I don't have to sweat anymore cards as I have the nuts to rake in the pot of about 100k giving me 120k. I'm in the drivers seat as the next biggest stack is at about 65k.

As we continue to play and I lose a race against a short stack that went all in and also another small pot, I look down at KK with blinds at 1500 3000 and the 2nd CL at the table (Guy that has been targeting me) was in the BB. I have about 95k and action is folded to me so I raise minimum to 6k in MP and everyone folds as the BB called the extra 3k (this was my chance to take his stack). Flop was a bit scary as it was a very sequential board at 7 8 9 and BB checked to me. I decide to bet 11k and after tanking BB goes ALL IN?!?! I was trying to figure out what he could have to do this. The whole time he had monster hands, he was check calling against me and letting me hang myself. I didn't think he had a monster here, I couldn't even put him on 2 pair when calling my raise. I also know he had a piece but I gave him credit for K7s-K9s, A7s-A9s, 66, 1010, JJ. I decide to call after going into the tank for about 3 minutes and he shows A9 of diamonds completely overplaying his top pair and I am semi confident but nervous of the dreaded Ace. Turn is a 6 as I sweat one card. and River is the freaking Ace....I was really  annoyed and kinda let out my frustration telling the guy who sucked out "Very Nice Play sir, You are a Genius". He didn't have much of a rebuttal as I think he knew he got lucky on me and took my annoyance like a man, so I give my respects to him for that. Like always when someone holds KK the ugly ace always appears but this couldn't have been at a worse time. This was such a huge pot, I would have been the CL by far leaving everyone else with a fifth of my stack but instead I am stuck with 10k in chips.
I am thinking to myself, why does this always happen to me (Build a monster stack then get obliterated by bad luck) then try to refocus and stay determined to work it back.

So with a measley 10k left and blinds at 1500 3000 and I am UTG. I look down at AsQs and just open shove (which just look like frustration) and everyone folds to the BB to called with KQos. flop is Ah9s7s and I am on my way to double up as the 2s gives me the flush on the river. I have 17k and post my blind. End up folding get down to 16k then steal the blinds on the button. about 6 hands later I steal the blinds again and now have about 25k. I do this for about 3 revolutions and get my stack up to 27k and we move tables again for the last 2 tables. Top 10 pay out and the players decide to do a "double bubble" which I hate but its whatever 12th would get $110 and 11th would get $130. I am determined to make the final table and with blinds at 2000 4000 I steal the blinds one more time and A short stack goes all in on my BB when I look at 1010 and make the call. the short stack has AK and I have him covered by 8k and some how I hold up and knock him out. This puts me at 60kish, I look at 77 and shove all in EP position and a guy who is normally really loose and just a bad player folded AK os pre flop to me which actually surprised me, but it was for more than have his stack to call. I now have about 70k. we get down to 12 people and I have 60k and just going card dead slowly. steal blinds like every other revolution but continue to see my stack dwindle and then FINALLY make the Final Table with 35k left in my stack.

We take a quick break and the CL decides he will take $200 extra of the 10 way chop and 2nd in chips will take $100 extra and everyone will split the rest. BTW, the guy that took that huge pot off me, He had about the same stack I had when we made the final table (rolls eyes) how do you lose that big of a CL in that short amount of time....sigh
This worked out where 1st was $780, 2nd was $680, and 3-10 got $540. I was fine with this since I was on life support and got my $540 for the 2nd time this week. But this one was a bit more of a grind then Weds. IDK what it is but just like Stella got her Groove Back......I got my run good back. (Might be my newly acquired mustache lol)

Thanks for reading!
Matt Stroud

Finally some Run Good! (Bad Beat Jackpot hit at Shorty's)

After a drought and bubbling (money just within reach) 2 tournaments, I can say that I cashed the weekly tournament at Shorty's Casino last night. I was feeling pretty confident, had the day off, and was contemplating going play the Louisiana Fall Poker Classic at the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles when I decided to just make the 20 minute trip rather than the hour and 20 min trip for virtually the same tournament. Also I believe that Shorty's weekly structure (Even though it is an all in fest towards the end) has a better tournament structure than the one at the Isle. I must admit though that the cash games are alot more profitable at the Isle but Shorty's cash games aren't hard at all as well.

I showed up at around 3:30 cause I had a sick feeling that today was going to hit and Best hopes was that I was going to be at the table. With this hunch of the Bad Beat Jackpot. I put my name on every list (1-3 NL, 3-6-12 Limit) There was a 5-5 game as well but I didn't bring enough cash for this game and wanted to play the tournament. Well they call my name and open a table for limit. I sit with $100 and after about 3 revolutions dont have much action, get down to $75. Then I go on a run and get 3 sets within 30 minutes. One improves to Quad 4s. the Next improves to a Full house 8s full of Aces and finally I get Aces full of 4s to bump me up to $224. I continue to play around. nothing spectacular happens then all of a sudden I hear Loud cheers RIGHT BEHIND ME. The guy sitting exactly behind me has Pocket 3s and I look at the board and see 33977. OK congrats but why is Everyone clapping, then I look at the other guys hand and see 77.......... wowowow this table just opened up like 15 minutes ago and now the $174,766 jackpot has been hit on a runner runner board to give the Loser quad 3s. I tried to get a picture but the floor saw me and said NO PHOTOS! haha so yea but Congrats to MR. Nelton Romero for getting a share of the Bad Beat Jackpot good for just over $5,000. Yea just being at the table when it happened would have gotten you approximately $5241.64 (I'm assuming they took $1k off each person for the next bad beat Jackpot. The Winner of the hand got about $43k and the Loser with Quad 3's got about $81k. This made me wish I showed up at about 4:30 or 5:00 so I could have been a part of that table. but oh well I still profited $100 in limit and was ready to continue my run good. I am happy to say that the winners of the Bad Beat were mostly regulars and well deserved by them. What sucks is they have to start it all the way back around $5k though bleh.

As the tournament started, there were a good amount of players I was familiar with but for the first hour and a half did not really get any playable hands but every time I raised pre or bet postflop I was given respect and worked my stack from 7k to about 11k. I finally pick up a open ended draw against one of the weaker opponents at the table who bet and I reraised, everyone got out of the way and he just called. Turn gave a flush and I put him on top pair so when he checked I bet again and he folded bumping me to 17k. Then a huge hand that started the uphill climb. I was dealt Jc 5c in the BB and a MP and button limped and so did the SB. Flop was J 2 6 with one club and it was checked to the Button who bet 1/2 the  pot. SB folded I called and MP called. Turn was the 3c giving me an inside straight draw and a flush draw to go with my Top pair so I bet 1/3 pot and MP callled and Button reraised me almost minimum. There was about 8k in the pot and I had about 12k left so I decided to shove since I had Redraws to get MP off the hand and HE CALLS (which I wasn't expecting) and then Button folded (Put him on top pair top kicker.) MP shows 5s 4s...wtf for the nut straight and got lucky from his donk call on the flop. I had him covered by about 1k and river was a Kc to give me the flush! This propelled me to about 48k. We go on break as the Rebuy / Addon period ends.

A few hands after the break I am UTG and dealt a crappy hand then the dealer announces Misdeal and shows a 9 for the SB giving him 99. When re-dealt I look at AA...Not bad ;)
I opted to raised to 2600 with blinds at 300 600 to make it look like a smaller pair than what it actually was and then to my surprise I get re-raised to 6600 to a decent regular. I was thinking is he capable of folding a huge pp if I shove, if so I want to keep him on the hook. Instead of re-raising (he had about 35k at this point and I could get his whole stack) I opted to just call and let him set his own hook. The flop fell J44 and I am first to act. I bet 6k into a 14k pot and he re-raises all in (I'm guessing he put me on 1010 or QQ) and I call and say if you have JJ NH... He shows KK from what I figured my read was. and I hold up to felt him. I now have about 80k and I flirt around this range for most of the night. I continue to pick spots, lose a couple small pots, win a couple small pots. I get dealt JJ in MP and open for 2200 with blinds at 400 800 and get called by 2 players in the blinds. flop is 7 4 2 and SB checks, BB bets 6000 I am thinking of his range and figure him for just one pair that he is over playing (as he has done many times tonight) so I re-raise to 18,000 for 1/3 of his stack. SB folds and BB calls the extra 12k. I have twice the stack he has. Turn is the 3 and he shoves all in. I really cannot see him calling that much of his stack on just an open ended hand and for some reason I don't see him having a set or 2 pair (He's just that bad to over play one hand) I count out my chips and see that I can make the call and If I'm wrong, still be in good shape with 28k as it would cost me 19k to make the call. There is also about 37k in the pot already so I am almost getting 3:1 odds to make the call and Call. At first he is reluctant and does not want to turn over his hand but shows Q 7 for top pair Queen kicker and I show my JJ. River is a 6 and I hold to knock him out and get up to about 100k.

We move tables and as players dwindled down I knock a couple short stacks out and we are now at 2 tables (Final Table pays 10 spots). I steal blinds. get blinded. waiting for a time to get a good pot. Lose a decent size pot vs. a very aggressive player I have a history playing against and get knocked down again to about 73k. I look at 77 in LP and with blinds at 4k 8k and 500 ante, I choose to go all in and if the blinds wake up with a big hand then so be it, but everyone folds and I add about 14k to my stack. A few hands later I look at Ks Js utg and looking back at this hand I should have just folded Preflop due to my position but something was telling me to played it. But I played this hand bad and it paid off. I limped UTG and a player with 24k goes all in and it cost me 16k to call. For some reason the range I had him was 66-1010 AQ, A10, J10s-KQs with the money already in the pot I had to make a chance at taking this player out as it was 1/3rd my stack so I make the call and to my demise he shows JJ. BLEH. Luckily In the window to greet me was the beautiful K of diamonds to save my ass and knock out yet another player to get us down to 12 and get my stack back up to 100k. we continue to play and we get to the bubble. I watch a guy just bleed off his stack cause of impatience and then we Make the Final table. One guy has about 237k avg is about 110k (I have about 93k) and the short stack had 16k. the blinds were 10k 5k with 1k ante and they ALWAYS want to chop when they get to the final table. Mostly because the structure is poo at the end, mostly because the payouts are extremely top heavy, and mostly because the regulars always end up at the end and want to be friendly, but what they were suggesting was just not what I wanted.

The CL wanted a little extra and I'm fine with that and then someone suggested instead of even $570 for everyone the other 9 give up $70 to the CL...I said no that is way too much and then people were like Fine then we're not chopping and The lady with the super short stack was super tilting because of it. Well we played 2 hands and the 2nd hand the BB was super short stack and SB wakes up with KK to knock her out. The chop 9 ways is now $608. I told everyone I am comfortable with $550 giving CL $58 now that she is gone (Looking back at it I should have said $580 but oh well) and everyone agreed and Short stack rolled her eyes as she collected her money, made some snide remarks then stormed out with her husband (They are very good players btw) But I had to make the best deal for myself If we were going to chop. Essentially the 8 players got 3rd place money and the CL got 2nd place money.

With no chop, 6-10 would have got $230 5th $340 4th $430 3rd $560 2nd $1,210 and 1st $2,230
I think I can outplay most at the Final Table, but the fact that there isn't much reward for 3rd and below really puts no reason to grind it out unless I had the CL.

So I ended up with a good profitable night but hopefully next time I will actually be a part of that Bad Beat Jack Pot.

See you on the Felt.
Matt Stroud

The World is a Stage

The World is a Stage

The world is a stage.

And you are the performer.

Instead of boasts about possessional value

Share the thoughts money can't buy,

but have the ability to make a man rich.
Share the thoughts to change the world.

Help guide the ones blinded by ignorance.

Be the voice for those afraid to speak.

Express yourself like no ones watching
Dancing in the summer sun, midnight rain or morning shower.

The world is a stage,

And you are the performer.
So speak up, act out, and never resist.
Never confine your thoughts. Your progress is limitless.
Don't be subdued to negative thoughts.

Ignore the judgements or mindless retorts,

for they were afraid to stand on that stage

To where you perform your masterful play.

Share the truth and let it be known

and sing your expressions in the most wonderful tone.
 

The world is a stage, 

And you are the performer.

No one can take that away, 

So use that expression every day.

Powerful thoughts impact your brain.

Confined in a space prepared to explode.

But the only exit is through your senses.

Whether you speak, act, walk, or stand.

You find each days lesson, dont let it go to waste.

You share your expression and all that remains.

The World is YOUR Stage.
Don't let it go to waste.

- Matt Stroud

I Love being a Ragin Cajun! (5-1 3-0 in SunBelt)

View of the Student Section

This is such a great time to be a Ragin Cajun fan right now and if you would like to jump on that bandwagon, we got plenty of room. So far UL is leading the SunBelt conference in attendance for football with about 27,000+ fans per game. For all the LSU goons who don't know anything other than the LSU Tigers that might sound like barely anything. But the max capacity for Cajun Field is listed at 31,000 (not counting the grass hills of course). Coach Mark Hudspeth is doing something the past 2 coaches couldn't do over the past 12-15 years, and that is waking up the monster of UL that has been sleeping for far too long. and he has a strong following that believes in everything he is selling, promoting, and teaching. I hope you stay with us for a long time (at least long enough to allow the person to take over your system) and continue to build a franchise. I would love to see us as the next TCU or Boise State. The state of Louisiana needs a competitor for LSU and definitely needs to end the politics involved around it as well.

Saturday was a huge game. The almighty Troy Trojans were coming to the Swamp and this is a must win if the Cajuns wanted to have a chance to win the Sun Belt Championship this year. It is also a goal that Hudspeth wanted to accomplish (win every home game...which is a very possible feat and even much so after this weekend). Troy is always talented and have competed with some big name schools in the past. They beat Oklahoma St. in 2007, Almost beat LSU in 2008 after giving up a 3 score lead in the 4th quarter have been consistently the Sun Belt champs of 2007-2010 and the only time UL beat Troy was in 2005 so yea talk about a key game. What best for me to represent then be my moniker as Waldo. They had 29,755 to watch this game, but only 1 Waldo, I even convinced my sister to be Carmen Sandiego and she turned out looking awesome and represented the character well. So well not many people noticed who she was, but the ones that did were even more excited when they realized they found both of us in the same day! haha.

Carmen Sandiego and Waldo Representing that UL Love!

Javone Lawson with a great TD catch to go along with his 136 yd performance.

As the Cajuns ran out on the field the crowd was electric and yelling on top of their lungs. I think this pumped up the players because they marched down the field and quickly scored to get a 7-0 lead on the Trojans. Next thing you know, Brett the Baer attack was setting up his kick after the score and the crowd was still going wild. Then, Hudspeth pulls a play out of the Sean Payton book. Baer dabbles an onside kick that NO ONE but I think the Cajuns were expecting and We recovered again!! everyone was going crazy and I honestly felt like I was in the Louisiana Superdome. It was ridiculously loud and I could barely hear the person sitting next to me. It is the types of games I love to be at. I just couldn't believe this was coming from our Ragin Cajuns. I always knew what they were capable of, but the fact that it was actually happening was so great to see. It was even better to see that so many people were finally behind them.

I remember how loud we were when there were only 15,000 AT MOST for that freezing cold rainy Kansas St. game that a game winning field goal was kicked to win the game 17-15. You can hear it for yourself on this youtube clip how ecstatic our lowly Cajuns crowd was. I still get chills watching it.

Now amplify that by 5-10x for the whole Troy game this year and you can have your experience. But that is just the first few plays of the game. The Cajuns have a 14-3 lead and there is only :25 seconds left of the half but the Trojans are driving. Then Troy's QB throws it directly to Melvin White who dodges, bobs and weaves for 87 yards to get the 5th and NCAA Leading Interception for Touchdown. This also gives all four of the starting Secondary atleast one Pick 6 which is an amazing feat in itself (Bill Bentley #5 has 2). As I was watching White scamper, looking from left when he caught it to the middle as he broke a tackle and jumped over another, all the way down to the endzone as he did his leap onto the grassy hill I saw beers flying in the air like fireworks, Hands high fiving, people yelling and smiling and knew that this was the night the Ragin Cajuns made their statement. That they will no longer be walked on, talked down on, and can now make a name for themselves. They can now say we are THE University of Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and there is more where this came from so join the bandwagon or get out of the way because we are going to run over anyone who tries to stop us. The fact that this team has 15 Freshman that get an great amount of playing time and next year only 4 starters will be gone on offense and 3 on defense is what makes it so great.

At half time the Lafayette Little League team that was showcased as the Cardiac Cajuns and also the Special Little Leaguers were commemorated and there was an awesome fireworks display to congratulate them on their success throughout the year. Both teams won their regions and had championships of their own.

There was also some idiot who decided it was cool to wear an LSU Tiger purple shirt into the UL student section they call the REDZONE. This poor guy made the mistake of going to the restroom during half time as everyone was sitting down all you hear are boos from the bottom of the feild. As he passed each section more boos would cry out all the way until he left the area and I had the biggest grin on my face. There was University of Louisiana (at Lafayette for you haters) vs. Troy Trojans, He was clearly lost and didn't realize that Tiger Stadium had already destroyed Florida (Congrats to them btw) about 50 miles northeast up I-10 so our loyal student section were pleased to boo him out of the stadium and into that direction. There were no spit, no drinks or food were thrown at him, no curse words to degrade him or his family, just some good fun and ridicule for this guys idiotic decision.

Next thing you know, one of the Green guys were being kicked out because he had put on his mask. How dare you cover your face in a costume. He and the University Police that were escourting him out stopped and everyone started chanting "LET HIM GO!!" The UP got uncomfortable after about 3 minutes of being chanted at and finally told him to go, another round of boos lit the air. It was the most entertaining Half time I have ever experienced haha.

The game got started and the crowd stayed loud. Last week almost a third of the crowd left in the 3rd quarter and it turned out to be a great game until the end. With that known and a special magic in the air (or Maybe it was the fireworks and the 24-3 lead at the half on the reigning SunBelt champs) a majority of the fans stayed and accounted for atleast 3 or 4 false starts by the Troy offensive line due to crowd noise. With next week being Homecoming vs. North Texas, I really hope we can master to sell out and have an even louder crowd vs. the Mean Green (who beat Indiana Hoosiers earlier this year) They are talking trash just like Troy did before Saturday so I guess they will just have to learn the hard way as well. I am on call this week so have to work, wont be able to tail gate as long as I would like but I am definitely not missing this game (a win would make us bowl eligible for the 5th time in 7 years and the first time ANY Sun Belt conference team starts 6-1 for the season) This Season has all kinds of history in the making and I want to be a part of it as much as possible. BTW this 5-1 start is the first time since 1970...that is 41 years...

The Cajuns continued to pound the football and Troy fought back and were able to get a couple scores on the boards but there was no way they could answer the storm in the Swamp that the Cajuns rained down upon them. This team reminds me so much of how the Saints started their climb and like I have said before even down to the Head Coaches is what it resembles. Jerry Baldwin of the Cajuns reminded me of the years with Mike Ditka for the saints. Rickey Bustle of the Cajuns reminded me of Jim Haslett of the Saints (getting us out of the rut and making us a respectable program but still alot of room to improve. With Mark Hudspeth I see him as Sean Payton as he has constructed a great coaching staff, capable of encouraging and maturing his players, rallying the hearts of Acadiana citizens, and giving the success the die hard fans knew what the Cajuns were capable of but just had to figure out how to get it. This is a great Time to be a Cajun and the University itself has so much potential to be a great Institution Athletically and Academically. The Final Score was 31-17 and If you missed it, don't worry, you can watch the replay of the game (The whole game) and hear the crowd and see the atmosphere for yourself. Here's the Link but don't miss next week because it will be just as fun as last! UL Ragin Cajuns vs. Troy Trojans


Matt Stroud

Ragin Cajuns (In HUD we Trust)..some poker recap as well

I haven't been playing much poker lately due to being busy with work and committing alot of time with Football. I am trying to read articles and keep tracked with players success while I am not able to play. Last time I played in a casino was at shorty's weekly tournament where I annoyingly bubbled 2 away from the money....(So even missed out on the bubble money) when this old regular was just getting lucky on me to go from one chip to taking my stack. First he had 7 5 and put his last chip in when i was in the sb and another small stack shoved (I had 40k and short stack utg had 15k old regular had 5k) blinds were 5k 10k. It was a good structure until the end of the tournament when it just turns into a shovament but I don't think I played bad. Well Old regular's 75 off beats my A 10 suited and the guy with 15k had like a small pp and I couldn't out flop either guy, (Old reg spiked a 5 to win) Then the next hand Old reg had A6 off and I called with K 9 suited....no luck again. finally at blinds of 10 20k I have one big blind and Old reg shoves with A10suited, I wake up with QQ but of course the Ace is in the window and I don't catch up. I wish I ran like gold....but that's how I roll...

I already touched on the APP Championship FreeRoll but didn't discuss the Cash game afterwards. It started out very aggravating as I started catching more hands but just 2nd best. For some reason I was in an aggravated mood the whole time that night and was letting it affect my play for the beginning but finally calmed down after a while and started focusing. I would flop 2 pair when someone flops a flush, straddle and see AK Suited and someone has AA ( put him on JJ-QQ but was a bit off with my read there but wasnt doubting his strength) He raised the straddle to $4.50 as it folded to me I 4bet to $15 ( He has about 180 and I have $80) he says all in as if he didnt want action and I figured Im just worried about two hands so Ill go for it Was in the game for $60) He says...well how much do you want to play for and I was like....I'm fine with just the pot and we agree to keep the $15 bets in the pot for a $32 pot (Blinds were .25 .50) and we ended up splitting as a straight hit the board I made it on the turn then the K on the river gave him the straight as well. We were playing half NLHE half PLO and there were a couple hands where I just got out played by the same guy and even though I put a read on him I didn't follow through and did the opposite. I was so annoyed because the first hand he was talking alot and he check called to the river in Omaha, I had the straight with a flushdraw betting into him. He called then Bets into me All in when the board Paired on the river....Then he started Talking and acting weird....not weird like nervous...but weird like OVER confident Giving me the feeling like he is just makign a play at the pot, but I wasnt 100% sure and was working my stack back so I didnt wanna blow it on a misread. Well I folded and he shows what I put him on the busted flush draw...Then later I flop Top Pair on a low board with my suited connector 9 7 4 rainbow and I bet 1/3 pot and he shoves again....this time I ask him...are you doing that to me again...and he didn't say anything...he was being quiet and hunching over. Showing weakness but I was like wow he might have a monster.........what do I do? out of frustration I call and he shows a set of sevens. I got out played and was annoyed. Told them I was done for the night but being at my place already I couldn't leave and watched them play a few revolutions. I decided to put $60 as my last buy in as there was still alot of money on the table and I know I could get my money back if not more. I start winning pots, playing more focused, and finally at 3am (game started at 1030pm) I broke even cashing out $120.

Now about football. Louisiana Football has been great so far. LSU is undefeated and ranked #1 in the country. (not really a fan but that is impressive, even with all the controversy around Jordan Jefferson). The Saints are doing great and beat 2 really good teams this year and almost got the upper hand on the defending super bowl champs in a shootout. But NO ONE....except for us UL Diehards and the football team itself...expected UL Ragin Cajuns to be 4-1 at this point with their only loss coming to Oklahoma St ranked 8th in the country. All the sports media and even some UL fans picked FIU to win the Sun Belt conference. So after going 2-1 with a nice win over Nicholls St. at home in front of 27,000 fans (Max capacity at Cajun Field is 31,000) UL goes to Miami, FL on FIU pussies campus and debuts the black helmets and black pants for the first time in school history. The players are pumped, the coaches are pumped and the fans are huddled nervously infornt of their computers watching ESPN3.com in anticipation for the game! It was gonna be interesting to see how our offense came out and with Blaine Gautier (has 2 consecutive 300 yd games) earning the QB starting spot it was a great decision as he propelled the offense to beat FIU 36-31 ( FIU was coming off a 3-0 start beating Louisville and Central Florida).

Debuting the Black helmets and pants for the huge upset!

This was a Huge win over Defending SunBelt champs that were getting all kinds of national attention and even some thinking they were going to go undefeated for the year. UL has ended that hype and shut the critics up in One night and Next victim was going to be the other F_U in the FAU Owls. UL has a history of flopping the next week of winning a big game vs. a lesser opponent and FAU also has a history of beating the crap out of the Ragin Cajuns (who hasn't beaten the Owls since 2006 6-0) UL should have beat the Owls last year but Rickey Bustle was seeing the end of his tenure at UL and opted to go for 2 instead of the PAT That would have tied the game and ended up losing by one point when they could not convert the 2 pointer. This year we had Home field advantage, 26,000+ fans in the stands, and a new confidence in the Head Coach Mark Hudspeth and His team who were ready to battle for 4 quarters and not just the first half of the game like last year as we seemed to sputter out towards the end. This was also really evident as FAU's players would drop out with injuries in the 3rd and 4th quarters, our guys were holding up strong and we have not witnessed any major injuries as our guys are just in better shape physically and mentally which has been paying HUGE dividends.

Harry "Power to the" Peoples

The Crowd was pumped up all game and it was an exciting atmosphere!

Harry Peoples has been consistent all year so far and this was definitely his breakout game! He had 12 receptions for 176 yards and helped propel the offense to dominate the FAU defense. He had an awesome one handed catch for about a 30-40 gain late in the 4th quarter to put UL in scoring position to set up the game winning field goal with only 2 seconds left. The Cajuns had a 2 touchdown lead in the fourth quarter and as scores of people started leading the game thinking the game was over, the Owls fought back and had 2 scoring drives to tie it up leaving the Cajuns 1:38 on the clock to answer with no timeouts left. This team has 15-16 Freshman getting quality playing time, so the future is VERY bright for the Ragin Cajuns. If I were you I would start jumping on the bandwagon right now if you're not part of the family already because it is going to be a fun ride and you can expect more dominant years in Cajun Country to come. Next up is Troy at home followed by North Texas at home, If we win these two games at home it will clinch bowl eligibilty and UL could be looking at their first Bowl game in school history of Division I football. Their last bowl game was the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1970 when they lost by 1 point to Tennessee St. as We were called USL at the time. Next week vs. Troy Trojans will be probably the biggest game at home and If UL beats Troy then that can line the Cajuns up perfectly to win their first out right Sun Belt Championship but we are gonna take it one game at a time. Hope to see you guys at the swamp, I'll be the same spot I'm always at...50 yd line in the Red Zone! Geaux Cajuns!!

Matt Stroud