PRESS RELEASE
LAFAYETTE – After 14 spring practices, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football will finally get the chance to showcase its hard work as the squad takes to Cajun Field in the annual Vermilion & White Spring Finale starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April. 21.
FREE TO ATTEND/PARK: The Cajuns’ spring game is free of charge for all fans attending, and gates will open up at 11 a.m., 15 minutes prior to the start of the Inaugural Alumni Red & White Game. Parking for the game is also free, and fans can park in the lots surrounding Cajun Field.
TELEVESED FOR THE FIRST TIME: For the first time in school history, the spring game will be broadcast live on TV, with COX Sports (CST) carrying the game. The talent for the game will be Dan McDonald (play-by-play), Gerald Broussard (color) and Richie Falgout (sideline).
FULL DAY OF CAJUNS FOOTBALL: The day will kick off at 11:45 a.m., with the Alumni Red & White Game. The current Cajuns will take the field at 12:30 p.m. for the start of the Vermilion & White Spring Finale and the entire spring game will wrap up at approximately 3:30 p.m.
RELIVING OLD GLORIES: The Alumni Red & White game will be a flag football game played with a 7-on-7 format. The White Team will be led by former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme and his team of Cajuns greats will be taking on the Terrance Broadway-led Red Team. Fans are encouraged to come out and cheer on their favorites from years gone by, as they light up another Saturday on Cajun Field.
ZEA’S OR BEANS: The winning team between the Vermilion & White will be treated to a dinner from Zea’s Rotisserie and Bar, hosted by the football staff. As for the losing team, it will be treated to a much simpler meal. A bowl of beans and a slice of white bread will be served to the losing team, giving the spring game a high stakes environment.
WHAT FANS CAN EXPECT ON THE FIELD: Once the Cajuns take the field, they’ll head right into their stretching lines. The team will transition to individual position drills, followed by 7-on-7 drills. Around 1 p.m., the Cajuns will then be split up between respective Vermilion and White squads.
A coin toss will be held at mid-field, with University President Dr. E. Joseph Savoie (honorary coach for the Vermilion Team) and Lafayette Mayor Joel Robideaux (honorary coach for the White Team) representing each team at the toss.
At that point, both teams will begin a scrimmage, with a special scoring format hammered out to come away with a winner. A touchdown will give the scoring team six points; a turnover will be three points; a field goal is three points; when the defense holds the offense to a three and out they’ll get one point; a converted extra point will be one point and a red zone stop will be one point for the defense.
The final 10 minutes of the scrimmage will consist of individual special team drills in what’s being dubbed Game Changers. The scoring system for that is simple, in each individual matchup whoever wins scores their team one point.
Once the team is finished scrimmaging, there will be a halftime break before the Cajuns roll into situational drills. During the final hour of the spring game, Louisiana will work through first down, third down and red zone situations with a two-minute drill wrapping up the day.
The situational drills will be scored as well. During the first down drills when the offense gets four or more yards, that team will get a point, but if the defense holds them to under four yards, the defensive team will earn a point. On third down, if the offense converts they get one point and a stop from the defense gets them one point.
Those situational drills will wrap up the Vermilion & White Spring Finale and a full day of Cajuns football for everyone to enjoy. Following the drills, the team will hand out its spring awards, recognizing the student-athletes that have shown up every day during the spring and worked hard to get better on and off the field.
BRING THOSE CANNED GOODS: When coming to either the Alumni Game or the spring game, fans are encouraged to donate bring canned goods to the Cajuns Canned Food Drive as a part of the Geaux Cajuns Program.
All canned goods collected will be donated to the FoodNet Bank of Lafayette and student-athletes along with volunteers from the FoodNet Bank will be at Gates A, C and D to collect the donations. Fans are also encouraged to bring a range of dry goods, such as rice, pasta, dry beans and meals in a box. Canned goods that can be donated include tuna, fruit, vegetables and tomato sauce.
GET YOUR CRAWFISH HERE: During the game Richard Farms and Crawfish Time on Ridge Road will be selling five-pound orders of crawfish at $20 an order. Fans can pay with cash or credit card, and fans can buy their orders of crawfish under the West Tower Main Concourse area. All money collected from the crawfish orders will be donated to the RCAF.
BOUNCING FOR JOY: Located near Gate A there will be a kids zone where children will be treated to an inflatable bounce house, balloon animals and face painting. The kid zone will open up at noon and run throughout the game.
DANCING UNDER THE OAK TREE: Post-game there will be a free concert by Zydeco legend Keith Frank. Fans are encouraged to swing by the oak tree near Gate A. The concert will start at approximately 2:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the spring game.
STICK AROUND FOR CAJUNS ACTION ON THE DIAMOND: The Ragin’ Cajuns softball and baseball teams are busy on Saturday, and fans are encouraged to head over to Lamson Park following the spring game to catch a softball doubleheader against Georgia Southern starting at 2 p.m.
And later that night Russo Park will be the site for a the second game of a big weekend series for the Cajuns baseball team against the Little Rock Trojans and that game starts at 6 p.m.
RENEW THOSE SEASON TICKETS: Fans who had season tickets during the 2017 season have until April 21 to renew for the 2018 season, by calling the Ragin’ Cajuns ticket office at (337) 265-2357 or visiting www.ragincajuns.com/renew. Fans who didn’t have season tickets during the 2017 season can get on the waiting list by visiting the same website or calling the Ragin’ Cajuns Ticket Office.
FOLLOWING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS: Follow the Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsFB), Facebook (RaginCajunsFootball) and Instagram (ragincajunsFB) to stay up-to-date with all things Cajuns Football during the remainder of the spring and the summer.