Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns is the trademarked nickname of the athletic teams of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. UL Lafayette, at that time known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana, was the first to adopt the nickname "Ragin' Cajuns," using it initially in the 1960s to refer to its football team.

Prior to the 1960s, the team nickname was the "Bulldogs." In 1963 then football coach Russ Faulkinberry changed the nickname of the football team "Bulldogs" to "Ragin' Cajuns." By the 1970s, the athletic department, the sports information director Bob Henderson and the student body picked up on the nickname. As published in the 1974 football guide, the nickname became official that year. [ [http://www.louisiana.edu/Advancement/PRNS/lala/2006-FALL/fall2006.shtml "La Louisiane" (Fall 2006) "Nothing Tops 'Ragin' Cajuns'"] ] Until the 2006-07 academic year, women's teams were referred to as the Lady Cajuns, but they now use the same "Ragin' Cajuns" nickname as the men's teams.

Current Sports

Baseball

Baseball - First Year of Baseball: 1903. First Year of Division I: 1972. Years of Baseball: 91st season. All-Time Record (since 1960): 1,256-940-4 (.572). All-Time Division I Record: 1,074-748-3 (.589). All-Time Sun Belt Record: 206-123 (.626). NCAA Appearances/Last: Ten/2007. All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 17-20. Regular Season Conference. Championships: 13; Gulf States Conference (1949-53, 1966); Southland Conference (1972-73); American South Conference (1988-91); Sun Belt Conference (1997, 2005, 2007). Conference Tournament championships: 1 Sun Belt Conference (1998). Last time in postseason: 2007 College Station Regional (2-2). Finished tied for 3rd at 2000 College World Series after knocking off overall #1 South Carolina in Super Regional. Defeated Clemson and San Jose State, lost to Stanford twice in 2000 College World Series.

Basketball

Basketball - 2003-04 Sun Belt west division champions 2004 Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions. 2005 Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions. NIT Participant 2002 and 2003. NCAA Tournament participant 2000, 2004*, and 2005*.
*vacated by NCAA [ [http://www2.ncaa.org/portal/media_and_events/press_room/2007/april/20070419_d1_coi_lousianaatlafayette_rls.html Division I Committee on Infractions Penalizes University of Louisiana at Lafayette for Violations in Football, Men's Basketball] ]

Football

Football - Participate in NCAA Division I FBS in the Sun Belt Conference. 2005 Sun Belt Conference co-champions. 1993 and 1994 Big West Conference co-champions.

Other Sports

*Softball - Sun Belt Conference champions 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008. 14 NCAA Regionals, 33 All-Americans, 24 consecutive winning seasons. Currently playing in the WCWS, defeating the No. 1 seeded Florida Gators on May 29, 2008.

*Water Skiing - First year of competition: 1989. Has finished no worse than third in the annual NCWSA National Collegiate Water Ski Association championships since 1993. National champions: 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005.

Club sports

:Badminton, Bowling, Cheerleading, Cricket, Hockey, Judo, Powerlifting, Rugby, Sport Shooting, Men's Soccer, Tae Kwon Do, Water Skiing

History

Football was the first team organized at the then Institute (SLII) in 1901, although an advertisement promoting women's gymnastics was placed in 1900.

Traditions

Mascots

Former
*Bulldog
*Mr. Cajun (animated)
*"RC" the Bulldog (live)
*"Gee" the bulldog (live) prior to being the Ragin' Cajuns
*"The Fabulous Cajun Chicken" (animated) 1982-1999 - Most popular and most entertaining mascot of all time

Current
*Cayenne (animated)

ongs and cheers

Alma Mater

:Alma Mater, beloved old Southwestern,:Pride of our Southland so fair!:Oaks and pines, and sweet magnolia's beauty,:Show forth they charms so rare,:Alma Mater, for honor, truth, and wisdom:Thy halls for aye shall stand,:Loyal sons, and daughters sing,:Proclaiming here's my heart and hand.

Ragin' Cajuns Fight Song:Fight on, Cajuns, fight on to victory:For the Red and White,:We will sing of triumph and glory,:For our team tonight,:You will hear the rage of the Cajuns,:So let's give a yell, (AHH-YEE):Hustle up and bustle up and:Fight on to victory - GEAUX U L! [ [http://www.ragincajuns.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=79741&SPID=7579&DB_OEM_ID=15400&ATCLID=1139150 Ragin' Cajuns Fight Song"] ]

Cajuns' Cheers:Yeah Rouge:Yeah Blanc:Yeah Cajuns:Allons!...............................:Hot Boudin!:Cold Coush-Coush!:Come on Cajuns,:Push! Push! Push!!!

Notable sports alumni

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun alumni have had notable professional sports careers in the NFL, NBA, MLB and as Olympic medalists. A major example would be NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme of the Carolina Panthers and Former All-star Pitcher Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees. Also the late Kim Perrot of the Houston Comets.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.ragincajuns.com Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns] official athletics website.
* [http://www.athleticnetwork.net/site.php Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Network] official athletics network.
* [http://www.louisiana.edu University of Louisiana at Lafayette] official university website.
* [http://www.raginpagin.com RaginPagin.com] unofficial Ragin' Cajun fan portal and resource guide.