Louisiana focuses on WAC play
The Associated Press
RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech has just completed one of the most difficult stretches of games in the school's football history.
Now the Bulldogs feel they have not only survived, they feel they've progressed. With a 2-3 record, the Bullodgs begin seven straight Western Athletic Conference games Saturday at Rice.
The rugged five-game stretch to open the season included road games at Clemson, Penn State and Texas A&M.
"I think the thing that is frustrating and encouraging is that we competed in all of those games and we could have won them," Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. "I saw some positive things. I think we're a talented football team that's better defensively than we were last year. At times on offense we were good and at times we weren't."
In their three losses to Clemson, Penn State and Texas A&M the Bulldogs also showed they have closed the gap on the big-time programs.
"I think we could have beaten those teams," junior receiver D.J. Curry said. "Player-wise we were right there with them, but two or three plays were the difference."
The Bulldogs trailed Penn State 21-17 and had possession of the ball midway through the third quarter when a rash of turnovers spelled doom. Tech trailed Clemson 20-13 with a little more than seven minutes to play and was in the Tigers' red zone, when an interception in the end zone killed a game-tying score.
Against A&M, Tech trailed 17-3 in the fourth quarter before the Aggies scored two late touchdowns.
"I think we know we can play with any team in America," sophomore defensive tackle Chris Van Hoy said. "We could have won three of the four big games."
Sandwiched among the losses to Clemson, Penn State and A&M was a 53-9 throttling of WAC foe Tulsa in the third game of the season.
"We played some of the best competition and in some of the hardest places to play in the country," senior receiver Ahmad Harris said. "I think we improved as a team tremendously. We did a lot of good things, now we just want to add to that."
The difference for Tech in its losses came down to a handful of plays, most prominently turnovers. In the three losses, the Bulldogs had nine turnover and only created four.
"The turnovers are disappointing," Bicknell said.
"Part of it is who we play and we feel like we need to take more chances. But turnovers are a concern because we're not getting any and giving them up on offense."
|
|
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by macp38
