Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Why Cajuns coach Billy Napier insists Grambling is a season-opening challenge

Grambling State at Louisiana, 7 pm ET, ESPN3

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana -- The numbers and the history may be on their side, but UL-Lafayette coach Billy Napier said his Ragin’ Cajuns are paying no attention to the past or to the record books.

The Cajuns are paying attention to what they see on film from the Grambling Tigers, who provide the opposition the season opener at at 6 p.m. Saturday at Cajun Field.

“They definitely present a number of challenges,” Napier said of the Tigers, who face the Cajuns for the first time. “They present different problems for you in all three phases. But I believe in the work we’ve done so far, and I’m excited to see what these young men are going to do on Saturday.”

Napier’s first game as head coach comes after UL-Lafayette had a combined 15-22 record over three straight losing seasons since 2015.

In that same time, the Tigers have a combined 32-6 record and have gone unbeaten in 25 games against their Southwestern Athletic Conference brethren.

Grambling went 11-2 last season, losing to Tulane 43-14 in its opener before reeling off 11 straight wins followed a 21-14 loss to North Carolina A&T in the Celebration Bowl. Since Broderick Fobbs took over in 2014, the Tigers are a healthy 39-11.

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