For the first time in his tenure as Ragin' Cajuns Head Football Coach, Mark Hudspeth addressed the media for senior day with a losing record.

The 28-7 loss to Appalachian State over the weekend sealed the Cajuns fate and a losing record for the season, but there's still a chance they could get invited to bowl season. It would be a bittersweet RSVP, but Hudsepth said they would mark down "yes."

"At 5-7, I probably don't think you deserve a bowl game," Hudspeth said." Not just us, anybody."

Deserving of a bowl game? No. Still possibly bowl bound? Not out of the realm of possibility, according to Hud.

"If you win the lottery, do you deserve the money? You didn't really earn it, but you don't give it back," Hudspeth said.

If the Cajuns were to "win the lottery," so to speak, Hudspeth said he would use it as extra practice for some of the young players. With no bowl, the season is over. With a bowl game to prepare for, he and the staff get a few more looks they wouldn't otherwise be provided. It makes sense, but it still feels odd.

It won't matter if they don't figure out a way to score against Troy in the final game of the season. Offensively, it's been a struggle for the Cajuns to find consistency. It hasn't just been the quarterback position, and despite the fact Hudspeth said the team is "not broken," some of the injuries would indicate otherwise.

For starters, the offensive line played musical chairs all year long after the loss of senior Mykhael Quave. Hud understood the loss went beyond X's and O's.

"He's that natural born leader that you miss," Hudspeth said.

Quave's absence and the subsequent struggle up front made for tough sledding all year for the team's top talent at RB, Elijah McGuire. On top of dealing with a banged up shoulder all year long, opposing defenses have keyed on him week in and week out.

"Just him being the solo guy in the box has not allowed him to be as creative as he would like to be and need to be," Hudspeth pointed out. It's hard to run when there's nowhere to go.

After watching the offense get shut out for the majority of the game in Boone, redshirt freshman QB Jordan Davis came off the bench at the end of the game to orchestrate the Cajuns only scoring drive. He completed all seven of his passes and took the ball in himself from over 20 yards out. Was it enough to earn him the start? Apparently not.

While the losing season is guaranteed, Hudspeth ensured the fan base that it would not be a Spring Game against Troy. Davis will get some reps, but in due time.

It will be Brooks Haack's gig on Saturday, at least to start. Why? Hud thinks he deserves it, and Davis' time isn't up yet.

"He probably don't deserve to start quite yet," Hudspeth said of Davis, before re-emphasizing that he would still see some snaps.

Our vocabulary word of the day is "deserving." In the words of Hud, the Cajuns aren't deserving of a bowl big but would still accept the invitation. On the opposite side, Jordan Davis isn't deserving of the start but will still see some snaps. Time will tell if both eventually get what they deserve.

Speaking of deserving, this year's senior class deserves a solid sendoff. The 18 men will go out with the 2nd most wins all time, only behind last year's senior class. It might be their last week together.

"I think they want to make the most of practice this week," Hudspeth said. He added, "They're ready to spend some time with their teammates."

Head out to Cajun Field to watch them take the turf for the last time. This might not be the season you wanted as a fan, but remember the players feel it in a much more intense fashion. Give them a fuzzy feeling Saturday against Troy, they definitely deserve as much.

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