Is First Year Ragin Cajun Coach Mark Hudspeth To Dan Mullen, What Mullen Was To Urban Meyer?

Mark Hudspeth is off to a roaring start in his first year as head coach for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns.  After losing their opener to Oklahoma State, the Cajuns have reeled off six straight victories and are leading the Sun Belt Conference.  Hudspeth comes to ULL from Mississippi State where he served as receivers coach and passing game coordinator.  His absence is apparent in Starkville as the Bulldogs passing game has struggled mightily this year.  Could Hudspeth be to Dan Mullen, what Mullen was to Urban Meyer?  While there are certainly other factors to be considered, parallels can be made betweent the drop in Florida's offensive production after Mullen left for Starkville, and the decline in Mississippi State's offensive effectiveness after Hudspeth left to takeover the Cajuns.

Hudspeth's success has also earned him national attention.  He has been named a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.  Hudspeth has also received very positive media reviews both for his team's on field success and for reigniting the Ragin Cajun fan base (much like Mullen has also done with Bulldog fans).

Below is an excellent article from Andrea Adelson of ESPN.Com on Hudspeth's success.  Be sure to also check Bill Bumgarner's thoughts on Hudspeth's impact on his sportsnola.com blog at http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/local-sports-news/ull-news/576368-hudspeths-first-season-has-energized-ragin-cajuns-football.html.

Mark Hudspeth rejuvenates ULL

He is in his first season as a head coach. His team is young. Not particularly deep, either.

Does that sound like a recipe for success?

Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth laughed when asked that very question. His team has bucked convention at 6-1, setting the record for best start in Sun Belt history as it prepares to play Western Kentucky on Saturday. Hudspeth took over a team that went 3-9 last season and a program that many said could never win.

“Our team has bought into the work ethic I wanted to bring into our program,” Hudspeth said in a recent phone interview. “I feel we’ve outworked everybody in the country to prepare our team physically and mentally.
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