Execution Is Important Says Desormeaux
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Excitement and emotion certainly play a part in season opening football games.
While acknowledging those elements will probably be evident for some of his players on Saturday night, Louisiana head football coach Mike Desoremeaux also wants to see sufficient assignment execution when the Cajuns open the 2026 season by hosting Lamar University.
The 7 p.m. kickoff at Lourdes Stadium is scheduled an hour later than in recent home openers.
Lamar has already played in a game this year. The Cardinals defeated Abilene Christian 21-14 last Saturday night.
Deormeaux starts his fifth season with a 29-25 record as the Cajuns’ head coach..
This year the Cajuns have been picked near the top of the Sun Belt Conference West Division, but Desormeaux said teams always need to win season openers.
So what does he expect against Lamar?
“So far these guys have done everything we’ve asked since we had them in January. They have done things the right way, so it’s important for them to get the first win and it’s important to play the way we need to play in order to keep the trajectory,” Desormeaux said during his Monday afternoon press conference.
“It’s important for (the players) to use their energy and excitement the right way. The question is can they manage that? Can they show up focused and not just excited to play. You don’t win on excitement, but rather on execution,” Desormeaux said.
The Cajuns will display a number of new players at running back and wide receiver, while tight end and the offensive line possess a number of two year starters that will complement returning quarterback Lunch Winfield (shown in the photo above).
Winfield admits that while he had a chance to enter the transfer portal after ending last year as the Cajuns’ starter, the preferred to remain at Louisiana, where he was the starter during the last half of 2025.
Returning wide receiver Sheldon Sampson is apparently free of the injury problems that he experienced during the preseason, Desormeaux said.
Louisiana will feature several new players in the offensive backfield, but Desormeaux said he’s not particularly worried.
“That’s one of the fun parts of this job, which is who is going to become the next running back or household name. We have a lot of guys there who have a lot of ability,” Desormeaux said of his ball carriers.
Defensively Desormeaux said he likes what he’s seen from a group of starters who played significant minutes last year.
“We have a lot of players on our defense who have played well. I’ve been pleased with our defense. On the defensive line our depth is good. I think our defense is the best that it’s been in my five years here as head coach,” Desormeaux said.
