The LSU football team has never lost to Louisiana-Lafayette. The Tigers have surrendered only one touchdown in 21 matchups against the Ragin’ Cajuns — 16 of those games being shutouts. LSU has a commanding lead in the all-time score as well, dominating ULL by a total of 957-22.Despite the extreme disparity in just about every statistical category, ULL fans are still excited for the matchup between the Tigers (2-0) and the Ragin’ Cajuns (2-0) this weekend in Tiger Stadium.”Absolutely, without a doubt, 100 percent, it is a rivalry game,” said ULL kinesiology junior Jacques Leruth. “People around here feel that LSU gets everything in the state, and we’re being looked over in this game. Plus, we’re right across the bayou from each other.” LSU fans have slightly different sentiments toward the matchup with the Ragin’ Cajuns. “I would not really consider the game a rivalry,” said LSU undecided sophomore and Lafayette native Andrew Price. “We hate Florida, we hate Alabama, but they’re usually a good game and a good matchup. Even growing up in Lafayette, LSU football was always a way bigger deal than ULL football.”That apathetic attitude from LSU has led to much resentment from those in the ULL camp.”I hate LSU,” Leruth said. “LSU as a school, as a whole, pays a lot more attention to its athletic program. I just don’t like how LSU gets all the money in the state. I’ll just put it like this: if LSU is playing Germany in the national championship somehow, I’d probably pull for Germany.”Ricky Wendel, LSU international trade and finance freshman, said those harsh feelings stem from ULL fans’ jealousy toward LSU.”Maybe they couldn’t get into LSU, and now they have a hatred toward LSU,” Wendel said.Both sides agree, though, if the rivalry is ever going to develop into a great in-state game, the two schools need to play regularly. The two teams have played just twice — 2002 and 2006 — since 1938.”We don’t play every year,” said ULL general studies sophomore Collin Moreau. “If they played every year, I’m sure it would become a good rivalry.” Eric Guidry, LSU business administration freshman, said LSU and ULL are not on equal playing fields and is not sure why the two schools play each other.But LSU coach Les Miles said his team is excited about this Saturday’s game, and the Tigers are eagerly awaiting the in-state matchup.”We know every team that comes into Tiger Stadium is prepared to play us,” Miles said. “We look forward to those kinds of games. I understand in-state teams want to play us, and I enjoy the feel of a state filling the stadium to celebrate two in-state schools. I have no problem with it.”LSU has 12 players from the Lafayette area, and they understand what this game means to their home city.”It’s just one of those things where we’re from that area, and we know what this game means to the people of Lafayette and the Ragin’ Cajuns,” said sophomore offensive lineman Josh Dworaczyk. It’s something we’re all looking forward to.”ULL has not scored a touchdown on LSU since their matchup in 1924, but that has not put a damper on the Cajuns’ early season confidence following their 17-15 win against Kansas State last weekend.”I saw the point spread on the game is 27 points,” Leruth said. “I think [LSU] is overlooking [ULL] a little bit there. I feel like we’re going to get worked up and all, but LSU has more athletes. If I were to call it right now, I’d call it 28-24 Cajuns.”LSU fans are looking at history and see this year’s matchup as being just another lopsided game in this extremely lopsided series. Three of LSU’s four largest margins of victory have come at the expense of ULL, including a 93-0 win in 1936.”They’re not a very good team,” Price said. “When LSU and ULL play, everyone knows it’s just going to be decimation on the part of LSU. My prediction is LSU by 60 points.”————Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]