09-30-2004, 04:47 PM
By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate
LAFAYETTE -- Travis Bass describes his college football career as one long road trip.
Maybe a map would also be helpful in locating the numerous addresses where Bass has played since leaving high school.
After digesting playbooks at schools on the West Coast, Midwest and in the South, Bass is finally coming home Saturday afternoon.
Bass and Miami native Ricky Thomas have been busy hoarding tickets to distribute to friends and family as they prepare their return to the Dade County area.
Both are starters on a University of Louisiana at Lafayette defense that meets Florida International at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Although Thomas' college career is not as nomadic as it has been for Bass, the ULL defensive back left Miami as a teenager, ended his high school career in Kansas and later played junior college there.
Bass played at Cape Coral High School in Ft. Myers, located about an hour from Miami.
Thomas was a starter at Miami Northwestern High School before leaving to play his senior year in Kansas.
Bass and Thomas said as youths, they wanted to play college football in Florida.
At FIU Stadium both will finally get their chance, but it won't be as starters for any of the Golden Panthers' state rivals.
Bass, a weakside end who has ULL's only sack this season, started his college football odyssey in Los Angeles, before moving on to New Mexico and finally ULL where he's played the last two years.
"I've been more than a couple of different places and been through a lot to get to where I am now," said Bass.
Bass grew up wanting to play for what he calls "a Florida school," but he took his first option out of high school and signed with Los Angeles Valley Community College.
"The Florida schools like Miami, University of Florida and Florida State, don't take junior college guys," Bass said.
"That's why it's finally going to be good for me to go down there and play against a Florida team.
"It's a competitive thing for me and I'm going to love stepping out in Miami and being in the area again," he said.
Bass said ULL defensive line coach Shawn Quinn found him in Los Angeles, offered a ULL scholarship and shortly afterward Bass was a 2003 starter at defensive end where he finished the season with 25 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Playing at so many locations has given Bass a good perspective on college football's contrasts.
"I've been where there are a lot of different styles. On the West Coast, it's more run and gun, with a lot of passing," he said.
"Around Florida, they like to pound it at you, with the running backs going downhill."
Thomas said he played against several of FIU's starters, including Panthers running back Rashod Smith.
It's a second homecoming for Thomas, who played before a host of friends at Kansas State Sept. 18.
Thomas played at Kansas' Butler Community College and played against several of his former junior college teammates.
Like Bass, Thomas wanted to play college football in Florida, preferably the Florida Gators.
"I played offense in high school and I liked the way Florida threw the ball back then," Thomas said.
"Later the U (University of Miami) started getting better, so I wanted to go there too.
"Early in my career, I kept trying to get back down there (to Florida) and play, but things didn't work out," he said.
Thomas and Bass have combined for 15 tackles this season. Thomas has one of ULL's three pass interceptions.
Bass is hoping to have 25 close friends and family watch him play on Saturday, while Thomas is expecting about 40 in his personal cheering section.
Should FIU (1-0), take an early lead, it wouldn't surprise Bass and Thomas.
ULL's defense has performed better in the second half in each of its four games.
The Cajuns (2-2) have allowed 88 points, but only 30 of those have been in the second half.
ULL shut out Northwestern State in the second half and then allowed Louisiana Tech and Middie Tennessee three points each in the final two quarters.
Bass said it's a matter of better conditioning and flexible game planning.
Thomas said the Cajuns defense, with a new 4-3 scheme, has taken longer to get started.
<a href='http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/093004/spo_ull001.shtml' target='_blank'>LINK</a>
Special to The Advocate
LAFAYETTE -- Travis Bass describes his college football career as one long road trip.
Maybe a map would also be helpful in locating the numerous addresses where Bass has played since leaving high school.
After digesting playbooks at schools on the West Coast, Midwest and in the South, Bass is finally coming home Saturday afternoon.
Bass and Miami native Ricky Thomas have been busy hoarding tickets to distribute to friends and family as they prepare their return to the Dade County area.
Both are starters on a University of Louisiana at Lafayette defense that meets Florida International at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Although Thomas' college career is not as nomadic as it has been for Bass, the ULL defensive back left Miami as a teenager, ended his high school career in Kansas and later played junior college there.
Bass played at Cape Coral High School in Ft. Myers, located about an hour from Miami.
Thomas was a starter at Miami Northwestern High School before leaving to play his senior year in Kansas.
Bass and Thomas said as youths, they wanted to play college football in Florida.
At FIU Stadium both will finally get their chance, but it won't be as starters for any of the Golden Panthers' state rivals.
Bass, a weakside end who has ULL's only sack this season, started his college football odyssey in Los Angeles, before moving on to New Mexico and finally ULL where he's played the last two years.
"I've been more than a couple of different places and been through a lot to get to where I am now," said Bass.
Bass grew up wanting to play for what he calls "a Florida school," but he took his first option out of high school and signed with Los Angeles Valley Community College.
"The Florida schools like Miami, University of Florida and Florida State, don't take junior college guys," Bass said.
"That's why it's finally going to be good for me to go down there and play against a Florida team.
"It's a competitive thing for me and I'm going to love stepping out in Miami and being in the area again," he said.
Bass said ULL defensive line coach Shawn Quinn found him in Los Angeles, offered a ULL scholarship and shortly afterward Bass was a 2003 starter at defensive end where he finished the season with 25 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Playing at so many locations has given Bass a good perspective on college football's contrasts.
"I've been where there are a lot of different styles. On the West Coast, it's more run and gun, with a lot of passing," he said.
"Around Florida, they like to pound it at you, with the running backs going downhill."
Thomas said he played against several of FIU's starters, including Panthers running back Rashod Smith.
It's a second homecoming for Thomas, who played before a host of friends at Kansas State Sept. 18.
Thomas played at Kansas' Butler Community College and played against several of his former junior college teammates.
Like Bass, Thomas wanted to play college football in Florida, preferably the Florida Gators.
"I played offense in high school and I liked the way Florida threw the ball back then," Thomas said.
"Later the U (University of Miami) started getting better, so I wanted to go there too.
"Early in my career, I kept trying to get back down there (to Florida) and play, but things didn't work out," he said.
Thomas and Bass have combined for 15 tackles this season. Thomas has one of ULL's three pass interceptions.
Bass is hoping to have 25 close friends and family watch him play on Saturday, while Thomas is expecting about 40 in his personal cheering section.
Should FIU (1-0), take an early lead, it wouldn't surprise Bass and Thomas.
ULL's defense has performed better in the second half in each of its four games.
The Cajuns (2-2) have allowed 88 points, but only 30 of those have been in the second half.
ULL shut out Northwestern State in the second half and then allowed Louisiana Tech and Middie Tennessee three points each in the final two quarters.
Bass said it's a matter of better conditioning and flexible game planning.
Thomas said the Cajuns defense, with a new 4-3 scheme, has taken longer to get started.
<a href='http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/093004/spo_ull001.shtml' target='_blank'>LINK</a>