Russ Faulkinberry

Russell Miller Faulkinberry (November 3, 1928 – November 16, 2005) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Southwestern Louisiana—now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette—from 1961 to 1973, compiling a record of 66–63–2. Faulkinberry played college football as a tackle at Vanderbilt University from 1947 to 1950. As a senior, he was captain of the 1950 Vanderbilt Commodores football team and was named to the 1950 All-SEC football team. Faulkinberry was an assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, Iowa State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before he was hired at Southwestern Louisiana.[1][2] He died on November 16, 2005 after a long illness.[3]

Russ Faulkinberry
Biographical details
Born(1928-11-03)November 3, 1928
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
DiedNovember 16, 2005(2005-11-16) (aged 77)
Lafayette, Louisiana
Playing career
1947–1950Vanderbilt
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1956Southeastern Louisiana (line)
1957Iowa State (assistant)
1958–1959Texas A&M (assistant)
1960Nebraska (assistant)
1961–1973Southwestern Louisiana
Head coaching record
Overall66–63–2
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Gulf State (1965, 1968, 1970)
Awards
All-SEC (1950)

Faulkinberry's tenure brought about the change of Southwestern Louisiana's fight name from the "Bulldogs" to the "Raging Cajuns". One of his assistant coaches once remarked, "Go out there and rage like a bunch of Cajuns!" The phrase stuck both because a majority of the players were from south Louisiana and because fans, students, and alumni loved the phrase. Later on, the University of Southwestern Louisiana trademarked the phrase and, to this day, the sports teams are known as the "Ragin' Cajuns."

Military service

Faulkinberry served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.

Death

Faulkinberry died on November 16, 2005, in Lafayette, Louisiana, at the age of 77. He was buried in Lafayette Memorial Park.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Southwestern Louisiana Bulldogs / Ragin' Cajuns (Gulf States Conference) (1960–1970)
1961 Southwestern Louisiana 2–80–56th
1962 Southwestern Louisiana 4–5–12–3T–4th
1963 Southwestern Louisiana 4–51–4T–5th
1964 Southwestern Louisiana 5–42–34th
1965 Southwestern Louisiana 7–34–1T–1st
1966 Southwestern Louisiana 6–43–2T–2nd
1967 Southwestern Louisiana 6–43–2T–2nd
1968 Southwestern Louisiana 8–24–11st
1969 Southwestern Louisiana 5–53–23rd
1970 Southwestern Louisiana 9–35–01stL Grantland Rice
Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (Southland Conference) (1971–1973)
1971 Southwestern Louisiana 5–4–12–2–14th
1972 Southwestern Louisiana 5–61–4T–5th
1973 Southwestern Louisiana 0–100–56th
Southwestern Louisiana: 66–63–230–34–1
Total:66–63–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
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References
  1. "Iowa State Coach Picks Grid Aides". The Daily Times. Davenport, Iowa. Associated Press. January 24, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved September 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  2. "Husker Aide Resigns; Faulkinberry Has Head Job". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. January 29, 1961. p. 47. Retrieved September 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
  3. "Ragin' Cajuns nicknamer, coach, Faulkinberry dies". ESPN. Associated Press. November 17, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
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