NEW ORLEANS – Even as quarterback Terrance Broadway celebrated Louisiana-Lafayette’s first bowl victory at college football’s highest level one year ago, there was a part of him left unfulfilled.

“All I was doing was watching, and that hurt,” said Broadway, who as a 2011 transfer from Houston could practice but not play last season. “I had practiced all year, ran the scout team, but (did) not have the whole bowl experience. … Now I have another opportunity, and we’re going to try to make the most of it.”

That opportunity comes today when the Ragin’ Cajuns (8-4) of the Sun Belt Conference make their second straight appearance in the New Orleans Bowl, this time against East Carolina (8-4) of Conference USA.

Broadway, a sophomore, was supposed to serve as Louisiana-Lafayette’s No. 2 QB this season behind senior Blaine Gautier. But when Gautier broke his throwing hand in late September, Broadway stepped in and put up some of the best all-around numbers seen from a Cajuns quarterback.

Broadway had 2,526 yards and 16 touchdowns passing to go with 661 yards and eight touchdowns rushing.

Fans from Lafayette helped set a New Orleans Bowl attendance record of nearly 43,000 last year. All signs point to them coming back in droves this season, making it a virtual road game for ECU.