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July 16, 2013
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July 16, 2013
It sure looks like the Manning Passing Academy will be in Thibodaux for the foreseeable future.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal stopped by the prestigious football camp on Friday to announce that the state will give $1.2 million in capital outlay dollars to Nicholls State University.
With the money, the school will now be able to improve a 20-acre strip of land that the camp uses as practice fields – boosting its drainage system, electricity and grass surface.
The renovation also will bring peace of mind to university officials who may have silently wondered how long the camp would be able to stay at Nicholls.
The Manning family has always said publicly they were happy in Thibodaux.
But other cities have approached the family regarding the camp in the past.
With better drainage on the campus’ grass, the Manning’s can more easily host its four-day camp locally – rain or shine.
“This investment is good for the academy, but it is also good for Nicholls,” Jindal said. “This is a great investment for Nicholls. By improving these fields, this allows the academy to continue to come here for many years to come.”
“This big field back here is really one of the things besides for the hospitality and so-forth that attracted us here,” Archie Manning said. “But last year, we had one of those (wet) years, and these kids come from all over the country to attend this camp. It’s just not right to have them in the parking lot doing their passing drills. This will assure that we can put them on grass. … We’re very appreciative.”
Jindal said the $1.2 million is pending routine approval. Once that occurs, the work will begin – likely somewhere in the early portion of the 2013-14 academic school year.
“These improvements will be done in time for next summer for the next time that this academy comes back,” Jindal said.
He added that the decision to give the money to Nicholls was an easy one because of the economic impact the four-day event has on the Tri-parish area’s economy.
“We’ve talked about all of the great things this academy does for our kids, but it also has a great economic impact,” Jindal said. “It has a $1.8 million annual impact here in the community.”
The governor said the work of local politicians like state Sen. Norby Chabert (R-Houma) and state Rep. Lenar Whitney (R-Houma) went a long way in securing the money for Nicholls.
Chabert, who is an NSU graduate, said he fought to get funding for the school so that history wouldn’t repeat itself.
The local lawmaker pointed to the days when the school hosted training camp for the New Orleans Saints.
“When I was an undergrad here, we had Saints training camp. … And we lost it,” Chabert said. “That was the second time this university had Saints training camp. And we lost it. It was because we did not do what needed to be done to keep an economic engine like that in this area. … I don’t have to tell you guys. Like the governor said. This is the First Family of Football. They can be holding these camps anywhere in the country. We need to do what we need to do as a state to make sure that Louisiana’s First Football Family keeps having their football camp in Louisiana.”
But for now, it appears that the camp will remain in Nicholls’ grasp.
With new fields and more useable space for the camp, football’s first family said they have no reason to take their show on the road.
“On behalf of my family, our staff and everyone associated with the Manning Passing Academy, we would like to offer our thanks to the governor, the senator and everyone involved in this,” Archie Manning said. “Like we said earlier, we’ve enjoyed our experience in this area. There are great folks at Nicholls State. We appreciate how nice they’ve been to us.”
Jindal welcomed the Manning family’s praise. He offered some kind words of his own toward the entire family, saying that the children of Louisiana should be proud to call the family a role model.
“What I am so proud of about the Manning family is that they consistently give back to their community,” Jindal said. “They’ve been great citizens for Louisiana. They’ve been instrumental parts in rebuilding efforts after Katrina. What’s so great about them is that not only are they successful on the field, but off the field, they are the kinds of role models that we can be proud of.
“I just want to say thank you to the Manning family for what they have done for Louisiana and what they continue to do. They don’t have to spend their summers here. They don’t have to rearrange their schedules to be here. But they choose to do that.”
The Manning Passing Academy has been in existence for 18 years. The camp initially was in Hammond, but it has been in Thibodaux for the past eight seasons.
City’s hospitality plays big
The campers at the Manning Passing Academy love Thibodaux.
They receive a virtual red carpet welcome from all of the city’s businesses and the school’s workers.
Numerous camp counselors said throughout the media session that Thibodaux was a place that they enjoyed to visit each year.
Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell said he was wowed by the welcome he received from the Tri-parish community.
“This place is pretty awesome,” Russell said. “The people are very nice. They want to make sure that you feel like you’re at home. It’s awesome. It’s a place we all enjoy visiting every year.”
Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron agreed and said that the hospitality in the local town was a big reason for annually attending the camp as a counselor.
“We like it here,” McCarron said. “It’s a place that really clings to this event. They definitely like having us. And we like to be here.”
Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks to reporters after announcing that the state will give $1.2 million to Nicholls State University – a sum of money the school will use to redo the drainage on its playing fields. With the money, the school will now be better equipped to host the Manning Passing Academy for years to come – a huge plus to our local economy.
