17 years later, STHS still has bragging rights

“This is where it all started,” former all-state South Terrebonne running back David Butler mentioned at Vandebilt Catholic’s Buddy Marcello Stadium, along side former all-district teammates, linebacker Ivan Williams and defensive end Derek Miller.

What started there 17 years ago was a scrimmage against the Terriers that would foreshadow the Gators run to the 1991 Class 4A state championship.

“Our scrimmage wasn’t like this one,” Williams said, referring to the 12 minutes of action between the Gators and Terriers last Friday. “Ours was like a real game.”

“We beat them like 96-6,” said Butler. “We were just so happy to be hitting somebody for a change, we were busting them up.”

The former players, now in their mid-30s, watched as their former coach Richard Curlin led the 2008 Gators to a 6-0 win in the scrimmage. He is a little softer than they recalled back in the day.

In 1991, Curlin was only in his second year as the Gators’ head coach. He was elevated from assistant coach to replace Terry Prejean the year before and inherited a 1-9 squad.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what the hell I was doing,” said Curlin.

He knew from the start of the 1991 season, the team had a chance to be good. They had an abundance of seniors and speed.

“We had defensive ends and offensive guards who could run 4.5 (40-yard dash times),” he said. “We had probably 15 guys who ran 4.6 or under. We weren’t very big. I think our biggest starter was Chad Pinell at just over 200 pounds, but we were in shape.”

The veer (triple option) offense was led by senior Butler, coming off an 1,324 yard junior year that earned him all-state honorable mention honors, and senior quarterback Robert Stewart.

However, it was the defense that set the tone for the Gators, letting opponents know they were in for a long painful evening.

“We were trying to knock somebody out on every play,” said Butler, who also played safety and cornerback. “It didn’t mater if you were first-string or fifth-string, we were scrapping on every play.”

“He (Butler) was one of the fastest players out there. I think he got hit on purpose because he knew if he got hit or Trigger (Williams) got hit, the defense would get mad and take it out on the opposing offense,” Miller said.

There was no separation of the offense and defense because many of the starters played both ways. They knew every play and never worried about how the other side of the ball would perform.

Over the course the season, players bonded like a second family. They built mutual respect and acceptance of each other forged from a strong parental upbringing.

“You didn’t know what color half the players were on the team,” said Butler. “We went over to each other’s house and ate like it was nothing. We had parents come out there every Thursday cooking for us. Whenever we walked out of the tunnel, you wouldn’t believe the number of people waiting there patting us on the shoulder. That’s one of the experiences in life you could never take away from me.”

The Gators began the season 9-0, usually dominating their opponents to the point where starters could rest in the second half.

Despite the wins, the Gators still felt disrespected. Their highest ranking in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll was fifth that year.

The only loss of the season came in the finale at Hahnville 21-8.

“Our heads got big and Hahnville had a good team,” said Williams.

“We could have had a perfect season, but I think that lost to Hahnville actually woke us up,” Miller said.

The loss meant the Gators would share the 8-4A district championship with Hahnville and Destrehan, whom they had beaten 21-0 a week earlier.

Because of point differential, the Gators were the highest seeded team representing the district in the playoffs.

Except for a 16-13 come-from-behind win against O. Perry Walker in the second round, the first four playoff games were Gators routs – 24-7 over F.T. Nicholls, 24-3 over Salmen and 28-8 over Benton.

For the state championship game against the Crowley Gents, the Gators would need all the conditioning they developed throughout the season.

“The Wednesday before the state championship game, we practiced at Nicholls on that 50-yard practice field,” recalled Curlin. “We ran 60 40-yard sprints. They were used to it cause that’s what we did all year.”

The Gators brought along some extra home flavor to the Louisiana Superdome, a tradition they had carried throughout the season.

“Every away game, we took some mud and a little bit of swamp and put it out on the field,” said Curlin. “It was kind of corny, but the players had fun with it. I think we even said a prayer about the swamp before the game.”

The gambit paid off. Trailing 6-0, Butler scored two long touchdowns in the second quarter to give the Gators the lead they never relinquished.

However, it was the defense that persevered and earned the Gators their only state title.

“The defense spent most of the game on the field. They bailed us out at least 10 times,” remembered Butler. “Crowley was in the red zone at least 10 times, and we only allowed one touchdown and two field goals.”

The game was sealed on a interception by the Gators’ defensive back Randell Hartman with under three minutes left for a 14-12 victory.

Looking back on what they accomplished in the fall of 1991, what stands out in the players’ and coach’s minds is not the wins. It is the camaraderie built along the way to the title.

“It was fun, but it was too fast, especially that title game,” said Curlin. “It was so close that you really couldn’t enjoy like you really wanted to.”

The seniors from that Gators championships continued their success into adulthood.

Butler played at LSU from 1992-96, becoming a freshman all-american kick returner. Today he is a salesman at Trapp Cadillac in Houma.

Williams played at Nicholls State from 1992-1996 as a linebacker and defensive end. Today he is a supervisor at Charter Communications in Thibodaux.

Miller was not recruited to play college football. However, he has found a successful career in the medical field, working at Terrebonne General Medical Center where he is surgery inventory coordinator.

“If you go down the board and look at where our starters are and see what kind of positions they hold, all that carries over,” said Butler. “Our other inside linebacker is a registered nurse. The wide receivers hold dominate jobs in the oil field. Joe Morgan, who was an lineman, he owns his own mortgage company. We have no blackeyes from the team. None.”

That should be the greatest testament to that football team. Not the journey that ended in victory in the Superdome, but the journey that was propelled from that win.

Still, it is so easy to look back on past events and, with the addition of age and wisdom, see how lucky it was to be part of something so special.

“I went to college and played semi-pro ball. All that was good but not like that 1991 state championship team,” said Butler.